.blUWSx .share-button__link--message{position:absolute;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;height:100%;left:-105px;bottom:2px;padding:0 5px;border-radius:5px;background:#041E42;color:#ffffff;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-size:12px;}/*!sc*/ Thats the coolest part. .hspSPq svg path{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .mlb-header--inner{margin:auto;max-width:none;position:relative;}/*!sc*/ The Reds took an extremely aggressive approach, putting McLain in Double-A right away in 2022. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-extrabold.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-extrabold.woff') format('woff');font-style:normal;font-weight:800;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ sub{bottom:-0.25em;}/*!sc*/ Being part of such a performance in a real Minor League atmosphere was a bonus for McLain. button,[type="button"],[type="reset"],[type="submit"]{-webkit-appearance:button;}/*!sc*/ After all, the current assumption is that Barrero would have a few months with the Reds at short before the EDLC arrival. @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__tagline{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav{display:none;pointer-events:none;}/*!sc*/ Its been great. Double-A Chattanooga placed McLain on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to an unspecified injury. .mHQYb .p-search__input--icon--sm{top:0.5rem;right:0.5rem;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo a{-webkit-flex:1 0 auto;-ms-flex:1 0 auto;flex:1 0 auto;}/*!sc*/ The fact that McLain is bypassing Low-A entirely isn't completely shocking, given that he was regarded as one of the more advanced hitters of his draft class following a three-year college career at UCLA. It was a whirlwind month, but one of Cincinnatis most promising young prospects is thrilled to be back focused on the game he loves after the Draft process. McLains debut for Dayton came alongside another 2021 Draftee. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? progress{vertical-align:baseline;}/*!sc*/ A dominant spring performance might accomplish that. .evGxub{display:inline-block;width:48px;height:48px;border-radius:50%;-webkit-border-radius:50%;overflow:hidden;position:relative;}/*!sc*/ .groqnz .ad-body-container .ad-body-inner-container::before{color:#dddddd;content:"ADVERTISEMENT";display:block;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-size:0.694rem;line-height:13px;position:absolute;top:17px;text-align:center;width:100%;}/*!sc*/ 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Add that to the clubs possible wish to play young uns over vets and you could see McLain start at second or third due to an injury. Yesterday, leading off the 9th inning, McLain teed-off on an Aaron Pinto fastball, blasting it half-way up the Goodyear Ballpark scoreboard that looms over the lawn in deep left field. 17 overall pick in July's first-year player draft, appeared in two games for the Reds' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate before Cincinnati assigned him to High-A. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item .icon__nav-item{margin-right:8px;width:18px;height:14px;float:left;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;}/*!sc*/ Next. data-styled.g142[id="Share-sc-1t9fdg-0"]{content:"koKsQt,"}/*!sc*/ .ebrWqN{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0px;background-color:#f3f3f3;border-radius:50%;-webkit-border-radius:50%;}/*!sc*/ .blLcNM .content{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;grid-column:1 / span 12;}/*!sc*/ No matter what happens, baseball is way up and down, but youve got to stay level-headed through the good and the bad. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner .p-icon *{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Well come back to this in a minute. small{font-size:80%;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-list__item{position:absolute;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner::after{display:none;content:'';width:0;height:0;position:absolute;left:auto;right:-1px;top:33%;z-index:calc(99992 + 1);border-color:transparent #ffffff transparent transparent;border-style:solid;border-width:8px;}/*!sc*/ McLain played the entire 2022 season for the AA Chattanooga Lookouts. But what would it take for McLain to make the 2023 Reds? Right when we walked in the clubhouse, people were introducing themselves. .dLQAwR .contributor__text--twitter{font-size:0.8rem;font-weight:600;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g120[id="headlinestyle__HeadlineWrapper-sc-1ccyctx-0"]{content:"jDETbc,"}/*!sc*/ The Reds selected McLain in the first round of the 2021 draft with the #17 pick overall. The Draft was pushed back kind of far, so I was in playing shape, but I wasnt in baseball shape, seeing pitches, stuff like that because I wasnt able to get on the field every day during that time. .fuMUTu rect{fill:#ffffff;stroke:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ McLain debuted for High-A Dayton on Wednesday, starting at shortstop while going 4-for-5 with a home run, a double and five RBI. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold-italic.