James McCann
McCann with the New York Mets in 2022
Baltimore Orioles – No. 27
Catcher
Born: (1990-06-13) June 13, 1990
Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 2014, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.242
Home runs84
Runs batted in342
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2011 Guadalajara Team

James Thomas McCann (born June 13, 1990) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, and New York Mets.

Prior to his professional career, McCann played college baseball at the University of Arkansas. McCann has also competed for the United States national baseball team. In 2019, as a member of the White Sox, he was named to the MLB All-Star Game. McCann has caught two no-hitters in the major leagues: one pitched by Lucas Giolito in 2020 with the White Sox, and one pitched by Tylor Megill, Drew Smith, Joely Rodríguez, Seth Lugo and Edwin Díaz in 2022 with the Mets.

Early life

McCann was born on June 13, 1990, in Santa Barbara, California.[1] His mother Carla suffered a torn amniotic sac while she was pregnant with McCann, and she spent the bulk of the pregnancy on bed rest. During that time, she watched local sports, particularly the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). After McCann was born, his mother served as his tee ball coach and drove him to and from Little League Baseball games and tournaments.[2] As a child, McCann was teammates with future MLB All-Star Jeff McNeil.[3]

Amateur career

McCann attended Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, California.[4] He played baseball in the Channel League and was named to the all-league first team in 2006[5] 2007,[6] and 2008.[7] Out of high school, the White Sox drafted McCann in the 31st round of the 2008 MLB draft, but he did not sign, opting to attend college at Arkansas.[8]

McCann bats for the Arkansas Razorbacks

At Arkansas, McCann played college baseball for the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team in the Southeastern Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I. As a freshman in 2009, he teamed with future big leaguers Dallas Keuchel, Drew Smyly, Mike Bolsinger, Brett Eibner and Andy Wilkins to help the Razorbacks reach the 2009 College World Series.[9] As a team captain in his sophomore season, McCann hit a walk-off home run to beat the #14 LSU Tigers, 4–3, in front of a Baum Stadium record crowd of 11,103.[10] The home run was voted as the third-most memorable moment in Baum Stadium history by Razorbacks fans in 2014.[11]

In 2010, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[12]

In his junior season, McCann had a .306 batting average, six home runs, 14 doubles, 11 stolen bases, 38 runs batted in (RBIs) and 35 runs scored in 61 games played[13] and was named a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award, presented to the best catcher in NCAA's Division I.[13]

After the 2011 college baseball season, McCann played for the United States national baseball team in the 2011 Baseball World Cup and the 2011 Pan American Games,[14] winning the silver medal in the latter.[15]

Professional career

Minor league career (2011–2014)

McCann batting for the Lakeland Flying Tigers in 2012

The Tigers selected McCann in the second round, with the 76th overall selection, of the 2011 MLB draft. He was Detroit's first selection of the draft, and the first of four catchers the team selected.[13][16] He signed with the Tigers and made his professional debut in 2011, playing five games with the Gulf Coast Tigers of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League before being promoted to the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Class A Midwest League.[16]

The Tigers invited McCann to spring training in 2012.[17] He began the 2012 season with the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, and received a promotion to the Erie SeaWolves of the Class AA Eastern League on June 6,[18] though be batted only .200 for Erie. After adjusting his offensive approach, McCann responded with a .283 average through July 14 of the 2013 season, and appeared in the All-Star Futures Game.[19] He ended the season with a .277 average, eight home runs, 30 doubles, 54 RBIs, and an on-base plus slugging (OPS) of .731.[20]

McCann began the 2014 season with the Toledo Mud Hens of the Class AAA International League. McCann finished the season with the Mud Hens batting .295 with seven home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .770 OPS.[21]

Detroit Tigers (2014–2018)

2014–2015

On September 1, 2014, McCann was called up by the Detroit Tigers.[22] He made his MLB debut that day in the bottom of the ninth inning, replacing catcher Alex Avila.[23] McCann got his first MLB start on September 19, 2014, catching for Justin Verlander against the Kansas City Royals. McCann had two hits (both to center field), a stolen base, and scored twice.

