Matt McLain

Matthew Michael McLain (born August 6, 1999) is an American professional baseball shortstop in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Prior to playing professionally, McLain attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played college baseball for the Bruins.

Matt McLain
Cincinnati Reds
Shortstop
Born: (1999-08-06) August 6, 1999
Orange, California
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Career

McLain attended Arnold O. Beckman High School in Irvine, California.[1][2] He committed to play college baseball for UCLA.[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 (25th overall) 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]

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]

References
  1. Sondheimer, Eric (May 31, 2018). "For the McLain brothers of Beckman High, it's a second chance for a baseball title". LA Times. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  2. Collazo, Carlos (April 4, 2018). "2018 MLB Draft Report: Shortstop Matt McLain Opening Eyes". Baseball America. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  3. Burt, Tim (January 26, 2016). "Beckman's McLain to play baseball for UCLA". Orange County Register. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  4. "D-backs select INF Matt McLain with 25th overall pick in 2018 MLB Draft". MLB.com.
  5. "D-backs take shortstop, two OFs on Day 1". MLB.com.
  6. "D-backs unable to sign top pick". MLB.com.
  7. Staff REPORTS. "Knights honored on all-West Coast League teams". Corvallis Gazette Times.
  8. "How UCLA baseball can bounce back from last season's early exit | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com.
  9. "#10 Matt McLain". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  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. "A national title at UCLA would be the ultimate payoff for Matt McLain". Los Angeles Times. February 18, 2021.
  12. https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/sports/reds-draft-shortstop-from-ucla-in-first-round/EKKH3EBJ2NGLDFIZKG5QEQ4YNU/
  13. "Reds draft UCLA shortstop McLain at No. 17".
  14. "Reds sign #17 overall draft pick Matt McLain". 26 July 2021.


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