Matt McLain is a lot better than he’s getting credit for right now. The Cincinnati Reds second baseman has quietly been putting together a strong season—one that many fans might be overlooking.
After missing all of last year due to a shoulder injury, McLain needed time to find his rhythm. That’s normal with this type of injury. Historically, we know two things: it takes a while to regain timing, and the power typically lags behind for about a year. Unsurprisingly, McLain struggled at the plate over the first two months of the season.
But over the past two months? He’s been excellent. He’s posted a .269/.345/.410 slash line, good for a 110 wRC+—a clear sign of above-average production. For comparison, the average second baseman is hitting .243/.309/.374 this season, which equates to a wRC+ of 91. McLain isn’t just holding his own—he’s standing out.
Yes, his power numbers are down. His isolated power (ISO) is lower than it’s ever been—even compared to his minor league stats. But there’s an obvious reason for that: the shoulder injury. It’s not a mystery, and it’s not permanent.
And that’s just his offense. We haven’t even touched on the rest of his game. McLain’s defense and baserunning? Elite. Advanced metrics rate him anywhere from well above average to excellent in both departments. Remember, not long ago, fans were pushing for McLain to play shortstop. As it stands, he’s playing top-tier defense at second base—a position where that kind of value really matters.
So, to recap: McLain is a 25-year-old recovering from major surgery, who is already an impact defender, a strong baserunner, and now returning to form with the bat. At a position where offense is usually an afterthought, he’s becoming a difference-maker.
Yes, it’s tempting to judge a player by surface-level stats. But baseball is a game of highs and lows, and McLain’s early-season struggles were not just foreseeable—they were expected. Despite that, he’s already produced 1.2 WAR, and according to FanGraphs, all eight of their projection models believe he’ll finish the season as an average or slightly above-average player (2.0+ WAR).
And again, this is a down year. He missed the entire previous season.
So here’s a little prediction: Matt McLain will be an All-Star in the near future—possibly multiple times. And by next year? Don’t be surprised if he turns in a 4-WAR season. Or even better.
