Why Ryan McMahon Deserves to Make His First All-Star Game

Final Arguments

There's considerable buzz about whether the Rockies might trade McMahon at the deadline, especially with a New York Yankees team in need of a quality third baseman.

However, that scenario seems unlikely—the Rockies see McMahon as a crucial element of their future.

While it's improbable that McMahon will end up in the Bronx, he should be on his way to Arlington later this month to represent the Colorado Rockies at the 2024 All-Star Game.

This isn’t merely a token gesture where every team must send a player.

Ryan McMahon has truly earned this spot.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.

Improvements on Offense

Despite being a Gold Glove finalist , McMahon's career has been characterized by erratic offensive performances. He hadn't yet lived up to the Rockies' expectations.

At the Winter Meetings, General Manager Bill Schmidt told Patrick Saunders, "If you look, he's an average player right now, and I've told him that... 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 dedicated the offseason to improving these aspects of his game.

"In April, I mentioned working on a two-strike approach," McMahon said. "I practiced it during the spring, and I realized I could use that swing more often, not just on two strikes."

This adjustment is proving fruitful, as McMahon is achieving greater consistency in his offense.

Offensive Numbers

However, it’s insightful to compare his 2024 performance with other National League third basemen.

Among NL third basemen, McMahon is ranked third in fWAR at 2.1, trailing only Alex Bohm and Joey Ortiz, both at 2.5.

Looking at additional offensive statistics, McMahon has smashed 14 home runs, just one behind Christopher Morel’s 15 and equal with Jeimer Candelario. His 112 wRC+ ranks him third, tied with Austin Riley (minimum 200 PA), and only behind Ortiz (134) and Bohm (133). He also boasts the third-highest OBP at .347, slightly less than Bohm’s leading .349 among NL third basemen, and his SLG of .456 is also third, following Bohm and Candelario.

This often leads to the inevitable #COORS! accusations, suggesting McMahon's stats are inflated by playing half his games at Coors Field. Yet, a look at his home and away splits reveals a different story: a wRC+ of 99 in Denver compared to 125 on the road.

In conclusion, he’s delivering an outstanding offensive season.

For all your MLB deep dives, check out our friends at Just Baseball.

Download the SportsGrid App

Stay Ahead of the Game and Elevate Your Sports Betting Experience with SportsGrid. Download the SportsGrid App from the Apple Store and Google Play Store.

Elite Defense

These offensive strides haven't compromised McMahon’s defensive prowess—recall, he's a three-time Gold Glove finalist.

He shares the top spot for DRS among NL third basemen with Matt Chapman and Austin Riley, all tallying five (compared to Bohm's -2). McMahon leads in UZR at 3.7, with Riley close behind at 3.2 (Bohm stands at -0.8). His three OAA rank him second alongside Ke’Bryan Hayes, just behind Joey Ortiz, who leads with five. McMahon also trails only Ortiz in FRV. Turning to a traditional defensive metric: errors. McMahon has fewer errors (8 in 194 attempts) compared to Bohm (11 in 151 attempts) and Chapman (10), positioning him third.

Considering these factors, McMahon could well be argued as the best all-around third baseman in the National League.

Final Arguments

There's considerable buzz about whether the Rockies might trade McMahon at the deadline, especially with a New York Yankees team in need of a quality third baseman.

However, that scenario seems unlikely—the Rockies see McMahon as a crucial element of their future.

While it's improbable that McMahon will end up in the Bronx, he should be on his way to Arlington later this month to represent the Colorado Rockies at the 2024 All-Star Game.

This isn’t merely a token gesture where every team must send a player.

Ryan McMahon has truly earned this spot.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.