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Miami Marlins 2022 MLB Draft Preview: 3B Nolan McLean

By Matt Melton

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: A general view of the Miami Marlins logo during the game between the Miami Marlins and the Washington Nationals at Marlins Park on September 20, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: A general view of the Miami Marlins logo during the game between the Miami Marlins and the Washington Nationals at Marlins Park on September 20, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Originally one of the Top 100 ranked overall prospects available back in the 2020 MLB Draft (No. 66), two-sport star Nolan McLean opted-to attend college to play both football and baseball at Oklahoma State. Having transitioned to baseball full-time since, could McLean potentially be an option for the Miami Marlins in the 2022 MLB Draft?

Miami Marlins 2022 MLB Draft preview: 3B Nolan McLean

Not only a two-sport star out of high school (threw for a combined 6,809 yards and 72 touchdowns in high school football career), McLean was also a two-way player on the baseball field where he hit a combined .381 during his prep career. Going on to Oklahoma State to play both, the 20-year-old transitioned to baseball full-time last year where McLean enjoyed an impressive 2021 season as a freshman.

Appearing in a total of 39 games, a majority of which came as the Cowboys DH, McLean slashed a combined .263/.410/.526 with eight home runs, as well as making two relief appearances on the mound. While a majority of his time defensively came at second base, McLean also saw a significant number of appearances at first base, as well as some time in right field.

While some scouts originally saw McLean as a pitcher at the next level, the 20-year-old has emerged as a positional player going forward, most-likely at third base. While not the fastest runner on the basepaths, McLean has an exciting combination of power in his right-handed swing and phenomenal arm strength (grades as 70 by MLB Pipeline) that consistently sits in the upper-90’s when he is on the mound.

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While McLean would undoubtedly be an intriguing pitching prospect who already displays impressive velocity, the likely future third baseman’s power potential offensively is arguably the more intriguing tool of the two. Rated by MLB Pipeline as the No. 46 overall prospect in the 2022 MLB Draft, McLean is currently projected as either a late-first or early-second round pick, and would be an intriguing prospect to consider for the Miami Marlins.

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