Matt_McLain

Matt McLain

Matt McLain

American baseball player (born 1999)

Matthew Michael McLain (born August 6, 1999) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the UCLA Bruins. The Reds selected McLain with the 17th overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft and he made his MLB debut in 2023.

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Amateur career

McLain attended Arnold O. Beckman High School in Irvine, California.[1][2] He committed to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), to play college baseball for the UCLA Bruins.[3] As a high school senior, he batted .369 with three home runs.[4] He was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round with the 25th overall selection of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[5] However, he did not sign, and instead chose to enroll at UCLA.[6]

During the summer of 2018, McLain played in the West Coast League for the Bellingham Bells, and was awarded the Top Prospect Award.[7] As a freshman at UCLA in 2019, he appeared in 61 games (with sixty being starts) in which he slashed .203/.276/.355 with four home runs and thirty RBIs.[8] That summer, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and was West division MVP of the league's all-star game.[9][10] In 2020, McLain played in 13 games and batted .397 with four home runs before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] In 2021, he missed three weeks due to a fractured thumb, but still hit .333 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs in 47 games.[12]

Professional career

McLain was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the 17th overall pick in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[13] McLain signed with the Reds on July 26, 2021.[14]

McLain made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Reds and was promoted to the Dayton Dragons of the High-A Central.[15] Over 31 games between the two teams, he slashed .283/.389/.462 with three home runs, 19 RBIs, and ten stolen bases.[16] For the 2022 season, he was promoted to the Reds' Double-A affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts.[17] In 103 games for Chattanooga, McLain slashed .232/.363/.453 with 17 home runs, 58 RBI, and 27 stolen bases. McLain was assigned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats to begin the 2023 season. In 38 games, McLain hit .348/.474/.710 with 12 home runs, 40 RBI, and 10 stolen bases.

On May 15, 2023, the Reds announced that McLain would be promoted to the major leagues for the first time the following day.[18] In 89 games for Cincinnati, he batted .290/.357/.507 with 16 home runs, 50 RBI, and 14 stolen bases.[19] On August 28, McLain was placed on the injured list with a right oblique strain.[20] He began a rehab assignment with Triple–A Louisville on September 23,[21] however he was shut down for the season on September 26 after aggravating the injury.[22]

On March 26, 2024, McLain underwent shoulder surgery to repair the labrum and some damaged cartilage, ruling him out indefinitely.[23]

Personal life

McLain's brothers, Nick and Sean, also play baseball.[24]

References

  1. [1]
    Sondheimer, Eric (May 31, 2018). "For the McLain brothers of Beckman High, it's a second chance for a baseball title". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  2. [2]
    Collazo, Carlos (April 4, 2018). "2018 MLB Draft Report: Shortstop Matt McLain Opening Eyes". Baseball America. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  3. [3]
    Burt, Tim (January 26, 2016). "Beckman's McLain to play baseball for UCLA". Orange County Register. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  4. [4]
    "D-backs select INF Matt McLain with 25th overall pick in 2018 MLB Draft". MLB.com.
  5. [5]
    "D-backs take shortstop, two OFs on Day 1". MLB.com.
  6. [6]
    "D-backs unable to sign top pick". MLB.com.
  7. [7]
    "Knights honored on all-West Coast League teams". Corvallis Gazette Times. August 22, 2018.
  8. [8]
    "How UCLA baseball can bounce back from last season's early exit | NCAA.com". Ncaa.com.
  9. [9]
    "#10 Matt McLain". Pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  10. [10]
    Ryan Lemay (July 22, 2019). "East Division prevails but Matt McLain steals show in CCBL All-Star Game". Gatemen.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  11. [11]
    "A national title at UCLA would be the ultimate payoff for Matt McLain". Los Angeles Times. February 18, 2021.
  12. [12]
    "Reds draft shortstop from UCLA in first round". Springfieldnewssun.com.
  13. [13]
    "Reds draft UCLA shortstop McLain at No. 17". MLB.com.
  14. [14]
    "Reds sign #17 overall draft pick Matt McLain". Redreporter.com. July 26, 2021.
  15. [15]
    "Reds' 2021 Minor League recap". MLB.com.
  16. [16]
    "No. 3 prospect Matt McLain visits Reds; Dauri Moreta on callup". MLB.com.
  17. [17]
    "Lookouts Skipper Excited by Talent of Short Stop Matthew McClain". Wdef.com. April 9, 2022.
  18. [18]
    "Matt McLain to be called up by the Cincinnati Reds on Monday". redlegnation.com. May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  19. [19]
    "Reds put NL ROY candidate Matt McLain on IL with oblique strain". espn.com. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  20. [20]
    "Cincinnati Reds place Matt McLain on the injured list". redlegnation.com. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  21. [21]
    "Reds' Matt McLain: In Triple-A for rehab assignment". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  22. [22]
    "Reds' Matt McLain: Shut down with oblique injury". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  23. [23]
    "Reds 2B Matt McLain has shoulder surgery, out indefinitely". espn.com. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  24. [24]
    "McLain trio are the new Bash Brothers at Beckman High, UCLA and Arizona State". Los Angeles Times. April 26, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
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