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold-italic.woff') format('woff');font-weight:700;font-style:italic;}/*!sc*/ .drUhS{pointer-events:none;width:100%;height:100%;display:inline-block;overflow:visible;fill:#000000;stroke:#000000;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:768px){.epHHrr.youtube iframe{width:500px;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb input[type='search']::-webkit-search-cancel-button{-webkit-appearance:none;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-icon__button{background:none;border:none;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Since then, Elly De La Cruz ( No. Despite hitting just .203 as a freshman, he still managed to leg out SIX triples in 61. @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__content{-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;}}/*!sc*/ hr{box-sizing:content-box;height:0;overflow:visible;}/*!sc*/ Steve Mancuso is a lifelong Reds fan who grew up during the Big Red Machine era. Possible 1st-rounder Head 'pumped' to be at DREAM Series. Positions: data-styled.g10[id="buttonstyle__Label-sc-vlv7w5-0"]{content:"iwXciG,"}/*!sc*/ .hspSPq:hover svg path{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(3){-webkit-transform:rotate(-45deg);-ms-transform:rotate(-45deg);transform:rotate(-45deg);}/*!sc*/ Biography. Its been long and short at the same time, but its been a lot of fun; new experiences, getting to meet new people, all the Draft guys, he said. @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo img{min-height:40px;max-height:40px;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button-menu{-webkit-flex:0 0 auto;-ms-flex:0 0 auto;flex:0 0 auto;}/*!sc*/ Underperformance by Steer could also prompt head-to-head competition with a productive McLain. .groqnz.markdown.youtube,.groqnz.photo figcaption.youtube,.groqnz.oembed .social-embed.youtube{padding:0;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner span{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos img{max-height:56px;max-width:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item__link{width:100%;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;padding:14px;}/*!sc*/ ::-webkit-file-upload-button{-webkit-appearance:button;font:inherit;}/*!sc*/ The Reds have selected McLain with the 17th overall pick in the 2021 first-year player draft. Required fields are marked *. McLain comprised half the hit total of Daytons potent top third of the lineup along with fifth-ranked Reds prospect Michael Siani and Cincinnatis No. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-regular-italic.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-regular-italic.woff') format('woff');font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ Exactly one month to the day after he was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the 17th overall selection in the 2021 MLB Draft, Matt McLain arrived on a full-season field. 'I'm a catcher:' Rose stands out at MLB DREAM Series. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. .cwEpxl:hover{background-color:transparent;}/*!sc*/ .fuMUTu path{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. @media (max-width:1023px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-items--quick--show-revenue .header__nav-top__nav-item{margin-top:-12px;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-items--quick--show-revenue .header__nav-top__nav-item__link{padding:0;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g166[id="Styles__VideoPlayerContainer-t94iyc-0"]{content:"XOHMa,"}/*!sc*/ Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. He'd been slumping pretty badly before this stretch, posting a meager .617 OPS with zero homers over his prior 16 contests. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__subnav{height:100%;overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:auto;overscroll-behavior:contain;touch-action:manipulation;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;}/*!sc*/ Josh Reidt. 08/06/2021: SS Matt McLain assigned to ACL Reds. McLain was a three-year starter at UCLA (2019-2021) where he reached All-American status. 12 prospect by MLB Pipeline following a junior season that saw him hit .333 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs. .hUHmCp > article .ad-bottom-right-container{margin-top:64px;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff') format('woff');font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ McLains isolated power (ISO) increased from .152 in 2021 to .221 in 2022. 30. August 6, 2021: SS Matt McLain assigned to ACL Reds. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. code,kbd,samp{font-family:monospace,monospace;font-size:1em;}/*!sc*/ .epHHrr.youtube iframe{max-width:100%;}/*!sc*/ sup{top:-0.5em;}/*!sc*/ Matt McLain is an American college baseball shortstop representing the UCLA Bruins. McLain went 4-for-5 with a homer and a double, driving in five runs and scoring twice as High-A Dayton rolled by Lansing, 12-4, on Wednesday afternoon. McLain was invited to the Reds' big-league camp Friday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. That spring, India won an improbable Opening Day roster spot by kicking down the door as well as taking advantage of opportunity. Its noteworthy that doubts coming out of college about McLain sticking at shortstop reliable, not spectacular (Prospects Live) have turned around. .blLcNM .content >:nth-last-child(2){border:none;margin-right:auto;padding-right:48px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-items--spillover{display:none;}/*!sc*/ @media screen and (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner:hover a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner:hover