Minors scrimmage brings encouraging results as McLean preps for Classic

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- While his team was playing an exhibition against Team Israel at Clover Park on Wednesday, Nolan McLean took the mound in a Minor League scrimmage on a back field at the Mets’ complex.

The numbers -- one run allowed over four innings -- were irrelevant. All that mattered to McLean was that he felt well physically after dealing with vertigo-like symptoms last week that left his participation with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in question.

“No symptoms out there throwing, which I think was the ultimate test,” said McLean, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Mets' No. 1 prospect and No. 6 overall. “I felt a little erratic; I think I was just fired up to get out there.”

“Nolan was good,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Velo was up, he was able to get his four ups and felt good. Now he has to wait until tomorrow and see how he bounces back.”

McLean will remain in Port St. Lucie until at least Thursday, when he will sit down with the Mets’ medical staff before heading to Houston to join Team USA.

“I'm going to sit down with our training staff and really be honest with how I feel, which has been good,” McLean said. “I’ll see what their thoughts are on it and go from there.”

McLean had been scheduled to leave with teammate Clay Holmes after Sunday’s game, but the vertigo-like symptoms that hampered him and caused him to lose five pounds last week prompted the Mets to postpone his trip for a few days. McLean threw a bullpen session on Sunday and played catch Monday, making Wednesday’s back-field start the final hurdle for him to clear.

“I'm feeling good,” McLean said. “My body weight is in a good spot, my strength numbers on all the tests have been right where they are normally, so I'm not too worried about that.”

McLean’s first WBC start is scheduled for next Tuesday against Italy at Houston’s Daikin Park, the final game of pool play for Team USA.

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said this week that McLean would get the starting nod if the U.S. reaches the WBC finals, but McLean is trying not to look that far ahead.

“That's a great honor, but there's a lot of baseball to be played and a lot of really good teams out there,” McLean said. “My job is to go out there, compete against Italy, do the best I can and be a good teammate for the rest of the game. And hopefully we’ll make the finals and I'll get the ball.”