"Just getting the opportunity to put USA on your chest and go out there and compete with the best players in the world, it's an unbelievable experience for me. As a competitor, I just want to go out there and compete and try to win and try to put my team in the best spot when I do come out of the game."
"I think you're crazy if you don't want to do this, honestly. It's kind of a dream come true to get the ball in such a big moment. It's something I want to do."
Nolan McLean, a 24-year-old right-hander for the New York Mets, will start for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic championship game against Venezuela or Italy. McLean made just eight starts in his MLB debut last season and plans to throw 65-70 pitches. This marks his second tournament start; his first against Italy resulted in a loss where he allowed three runs on two home runs. McLean expressed enthusiasm about representing his country, contrasting his commitment with Tarik Skubal's limited participation. He emphasized the honor of competing against the world's best players and his desire to help Team USA secure their first WBC championship since 2017.
Read at www.amny.com
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