Team USA opened training camp Monday in Scottsdale, Arizona, gearing up for the World Baseball Classic with a roster that’s loaded with talent.
Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Tarik Skubal, and Paul Skenes were among the superstars who reported to camp – a collection of former Cy Young winners and MVPs that gives manager Mark DeRosa plenty of firepower for the 20-team tournament.
The pitching staff looks particularly strong on paper. DeRosa’s got a nice blend of seasoned veterans and young arms ready to make their mark on the international stage.
Two Mets starters made the roster – Clay Holmes and Nolan McLean – but only Holmes made the trip from Port St. Lucie on Monday.
McLean stayed behind dealing with some health issues that kept him from reporting with the rest of the team.
“Nolan McLean experienced vertigo-like symptoms on Friday night, so he stayed in Port St. Lucie rather than reporting to Team USA, according to Carlos Mendoza,” MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand wrote on X Tuesday. “The symptoms are gone, and he will pitch on a back field Wednesday; if all goes well, he will join Team USA after that.”
That’s good news for Team USA’s pitching depth. McLean could be a valuable piece in the later rounds, especially since Skubal plans to return to the Tigers after just one appearance.
The 24-year-old showed he’s ready for that kind of responsibility last season. McLean made eight starts for the Mets and posted a 2.06 ERA, striking out 57 batters in 48 innings.
If his vertigo symptoms are truly behind him, McLean should join what’s shaping up to be one of the most talented pitching staffs in WBC history. The timing couldn’t be better for a young pitcher looking to make his mark on the international stage.