span{color:#ffffff;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner:hover .p-icon *{fill:#ffffff;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__subnav{background-color:#ffffff;width:calc(100vw - 145px);}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header{font-size:14px;}}/*!sc*/ McLain, who is on the 7-day injured list at Double-A Chattanooga with a wrist injury, is expected to return to action at some point next week, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. If you want to watch a bunch (12+ minutes!) .hspSPq:hover svg{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ MLB Pipeline rates McLain fifth. Hes demonstrated gap-to-gap power. Marte. McLain was reassigned to minor-league spring training Saturday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top [class$='button-menu--icon'] span{background-color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search-item__image-thumbnail{margin-top:auto;height:45px;}/*!sc*/ All the people in the Reds organization have been great, welcoming me and the other guys into the organization and just trying to get us better.. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo--with-sponsor,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__url-logo--with-sponsor,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo--with-tagline,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__url-logo--with-tagline{display:none;}/*!sc*/ Its a change of pace out here. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .mlb-header__login-menu{border-color:#057AFF;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu{background:#ffffff;border-top:solid 4px #002867;box-shadow:0 2px 4px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.2);box-shadow:6px 6px 15px -3px rgba(0,0,0,0.25);left:-99em;opacity:0;padding:10px;position:absolute;right:0;-webkit-transition:opacity 1ms ease 1ms;transition:opacity 1ms ease 1ms;width:160px;z-index:99992;}/*!sc*/ Theres more than a month before the Opening Day roster will be set. data-styled.g141[id="sharestyle__Wrapper-sc-9nfkvu-1"]{content:"blUWSx,"}/*!sc*/ A lot of plays are made when were out there.. Its just a cool atmosphere, good to be in a ballpark.. See My Tutor. button::-moz-focus-inner,[type="button"]::-moz-focus-inner,[type="reset"]::-moz-focus-inner,[type="submit"]::-moz-focus-inner{border-style:none;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ .hUHmCp > article{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(12,minmax(0,1fr));grid-gap:24px;color:#000000;}/*!sc*/ Matt McLain is the #6 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds system The former UCLA shortstop could reach the big league Reds as early as this year. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item .icon__subnav-arrow{-webkit-transform:rotate(-90deg);-ms-transform:rotate(-90deg);transform:rotate(-90deg);margin-right:0;width:11px;height:11px;float:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-items{background-color:#041E42;}/*!sc*/ Once McLain is ready to play again, he'll be joined in the Chattanooga infield by top prospect Elly De La Cruz, who was promoted from High-A Dayton on Wednesday. 6-keys: media/spln/mlb/reg/free/playerprofiles, How the Dodgers can replace Gavin Lux after injury, Fernando Tats Jr. returns to Padres lineup, Rhys Hoskins, Steven Kwan and more extension candidates, Padres, Manny Machado agree to 11-year, $350M deal, Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux tears ACL, will miss season, Prospect Watch: Checking in on '21 first-round picks. .mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu--open{display:block;left:auto;opacity:1;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold.woff') format('woff');font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top > *{-webkit-order:0;-ms-flex-order:0;order:0;-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;}/*!sc*/ Thats what Im here for. It's been a hot-and-cold season for McLain, but with 17 homers, 27 steals and an .808 OPS in 103 games, he's been able to raise his prospect profile significantly. @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club] .header__nav-top{background-image:linear-gradient( #002D72 50%, #041E42 50% );}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--parent::after{border-color:transparent transparent #057AFF;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--current{border-color:#057AFF;}}/*!sc*/ McLain could play the role of a versatile sub, with the skill to play across the infield including short plus the outfield. .fuMUTu{pointer-events:none;width:16px;height:16px;display:inline-block;overflow:visible;fill:#ffffff;stroke:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ #react-header{width:100%;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#081c3b;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:1024px){.blLcNM .content{grid-column:1 / span 8;}.blLcNM .content .share-btn{-webkit-align-self:flex-end;-ms-flex-item-align:end;align-self:flex-end;margin-bottom:16px;top:0;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-container__revenue{display:none;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:768px){.cHcHkC{font-size:1.44rem;max-height:32px;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap;display:block;-webkit-line-clamp:none;-webkit-box-orient:inline-axis;}.cHcHkC::before,.cHcHkC::after{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ 17 overall selection in the 2021 MLB Draft. h1.Styles__HeadlineContainer-sc-19rm04l-0{font-size:2.074rem;margin-bottom:8px;}/*!sc*/ Matt McLain is a long way from following in Jonathan Indias path. