Ryan McMahon made the quantum leap from local Rox star to major league All-Star.
On Sunday, the Rockies’ veteran third baseman was selected to the National League All-Star team for the first time. He made the team as a reserve via the players’ vote.
“It’s a cool honor,” McMahon said. “For me, personally, getting voted in by the players is the biggest honor you can receive.”
McMahon will be Colorado’s lone representative in the Midsummer Classic on July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The fans voted Philadelphia’s Alec Bohm as the NL’s starting third baseman.
McMahon, 29, is the fourth Rockies’ third baseman to be selected to the All-Star Game, joining Vinny Castilla (1995, 1998), Jeff Cirillo (2000) and Nolan Arenado (2015-19).
“We had a nice celebration in the clubhouse for ‘Mac’,” manager Bud Black said. “He’s deserving. He’s been close a couple of different times. Now his time has come (to be) recognized throughout the league by his peers.”
McMahon said being celebrated by his teammates was special.
“To be embraced by those guys, the (genuineness) of it all from those guys, felt really good to me,” he said.
Black talked to shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, center fielder Brenton Doyle, catcher Elias Diaz and starting pitcher Cal Quantrill to “give them a quick little nod” for their performances in the first half of the season. There is still a chance that one of those four could be added to the roster if some National League players are unavailable because of injuries.
McMahon entered Sunday’s game against Cincinnati slashing .272/.349/.456 with 14 home runs, 19 doubles and 45 RBIs. His 14 homers are two shy of tying the most he’s hit before the All-Star break. He hit 16 in 2021.
McMahon was leading all NL third basemen in on-base percentage (.349), and ranked second in average (.272), OPS (.802), hits (90) and total bases (151). He was tied for second in home runs and ranked third in RBIs.
The three-time Gold Glove finalist had five defensive runs saved, tied for second-most among major league third basemen.
“This is awesome for ‘Mac,” veteran left-hander Kyle Freeland said. “We came through the minor-league system together and I was able to see him grow into the baseball player he is today.
“It’s hard to put into words to see someone you grinding through the minor leagues with (become) an All-Star.”
This is a prove-it season for McMahon, who’s flashed promise since making his debut in 2017 but has been an inconsistent hitter.
“If you look, he’s an average player right now, and I’ve told him that,” general manager Bill Schmidt said during last December’s winter meetings. “He’s an above-average defender, which makes him the average player. He can be better. There are a lot of people who believe that.”
McMahon, who signed a six-year, $70 million contract in the spring of 2022, took Schmidt’s words as a challenge.
“It doesn’t hurt my feelings,” McMahon said just before the Rockies opened spring training. “Bill and I have a pretty open relationship about things like that. If you know Bill, he’s very blunt about things like that. But he doesn’t say that unless he wants (success) for you as well.
“He and I have had countless talks. I’ve heard it meaner than that. I’ve heard it nicer than that. I’ve heard it a lot of different ways from him.”
Last season, McMahon finished fourth in the majors with 198 strikeouts, setting a dubious Rockies single-season record. His 31.6% strikeout rate was also the fourth-highest in the majors last season (among qualified hitters) and the third-highest in franchise history. He’s reduced his strikeout rate to 27.5% this season.
“I want to see him consistently put the ball in play,” Schmidt said. “Cut down on the strikeouts and put the ball in play. He’s capable of being a .260-.270 hitter, not .240. There was a point in May when he was one of the better players in the league. He’s capable of doing that.”
From May 12 through June 19 of last season, McMahon slashed .349/.434/.644 with eight home runs, 11 doubles, two triples and 25 RBIs in 35 games. But he slashed .206/.292/.357 in 80 games from June 20 through the end of the season and hit just .183 in September.
“It’s always a work in progress,” McMahon said Sunday after going 1 for 4 in Colorado’s 10-1 loss to Kansas City. “I don’t think you should ever put a ceiling on a player. I still think there is a lot left in me.”
Black said he’s seen McMahon embrace the challenge of getting better.
“He’s in the process of taking that next step,” Black said. “This is a step now for him, getting an All-Star nod. And not to put (too much) on Mac’s shoulders, I think he will tell you he can do more. And from a coach’s and manager’s standpoint, there’s more in there.”
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Originally Published: July 7, 2024 at 4:04 p.m.
