NY Mets prospect makes long-awaited return, 2 other big minor league stories

Resilience became the New York Mets' calling card last season, and they’ve carried that same edge into the early weeks of 2025. That mentality is not just showing up in Queens, it’s reaching down through the organization. Matt Allan’s long-awaited return to the mound feels like a fitting chapter in this franchise’s grind-it-out era. Once a top 100 MLB prospect, now a comeback story, Allan is back in action after years of setbacks. His return tops a week of encouraging developments in the Mets’ minor league ranks, with Nolan McLean and Dedniel Núñez also making strong early impressions.

From sideline to spotlight, Matt Allan returns to action.

Matt Allan is finally back on the mound in a Mets uniform, and it’s been a long time coming. The former third-round pick from 2019 was once the centerpiece of the Mets’ pitching pipeline, but a brutal run of injuries, two Tommy John surgeries, and an ulnar nerve transposition sidelined him for what felt like an eternity. Add in the lost 2020 season due to the pandemic, and Allan hadn’t thrown a pitch in affiliated ball in nearly six years. But on Sunday, the 23-year-old right-hander took the ball for Single-A St. Lucie and made the wait worth it.

Facing the Jupiter Hammerheads, Allan came out firing. His fastball touched 97 mph, and the results backed up the heat: 2 2/3 scoreless innings, two hits, two walks, and five strikeouts across 44 pitches. The stuff was explosive, the composure was there, and the moment didn’t look too big. The Mets have taken the long view with Allan, and Sunday was the first real sign that it might finally pay off. Today's start may be the beginning, but one thing is clear about Matt Allan: a player who has battled this hard to get back will never take an out for granted.

Nolan McLean starts the season off strong.

Nolan McLean, the 23-year-old right-hander selected in the third round of the 2023 draft, entered 2025 ranked as Baseball America’s 99th overall prospect. With a high-90s fastball and a sweeping slider as his primary weapons, McLean has the potential to move quickly through the system. He also mixes in a changeup, cutter, and curveball, but it’s the fastball and slider that have scouts buzzing. Starting the year in Double-A Binghamton, McLean’s stock continues to rise, with the possibility of a big league debut this season.

In his first start with Binghamton on Sunday, McLean went four scoreless innings, allowing just three hits, no walks, and striking out eight batters on 70 pitches—54 of those for strikes. It was a solid start for the right-hander, showcasing his ability to attack hitters and execute his pitches. If he keeps up this level of performance, McLean could quickly become a name to watch in the Mets' pitching future.

Dedniel Nunez working his way back, ready to bolster an MLB-leading pen.

Dedniel Núñez, the hard-throwing right-hander recovering from a right pronator strain, continues his rehab with the Mets' Triple-A Syracuse team. So far, he’s made three appearances, totaling 3 2/3 innings, with four strikeouts, three runs allowed, four hits, and one walk. His most recent outing on Sunday was a bit of a mixed bag—2/3 of an inning, two runs on two hits, including a home run—but he threw 15 pitches, 12 for strikes. While the results haven’t been perfect, Núñez’s velocity has remained intact, and the focus now shifts to how he handles multiple innings and recovers after his outings. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has made it clear that Núñez’s progression will be closely monitored as he builds back up.

Núñez, eligible for a call-up on April 11, could be just what the Mets’ already MLB-leading bullpen needs. His electric stuff adds another solid arm to a relief corps that manager Mendoza has been expertly guiding this season. A healthy Núñez gives the Mets even more flexibility, and with his return, the bullpen only stands to get stronger.