Two key pieces of the Mets’ starting rotation will be pitching in the World Baseball Classic next spring.
Right-handers Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes are on Team USA’s roster, USA Baseball announced on Wednesday.
While both starters will have a rare opportunity to represent their country and can benefit from this experience, it’s also a risky decision considering what those arms mean to the Mets heading into next season.
McLean is entering his first full season in the big leagues after his impressive first impression this past summer. He showed flashes of ace-caliber stuff this past summer and figures to be one of the Mets’ best starters in 2026 and beyond, even if they’re able to import a proven No. 1 via free agency or trade.
Holmes, meanwhile, is entering his second year as a starter with the Mets. The Mets need Holmes to be a consistent option every five days and eat up innings in the middle of their starting staff.
Edwin Díaz is a sore subject for Mets fans right now after his departure in free agency, but he’s also a cautionary tale when it comes to the World Baseball Classic. In 2023, the ex-Mets closer suffered a season-ending knee injury while celebrating Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic, a debilitating blow to the Mets’ roster.
That was a freak injury, but it’s a reminder that players participating in the WBC are exposing themselves to in-game action — in a postseason-like atmosphere — earlier than their MLB teammates who continue ramping up slowly at big-league camp.
Another way of looking at this news is it’s an exciting and unique opportunity for those pitchers to get ready to hit the ground running ahead of Opening Day. That’s especially pertinent with McLean who only has 48 big-league innings under his belt. McLean and Holmes will be on a roster with other stars competing against the best of the best, a chance to be a sponge and find new ways to get better.
