| James McCann | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) McCann with theNew York Mets in 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Arizona Diamondbacks – No. 8 | |||||||||||||||
| Catcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1990-06-13)June 13, 1990 (age 35) Santa Barbara, California, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| September 1, 2014, for the Detroit Tigers | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .242 | ||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 97 | ||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 390 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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James Thomas McCann (born June 13, 1990), nicknamed "McCannon", is an American professionalbaseballcatcher for theArizona Diamondbacks ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theDetroit Tigers,Chicago White Sox,New York Mets, andBaltimore Orioles.
Prior to his professional career, McCann playedcollege baseball at theUniversity of Arkansas. He has also competed for theUnited States national baseball team. In 2019, as a member of the White Sox, he was named to theMLB All-Star Game. McCann has caught twono-hitters in the major leagues: one pitched byLucas Giolito in 2020 with the White Sox, and one pitched byTylor Megill,Drew Smith,Joely Rodríguez,Seth Lugo, andEdwin Díaz in 2022 with the Mets.
McCann was born on June 13, 1990, inSanta Barbara, California.[1] His mother Carla suffered a tornamniotic sac while she was pregnant with McCann, and she spent the bulk of the pregnancy on bed rest. Her doctors recommended an abortion since McCann had less than a 25% chance of surviving and, even if he did survive, there was a substantial likelihood of permanent disability. McCann attributes growing up healthy to become a major league baseball player to God.[2]
During that time, she watched local sports, particularly theLos Angeles Lakers of theNational Basketball Association (NBA) and theLos Angeles Dodgers ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). After McCann was born, his mother served as histee ball coach and drove him to and fromLittle League Baseball games and tournaments.[3] As a child, McCann was teammates with future MLBAll-StarJeff McNeil.[4]
McCann attendedDos Pueblos High School inGoleta, California.[1] He played baseball in theChannel 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 the2008 MLB draft, but he did not sign, opting to attend college at Arkansas.[8]
At Arkansas, McCann playedcollege baseball for theArkansas Razorbacks baseball team in theSoutheastern Conference of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA)Division I. As a freshman in 2009, he teamed with future big leaguersDallas Keuchel,Drew Smyly,Mike Bolsinger,Brett Eibner andAndy Wilkins to help the Razorbacks reach the 2009 College World Series.[9] As ateam captain in his sophomore season, McCann hit awalk-off home run to beat the#14 LSU Tigers, 4–3, in front of aBaum 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 playedcollegiate summer baseball with theCotuit Kettleers of theCape Cod Baseball League.[12]
In his junior season, McCann had a .306batting average, sixhome runs, 14doubles, 11stolen bases, 38runs batted in (RBIs) and 35runs scored in 61games played[13] and was named a semifinalist for theJohnny Bench Award, presented to the best catcher in NCAA's Division I.[13]
After the 2011 college baseball season, McCann played for theUnited States national baseball team in the2011 Baseball World Cup and the2011 Pan American Games,[14] winning the silver medal in the latter.[15]
The Tigers selected McCann in the second round, with the 76th overall selection, of the2011 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 theGulf Coast League Tigers of theRookie-levelGulf Coast League before being promoted to theWest Michigan Whitecaps of theSingle-AMidwest League.[16]
The Tigers invited McCann tospring training in 2012.[17] He began the 2012 season with theLakeland Flying Tigers of theHigh-AFlorida State League, and received a promotion to theErie SeaWolves of theDouble-AEastern 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 theAll-Star Futures Game.[19] He ended the season with a .277 average, eight home runs, 30 doubles, 54 RBI, and anon-base plus slugging (OPS) of .731.[20]
McCann began the 2014 season with theToledo Mud Hens of theTriple-AInternational League. McCann finished the season with the Mud Hens batting .295 with seven home runs, 54 RBI, and a .770 OPS.[21]
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 catcherAlex Avila.[23] McCann got his first MLB start on September 19, 2014, catching forJustin Verlander against theKansas 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, aninside-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 theHouston 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 sinceTim Raines in1981.[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 theChicago 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 sinceTony 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 byFrankie 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, followingChris Iannetta andChris Snyder in2008,Mike Matheny in2003,Charles Johnson in1997 andBuddy Rosar in1946.[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]
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On April 11, 2016, McCann suffered a Grade 2 rightankle sprain and was placed on thedisabled list.[33] On May 31, 2016, McCann's Major League record of 139 games to start a career at catcher without committing anerror 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 aGold Glove Award finalist for catcher, along withCarlos Pérez andSalvador 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 nineDefensive 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 theBoston 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]
On December 19, 2018, McCann signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with theChicago 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 firstAll-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 whenLucas Giolito threw the 19th no-hitter in White Sox history.[40] Overall with the White Sox, McCann batted .289 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs in 31 games.[1]
On December 15, 2020, McCann signed a four-year, $40.6 million contract with theNew York Mets.[41] 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 brokenhamate bone in his left wrist, missing six weeks,[42] and returned to the injured list in July with a strained oblique muscle.[43] He batted .195 in 61 games in the 2022 season.[44]
The Mets traded McCann with cash considerations to theBaltimore Orioles on December 21, 2022.[45][46] 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.[46] He has had a pair of three-hit games with the Orioles, beginning with an 11–7 win over theKansas City Royals atKauffman Stadium on May 2.[47] The other was a 10–3 victory over the Mets atCamden Yards on August 4 when he also drove in a season-high five RBI in his first match against his previous team.[48] In 69 games for Baltimore, McCann slashed .222/.269/.377 with six home runs, 26 RBI, and three stolen bases.[49]
McCann pitched in an MLB game twice, both with the Orioles. His first was a scoreless eighth inning in a 10–3 loss to theSan Diego Padres atPetco Park on August 15, 2023, when he got three ground-ball outs around a pair of one-out hits.[50] The second was another eighth-inning outing the following year in a 19–8 away defeat to theOakland Athletics on July 6, 2024, when he surrendered a two-out, two-run homer toKyle McCann who waspinch-hitting forBrent Rooker.[51]
McCann played the entirety of an 11–5 home victory over theToronto Blue Jays in game 1 of adoubleheader on July 29, 2024, despite being hit in the nose by aYariel Rodríguezfastball in the first inning.[52][53] Instead of going on the injured list, he played an entire game as starting catcher in a 10–4 win over the same opponent two days later on July 31, wearing a protective face mask while batting.[54] He was named the Orioles' nominee for the 2024Roberto Clemente Award.[55] McCann made 64 appearances for the Orioles during the 2024 campaign, batting .234/.279/.388 with eight home runs and 31 RBI.[56]
On March 17, 2025, McCann signed a minor league contract with theAtlanta Braves.[57] In 42 appearances split between the Double-AColumbus Clingstones and Triple-AGwinnett Stripers, he batted a combined .305/.341/.510 with six home runs, 32 RBI, and one stolen base. McCann was released by the Braves organization on June 22.
On June 23, 2025, McCann signed a major league contract with theArizona Diamondbacks.[58] He made his team debut on June 25 against theChicago White Sox.[59] On November 21, McCann re-signed with the Diamondbacks on a one-year, $2.75 million contract.[60]
McCann and his wife, Jessica, were married in November 2014. They reside inNashville, Tennessee.[61] The couple had their first children, a set of twins, in December 2017.[62] He is an avid hunter, including an annual preseason duck hunt along theMississippi flyway nearCarlisle, Arkansas.