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-black-italic.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-black-italic.woff') format('woff');font-style:italic;font-weight:900;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ If you take one bad step, youre already behind.. McLain (wrist) was activated from the 7-day injured list Friday, Doug Gray of RedsMinorLeagues.com reports. Its nice to be able to go play again and not worry about any of that stuff, just have fun playing baseball, he said. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav ::-webkit-scrollbar-track,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb{background:transparent;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g100[id="styles__SearchWidgetContainer-sc-1vorjk3-0"]{content:"fYCiRB,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button.account--logged-in::after{background:none;bottom:-17px;content:'';height:22px;left:auto;right:7px;opacity:0;position:absolute;-webkit-transform:rotate(45deg);-ms-transform:rotate(45deg);transform:rotate(45deg);-webkit-transition:opacity 100ms ease 100ms;transition:opacity 100ms ease 100ms;width:22px;}/*!sc*/ @media (max-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-url-logos--no-sponsor{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ His bomb yesterday came in the first game of spring training. @media (min-width:768px){.epHHrr{max-width:500px;}}/*!sc*/ Facebook gives people the power to. De La Cruz was somewhat critical of McLain's home run trot after hitting the walk-off winner. Facts. Shortstop, Centerfielder and Second Baseman, Born: button,input,optgroup,select,textarea{font-family:inherit;font-size:100%;line-height:1.15;margin:0;}/*!sc*/ Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. textarea{overflow:auto;}/*!sc*/ With the arrival of Elly De La Cruz in Chattanooga, McLain split his time between short and second base. 1 Reds prospect) has emerged as a one-of-a-kind power/speed . That showed how much we felt he could manage it mentally. Matt McLain is plenty big enough to be a professional baseball player at the highest level. Former 1st round pick Matt McLain made sure of that, launching a walk-off homer in the Bottom of the 9th to give the Reds a 4-3 win over their rivels and park-mates the Cleveland Guardians. De La Cruz, 21, is the headliner of the group as the most exciting prospect in baseball. .mHQYb .p-search-item__image-selector--active{background-color:#4c8cee;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team + .p-search-item--player.p-search-item--es:before{content:'Jugadores';}/*!sc*/ McLain was originally taken in 2018 with the 25th overall pick by the D-backs, but he instead honored his commitment to play for the Bruins. March 3, 2019: .mHQYb .p-search-item__team-logo--container{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;margin-left:auto;}/*!sc*/ Finally, McLain could win the infield bench slot, either by beating out Newman or Barrero this spring or by an injury to one of those two. Thursday night against the Tennessee Smokies, Reds shortstop prospect Matt McLain played his 100th game of the season. Matthew Michael McLain a.k.a. article ul,article ol{padding:0;margin:0 0 0 2.5rem;}/*!sc*/ After three years of experience at the collegiate level, McLain entered the 2021 Draft ranked as the No. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__tagline{margin-right:auto;display:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight{background-color:#333333;}/*!sc*/ To be fair, most of De La Cruz's homers are rocketed off the bat and some even land outside of the stadium. [type="search"]{-webkit-appearance:textfield;outline-offset:-2px;}/*!sc*/ The Reds were aggressive with McLain, having him play only two games at the rookie level before jumping him to the High-A Dayton Dragons for 29 games to finish the 2021 season. McLain faced adversity at a high level last year, and he wasnt fazed. .drUhS rect{fill:#000000;stroke:#000000;}/*!sc*/ Especially here in Lansing, the field is really cool, the apartments [beyond] center field. Instead of going pro, the young right-hander chose to travel 50 miles up the road to attend his hometown college of UCLA. That said, if Jose Barrero struggles this spring, it could open the door for either McLain or De La Cruz. .iwXciG{display:inline-block;}/*!sc*/ : 180 lbs Bats: R / Throws: R Drafted in the 1st round (17th overall). McLain is hitting .278/.365/.593 with three homers, three steals, 12 RBI and 13 runs across 15 games for Double-A Chattanooga. McLains K% jumped from 20% to 28%. Marte played at High-A last year. Even if you're not an avid consumer of collegiate baseball, the name might already sound familiar to you, as McLain was drafted 25th overall by the Diamondbacks in 2018 but did not sign in lieu of his commitment to UCLA. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. . .