Overview
- The MLB.com survey, published Tuesday, named McLean the clear early favorite after six weeks of games.
- McLean led NL rookie pitchers with 57 strikeouts, an 11.32 K/9, a 0.90 WHIP, and a .180 opponents' average, with a 2.78 ERA that ranked second.
- In the 39-expert vote, McLean earned 23 first-place selections, while Reds infielder Sal Stewart was a distant second with six.
- On the AL side, Munetaka Murakami set the early pace for rookies with 15 home runs, a .556 slugging percentage, a .920 OPS, and 79 total bases entering Monday.
- HEAVY noted buzz about Cy Young contention and reported that McLean’s season could trigger a Mets draft bonus under MLB’s Prospect Promotion Incentive, which awards a first-round pick if an eligible rookie wins ROY or finishes top three for Cy Young within the set window.