Nolan McLean's Unprecedented Debut Season Features Elite Ground-Ball & Strikeout Rates

Mets pitcher Nolan McLean showcased an unprecedented debut season, logging impressive numbers across 48 Major League innings. He became the 38th starter in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008) to achieve a minimum of 100 batted balls with a ground-ball rate of at least 60.2%, coupled with a 30.3% strikeout rate. This '30-60' combination was nearly unmatched, surpassing even Giants ace Logan Webb's 2021 performance. McLean's success is attributed to his sinker, which had an 80% ground-ball rate, and his curveball, boasting a 62.5% grounder rate and a 50% whiff rate, leading to 19 strikeouts on 27 at-bats ending with the pitch.