Nolan McLean’s “good citizen” transfer might not really be what it appeared.
The star Mets hurler, during his begin in Tuesday’s loss, patted his chest as if to say “my bad” after throwing a pitch inside in the sixth inning to Twins outfielder Byron Buxton. On the very next pitch, Buxton smacked a two-run homer.
SNY Mets analyst Ron Darling then posited that McLean was providing a small apology to Buxton — his Team USA teammate in the World Baseball Classic — that would primarily imply the next pitch would not be inside.
“McLean said, appeared at Buxton, they had met eyes, said, ‘My bad, my bad. I shouldn’t do that.’ You know what occurs to a hitter when he hears that? One-hundred %, the next pitch is not going to be inside. It’s going to be away.
Nolan McLean pats his chest to categorical regret to Buxton. @FoulTerritoryTV/X
“He’s a smart hitter and took advantage of it. I know what McLean’s doing. That’s being a good citizen. You don’t need to do that out there.”
Nevertheless, SNY discipline reporter Steve Gelbs spoke with McLean and said on Wednesday’s broadcast that the pitcher was indeed apologizing, but not to Buxton. McLean was really saying sorry to his batterymate, catcher Francisco Alvarez.
McLean instructed Gelbs that Alvarez had called for a backdoor sinker and missed the goal and he missed his spot somewhere between 5 and 7 toes.
Gelbs also said that because McLean threw seven two-seamers across the first two at-bats to Buxton, he wished to combine in a cutter to change issues up.
Nolan McLean slams his rosin bag to the floor as Byron Buxton rounds the bases on his two-run home run during the sixth inning of the Mets’ loss to the Twins on April 21, 2026 at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Nevertheless, Buxton mashed the cutter to minimize the Mets’ lead to 3-2.
Minnesota rallied in the ninth of struggling Mets nearer Devin Williams to hand the Amazin’s their not-so-amazin’ twelfth straight loss.
Despite that mistake to Bruxton, McLean — one of the few vibrant spots in Queens today — completed the outing with 10 strikeouts and three runs allowed over 6 2/3 innings.
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