July 7th 2024.
Ryan McMahon's journey from a local star for the Rockies to a major league All-Star has been nothing short of remarkable. This past Sunday, the veteran third baseman received the exciting news that he had been selected to the National League All-Star team for the very first time. And what's even more impressive? He was chosen as a reserve by the players themselves.
"It's such a cool honor," McMahon shared. "To be voted in by my fellow players, that's the biggest honor for me."
On July 16, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, McMahon will proudly represent the Colorado Rockies as their sole representative in the Midsummer Classic. However, the fans voted for Philadelphia's Alec Bohm to start at third base for the NL.
At 29 years old, McMahon has been an instrumental part of the Rockies' success this season. As of Sunday, he boasted an impressive .272 batting average with 14 home runs, 19 doubles, and 45 RBIs. In fact, he is just two home runs shy of matching his previous record before the All-Star break, where he hit 16 in 2021.
Not only has McMahon been a consistent performer offensively, but he also leads all NL third basemen in on-base percentage and ranks second in average, OPS, hits, and total bases. He's also tied for second in home runs and third in RBIs. And let's not forget his superb defensive skills, as a three-time Gold Glove finalist with five defensive runs saved, tying him for second among all major league third basemen.
This season is a pivotal one for McMahon, who has shown glimpses of greatness since his debut in 2017, but has also struggled with inconsistency at the plate. However, general manager Bill Schmidt believes in his potential and expects him to excel.
"If you look at his stats, he's an average player at the moment, and I've told him that," Schmidt shared during last December's winter meetings. "But his above-average defense elevates him to an average player. However, I firmly believe he can do better, and I know many others feel the same way."
McMahon, who signed a six-year, $70 million contract in 2022, took Schmidt's words as a challenge and has been determined to prove himself this season.
"Bill and I have a very open relationship, and he's always been straightforward with me," McMahon said before the start of spring training. "He wouldn't say these things if he didn't believe in me. We've had countless talks, and I've heard it all from him – the good and the not-so-good. But I know he wants the best for me."
Last season, McMahon led the majors with 198 strikeouts, setting a record for the Rockies. And his strikeout rate of 31.6% was also among the highest in the league and in franchise history. However, this season, he has made significant improvements, with a reduced strikeout rate of 27.5%.
Schmidt's main focus for McMahon is to consistently make contact with the ball and reduce his strikeouts. He firmly believes that McMahon is capable of being a .260-.270 hitter, rather than his current .240 average. And he has proven it in the past, with an impressive stretch from May to June last season where he slashed .349/.434/.644 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs in just 35 games.
This is truly a remarkable achievement for McMahon, and we can't wait to see him shine at the All-Star game. For more Rockies news and analysis, be sure to sign up for the Rockies Insider.
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