McMahon ready to build on career year in '22

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon cops to one -- really, just one -- self-indulgence.

“I watch my own high highlights, I’ll admit that,” McMahon remarked. “Everybody likes to see themselves make good plays.”

McMahon’s reel was worthwhile viewing. He finished second in the Majors among third basemen in defensive runs saved -- and fourth at second base despite playing about a third of the innings he spent at third base -- per FanGraphs. The plays were as pretty as the stats.

But after a few seconds of replay-viewing, McMahon casts his eyes and his attention forward -- maybe not much farther than the next step, but forward nonetheless.

Last year, McMahon achieved career highs in games played (151), batting average (.254) and RBIs (86) to go along with his 23 home runs. Since debuting in 2017, McMahon has seen the departures of All-Stars DJ LeMahieu, Nolan Arenado and -- on Sunday under a six-year, $140 million contract with the Red Sox -- Trevor Story. With McMahon having made steady progress, the natural expectation is for McMahon to ascend to stardom.

But what does that really entail?

The overall trend is in the right direction. His .331 on-base percentage was his highest over a full season, as was his doubles total, 32. The strikeout rate, 24.7 percent, was a career low. But there is small data within big data.

Through his first 26 games, McMahon homered eight times and compiled an .863 OPS, mainly by sticking to proper swing and pitch selections. But in June, he dropped to a .211 batting average and struck out 36 times in 87 plate appearances. Then he hit .319 in July, although he had just one homer.

It was too wild a ride, one that manager Bud Black compared to a roller coaster on the tracks run in a severe “V.”

“Any player who passes the test of time -- we're talking on offense -- the valleys are not very deep, and the highs are sort of high,” Black said. “That's where we got to get. Sometimes the valleys are a little low, then he comes up. The highs are highs and then the deeper valleys.

“And he's very capable. If you dig a little deeper, it's a broad perspective -- putting the ball in play a little bit more [of the] time, cutting down the strikeouts [and] increasing the walks. By doing that, his natural ability, with his swing, will produce more. I think he thinks he can produce more like our expectation, and his expectation is that that can happen.”

This is where McMahon can’t look too far ahead. Taking controlled steps in the areas of improvement can result in a quantum leap. Reaching too soon for the stardom that may await on the other side could lead to him falling into the habit of pressing for power, when he has a swing that should bring the power naturally.

“When I get into trouble is when I try to catch the ball too far out front, try to hit home runs,” McMahon said. “Usually, when I do, I’m not trying to hit them. I’m just trying to swing up the middle."

What to remember from Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the White Sox:
• Righty Justin Lawrence, who is capable of triple-figures fastballs but was not consistently in the strike zone during multiple callups last year, threw strikes on nine of his 11 pitches and struck out one in his spotless third inning.

“His stuff was good -- I liked the breaking ball,” Black said. “The breaking ball was in the strike zone. From that [arm] angle with that velocity and the rip to the breaking ball, if he can get that into the strike zone and just beyond to a righty, those are two pretty good weapons.”

• Righty Ryan Feltner, who went from Class A to the Majors last season, gave up a run on three hits in two innings. Feltner’s Minor League success has come from working the top of the strike zone and above. Now he is learning to diversify.

“As you get higher in talent, up doesn’t work as well,” said Black, who believes Feltner will benefit from some delivery adjustments.

• Infielder Alan Trejo, who saw brief big league time and produced an .893 OPS with 17 homers at Triple-A Albuquerque, went 1-for-2 in a start at second base. He’s getting regular action early in camp. Behind José Iglesias and utility man Garrett Hampson, Trejo has the most experience at short, which makes him an important depth piece.