Ryan McMahon returns to MLB having made "mental adjustments"

DENVER – Marked by many, including yours truly, as a potential Rookie of the Year candidate, Ryan McMahon’s 2018 campaign so far for the Colorado Rockies has left a lot of people, including McMahon, scratching their heads.

Playing in 28 games at MLB before being sent back to Triple-A to iron some things out, the third-baseman-turned-first-baseman-turned-second-baseman has been searching for a rhythm all year. And he believes he may have found something prior to being called back up before Saturday’s contest against the Reds.

“I kinda just went back, kinda got back into the groove of things,” he said upon return to the big leagues. “I got some regular at-bats and feel my swing again and feel good.”

A big part of that has simply been getting everyday at-bats. He struggled in a bench role at the highest level, but even there began to get into a bit of a groove with more regular playing time.

He says he has taken the knowledge of what those pinch-hit opportunities can feel like, and taken it with him in his preparation moving forward. “[I’ve been] taking that first at-bat really, really serious. Taking it like a pinch-hit, at least that what I was doing, personally. Trying to just get ready for any situation that I could be in up here. That sort of thing.”

The other role he is still getting used to, playing second base, will also now be tested as a thumb injury to DJ LeMahieu has opened up a spot for McMahon to get consistent playing time. That is, as long as he can hold up his end of the bargain at his third-best defensive position.

I ask how he’s feeling there after getting some work in down with Albuquerque. “Pretty good,” he replies. “I was taking ground balls there every day when I was down in Albuquerque. So, I feel pretty good.”

It’s also been nice to get some slugging feel back in his bat, hitting three home runs at Triple-A. “You hit a ball to the wall, your ego, your confidence boosts up,” he says. “It feels good and you keep rolling from there. It honestly took a little bit. I was pressing a little bit. I was kinda like, ‘Let’s do this thing. Let’s get it going.’ As soon as I relaxed and when up there and trusted what I was going to do, it started clicking again.”

But the biggest lesson of the season so far has been a broader one. “I think it just really reinforced that you need to be at your best to compete with these guys every day. So, it’s just getting back to that and staying there.”

McMahon now pivots his focus to the future.

“Whatever role they need me to be in, if it’s coming off the bench again, I think I’ve made some great mental adjustments that will help me—if that is my role—and if I’m playing every day, just go out there and try to help the team win.”

Clearly excited to be back, Ryan McMahon couldn’t hide his joy and he knew it. “Is my face really red?” he asked. “Because I feel it. It’s fun. We’re in first place right now. Hopefully, we can keep going and win games.”