In spring training in 2015, McCann won the job as the team's backup catcher to Avila.[24] He hit his first major league home run, an inside-the-park home run, on April 29, 2015.[25] On May 21, 2015, he hit his first conventional home run, a walk-off in the 11th inning to give the Tigers a 6–5 victory over the Houston Astros. McCann became the first MLB player to hit an inside-the-park home run and a walk-off home run for his first two career home runs since Tim Raines in 1981.[26][27] On June 28, 2015, McCann hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Tigers a 5–4 victory over the Chicago White Sox. McCann became the first MLB player to hit an inside-the-park home run and two walk-off home runs for his first three career home runs since Tony Piet in 1932.[28]

McCann set the modern major league record for the number of consecutive games played at catcher to start a career without an error, surpassing the previous record of 93 set by Frankie Pytlak from 1932 to 1934.[29] McCann finished the 2015 season with no errors in 112 games played at catcher to lead all MLB catchers in fielding percentage. He became the sixth catcher in major league history to catch at least 100 games in a season without committing an error, following Chris Iannetta and Chris Snyder in 2008, Mike Matheny in 2003, Charles Johnson in 1997 and Buddy Rosar in 1946.[30] He also threw out 41 percent of would-be base stealers (versus a league average of 32 percent), helping him earn the nickname "McCannon" among Detroit fans.[31]

McCann was named the 2015 Detroit Tigers/Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association Rookie of the Year. He finished the 2015 season with a .264 average (106-for-401), 18 doubles, five triples, seven home runs and 41 RBIs, while throwing out 41 percent of potential base stealers. His 29 multi-hit games ranked fourth among American League rookies.[32]

2016–2018

McCann with the Tigers in 2018

On April 11, 2016, McCann suffered a Grade 2 right ankle sprain and was placed on the disabled list.[33] On May 31, 2016, McCann's Major League record of 139 games to start a career at catcher without committing an error ended.[34]

For the 2016 season, McCann batted .221 with 12 home runs and 48 RBIs in 105 games. Following the season, McCann was named a Gold Glove Award finalist for catcher, along with Carlos Pérez and Salvador Pérez. McCann threw out 45 percent of would-be base stealers, second-highest among AL catchers, and led his position with nine double plays. His nine Defensive Runs Saved rating also ranked second in the AL.[35]

On May 26, 2017, McCann was put on the 10 day DL because of a left hand laceration. He returned to the Tigers on June 9 against the Boston Red Sox. McCann struggled at the plate through June, finishing the month with a .194 batting average and .268 on-base percentage. However, a hot July including a ten-game hitting streak to finish off the month and four multi-hit games pushed McCann's average to the .246 mark with a .321 on-base percentage. For all of July, McCann batted .396 (19-for-48) with a .473 OBP, seven extra-base hits and 11 runs batted in. His hitting streak would extend to 14 games before ending on August 5. McCann finished the 2017 season with a .253 batting average, while hitting 13 home runs in 352 at-bats.

On January 11, 2018, the Tigers signed McCann to a one-year deal worth $2.375 million, avoiding arbitration.[36] McCann played in a career-high 118 games during the 2018 season, posting a .220 batting average with 8 home runs and 39 RBIs. He threw out 36% of potential base stealers, versus a league average of 28%. On November 30, 2018, the Tigers non-tendered McCann and he became a free agent.[37]

Chicago White Sox (2019–2020)

On December 19, 2018, McCann signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.[38] McCann had his best start to a major league season in 2019, batting .319 (67-for-210) with 9 home runs by the end of June. He was invited to his first All-Star Game, where he hit a single in his only plate appearance.[39] He finished the year hitting .273 with 18 home runs and 60 RBIs, all career highs.