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side__nav-item[aria-expanded='true']{-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;}/*!sc*/ July 26, 2021: Cincinnati Reds signed SS Matt McLain. His first impression was a strong one. @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ The UCLA product notched his four hits in his first four trips to the plate for the Dragons, starting with a single to left in the first inning and following that with a two-run homer to left in the third. After a solid pro debut in High-A last year, the Reds moved McLain somewhat aggressively to Double-A, and he's rewarded them with a productive start to the year. But that doesn't rule out an India-like emergence. Steve was also at all three games of the 2012 NLDS, but its too soon to talk about that. data-styled.g143[id="Styles__SocialContainer-sc-1h38xz1-0"]{content:"blLcNM,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .icon-globe{margin-left:32px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb body.side-nav-open{position:fixed;overflow:hidden;overscroll-behavior:none;touch-action:none;}/*!sc*/ Steves fondest memories about the Reds include attending a couple 1975 World Series games, being at Homer Baileys second no-hitter and going nuts for Jay Bruce at Clinchmas. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__url-logo{padding-left:20px;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;}/*!sc*/ Last spring, he appeared in five exhibition games for the Reds and had a pair of singles and a walk in his seven. .blUWSx .share-button__link--message-icon{width:10px;margin-right:5px;}/*!sc*/ No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. main{display:block;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-icon__square{width:30px;}/*!sc*/ .epHHrr iframe{max-width:100%;}/*!sc*/ Martes body seems to be pointing him toward third base. McLain's home run gave the Reds a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians and it certainly has the fanbase talking about what might be after seeing the former first-round pick show off some power in the team's first Cactus League of the spring. 17. .mHQYb .p-search__status{left:-9999px;position:absolute;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;position:relative;z-index:99993;padding:0 14px;background-color:#041e42;box-shadow:1px 0 5px #000000;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium.woff') format('woff');font-weight:500;font-style:normal;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ McLain was one of the stars on offense in a loaded UCLA lineup, hitting .333/.434/.579 with nine homers . McLain does have numerous paths to the big leagues this spring, but each is complex and uncertain, with other players in the mix. McLain, 23, had only played a month at High-A following the 2021 MLB Draft. .hUHmCp > article .ad-top-right-container::before,.hUHmCp > article .ad-bottom-right-container::before{font-family:"proxima-nova";content:"ADVERTISEMENT";display:block;position:absolute;top:-17px;text-align:center;width:100%;color:#888888;font-size:0.694rem;line-height:13px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:56px;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;-webkit-flex:99 1 45%;-ms-flex:99 1 45%;flex:99 1 45%;}/*!sc*/ University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA). McLain, a 21-year-old shortstop out of UCLA, signed just days away from the Aug. 1 deadline. They reminded each other about the importance of getting that daily work in, and it paid off for two of the most important pieces of the Reds long-term future. Matthew McLain Retweeted. b,strong{font-weight:bolder;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos > *{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner span{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-extrabold-italic.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-extrabold-italic.woff') format('woff');font-style:italic;font-weight:800;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ Fangraphs notes his power output is for real and has a power over hit skill.. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-url-logos{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}/*!sc*/ Matt McLain played center field in 49 of his 61 games his first year at UCLA. Last week, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel released his first mock, and the Mets landed UCLA standout shortstop Matt McLain. Reds 2023 Opening Day roster predictions 2.0. dark. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(2){-webkit-transform:rotate(45deg);-ms-transform:rotate(45deg);transform:rotate(45deg);}/*!sc*/ a{background-color:transparent;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__url-logo a{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;}/*!sc*/ De La Cruz played shortstop most days, but also started at third eight games and batted DH in several others. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. It's hard to see him succeeding in the majors without making significant adjustments to cut down on the whiffs. .mHQYb .p-search-item__image-thumbnail--team{margin:0 auto 0 0.25rem;height:40px;width:45px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav{background-color:#081c3b;width:145px;-ms-overflow-style:none;}/*!sc*/ He'll presumably begin the year at High-A Dayton. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight:hover{background-color:lighten;}/*!sc*/ McLains 9th-inning heroics yesterday recalled Jonathan India in 2021. html{line-height:1.15;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%;}/*!sc*/ Not so much with the result, but with the somber way that McLain rounded the bases after hitting his walk-off blast. Player at the highest level hover svg { fill: # ffffff ; } } / *! *. Games of the NBA, NHL and MLB away from the Aug. 1 deadline: # ffffff ; /... Spectacular ( Prospects Live ) have turned around nine home runs and 36 RBIs walk-off winner felt he manage. 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