The White Sox retained McCann for the 2020 season, tendering a $5.4 million one-year contract. On August 25, 2020, McCann was the catcher when Lucas Giolito threw the 19th no-hitter in White Sox history.[40] Overall with the 2020 Chicago White Sox, McCann batted .289 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs in 31 games.[41]

New York Mets (2021–2022)

On December 15, 2020, McCann signed a four-year, $40.6 million contract with the New York Mets.[42] He appeared in 112 games for the Mets during the 2021 season, batting .232 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs. In May 2022, McCann had surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his left wrist, missing six weeks,[43] and returned to the injured list in July with a strained oblique muscle.[44] McCann batted .195 in 61 games in the 2022 season.[45]

Baltimore Orioles

The Mets traded McCann with cash considerations to the Baltimore Orioles on December 21, 2022.[46][47] On January 13, 2023, minor league outfielder Luis De La Cruz was sent to the Mets to complete the trade. In March 2023, McCann was place on the injured list with a left oblique strain, missing a week, and returned to the injured list in June with a sprained left ankle. [48] He has had a pair of three-hit games with the Orioles, beginning with an 11–7 win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 2.[49] The other was a 10–3 victory over the Mets at Camden Yards on August 4 when he also drove in a season-high five RBI in his first match against his previous team.[50] He made his first-ever MLB pitching appearance in a scoreless eighth inning of a 10–3 loss to the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on August 15. He got three ground-ball outs around a pair of one-out hits.[51]

Personal life

McCann and his wife, Jessica, were married in November 2014. They reside in Nashville, Tennessee.[52] The couple had their first children, a set of twins, in December 2017.[53] He is an avid hunter, including an annual preseason duck hunt along the Mississippi flyway near Carlisle, Arkansas. McCann is also a devout Christian who told an interviewer in 2017 that he does not drink alcohol, considering it to be "poison" to an athlete's body.[54]

References

  1. ↑ "James McCann Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Advanced Media Group. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  2. ↑ Beck, Jason (May 5, 2016). "Baseball a shared love for Tigers' McCann, mom". MLB.com. Advanced Media Group. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  3. ↑ Healey, Tim (December 9, 2020). "Mets deep in talks to sign James McCann as starting catcher, sources say". Newsday. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  4. ↑ "James McCann Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com.
  5. ↑ "Ventura County Star 08 Jun 2006, page 32". Newspapers.com. June 8, 2006. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Ventura County Star 10 Jun 2007, page 35". Newspapers.com. June 10, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Ventura County Star 03 Jun 2008, page 21". Newspapers.com. June 3, 2008. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  8. ↑ Hammond, Sean (September 12, 2019). "MLB: White Sox's McCann 'lives the dream' with career year – Shaw Local". Shawlocal.com. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Like old times: Keuchel, McCann happy to be reunited in Chicago". wholehogsports.com.
  10. ↑ "James McCann hits walkoff three-run homer in #22 Hogs win over #15 LSU". Jonesboro, Arkansas: KAIT. April 10, 2011. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Toops grand slam most memorable moment". Fayetteville, Arkansas: University of Arkansas. November 6, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  12. ↑ "#28 James McCann". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 AP Photo (June 7, 2011). "Tigers pass on highly touted prep stars, select Arkansas catcher James McCann with their first pick". MLive. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  14. ↑ Heck, David (October 20, 2011). "Mendonca plates six in Team USA rout". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  15. ↑ Emrich, Robert (October 26, 2011). "Van Ostrand, Canada take Pan Am gold". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 30, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  16. 1 2 AP Photo (August 20, 2011). "Detroit Tigers top draft pick James McCann joins Whitecaps as homestand begins". MLive. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  17. ↑ Beck, Jason. "Castellanos heads list of Tigers' Spring invites". MLB.com. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Tigers designate Omir Santos for assignment, call up Bryan Holaday, put Alex Avila on DL". Detroit Free Press. June 6, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  19. ↑ Beck, Jason (July 14, 2013). "Futures reps Lennerton, McCann proud of progress". MLB.com. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  20. ↑ "The Tigers' organization All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  21. ↑ Footer, Alyson (September 20, 2014). "McCann catches on quick with first MLB hits". MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  22. ↑ Iott, Chris (August 31, 2014). "Steven Moya, James McCann among seven players Detroit Tigers will add to roster this week". MLive. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  23. ↑ Iott, Chris (September 1, 2014). "Tigers 12, Indians 1: Miguel Cabrera has two home runs, four hits in rout of Cleveland". MLive. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  24. ↑ Sipple, George (March 31, 2015). "Tigers' McCann thrilled, Holaday bummed after cuts". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Cabrera powers Tigers past Twins 10–7 after Hughes gets hurt". ESPN. Associated Press. April 29, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  26. ↑ Farrell, Perry (May 21, 2015). "Tigers 6, Astros 5 (11): McCann's walk-off homer wins it". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  27. ↑ Paul, Tony (May 22, 2015). "McCann's first two homers as a Tiger had superhero feel". The Detroit News. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  28. ↑ Zúñiga, Alejandro (June 28, 2015). "McCann making most out of round-trippers". MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  29. ↑ Schmehl, James (September 9, 2015). "Detroit Tigers notebook: James McCann sets modern baseball record with errorless streak at catcher". MLive. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  30. ↑ Mowery, Matthew (October 4, 2015). "Tigers Notebook: Errorless season for McCann; Top 10 pick secured; Davis, JV earn September honors". The Macomb Daily. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  31. ↑ Jarvinen, Nicklas (July 12, 2015). "McCann, Avila, or Both?". baseballessential.com. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  32. ↑ Beck, Jason (November 5, 2015). "McCann wins Tigers Rookie of the Year". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
  33. ↑ Beck, Jason (April 12, 2016). "McCann put on DL by Tigers after ankle injury". MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  34. ↑ Beck, Jason (May 31, 2016). "McCann's historic errorless streak ends". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  35. ↑ Beck, Jason (October 27, 2016). "4 Tigers named Gold Glove Award finalists". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  36. ↑ Fenech, Anthony (January 11, 2018). "Detroit Tigers reach deal with James McCann, look to sign four others". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Tigers bid farewell to non-tendered casualties McCann and Wilson". Detroit News. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  38. ↑ Beck, Jason (December 19, 2018). "White Sox sign James McCann". -MLB.com. MLB. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  39. ↑ "2019 All-Star Game Box Score, July 9". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  40. ↑ "White Sox ace Lucas Giolito throws MLB's first no-hitter of 2020". August 26, 2020.
  41. ↑ "James McCann Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  42. ↑ "Mets sign catcher McCann to 4-year deal". MLB.com. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  43. ↑ Snyder, Matt (May 14, 2022). "Mets catcher James McCann undergoes hamate surgery, will miss at least six weeks". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  44. ↑ "Mets catcher McCann to IL; OF Marte day-to-day". ESPN.com. July 10, 2022.
  45. ↑ "Grading the Mets' 2022 season: Players, Buck Showalter, and the front office". Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  46. ↑ "Mets trade catcher McCann to Orioles". MLB.com.
  47. ↑ "Mets acquire OF Luis De La Cruz," MLB.com press release, Friday, January 13, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  48. ↑ "Mets acquire OF Luis De La Cruz". mlb.com. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  49. ↑ "Mountcastle's pair of 2-run HRs sends O's to 11-7 win in KC," The Associated Press (AP), Friday, May 5, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  50. ↑ Battifarano, Andrew. "Orioles’ James McCann torments Mets in historic night as Amazin’s find new low," New York Post, Friday, August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  51. ↑ Kubatko, Roch. "Orioles fall behind early and can't recover in 10-3 loss (updated)," Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), Wednesday, August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  52. ↑ Holt, Bob (February 25, 2015). "McCann catches on with Tigers". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  53. ↑ Beck, Jason (February 14, 2018). "McCann's spring brightened by two tiny reasons". MLB.com. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  54. ↑ Henry, Clay (January 27, 2017). "State of the Hogs: James McCann Turned out well". Hawgs Illustrated. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
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