Why RyMac may need a bit more time in the minors

Remember the climactic scene of Mrs. Doubtfire? (Stick with me, here.)

Robin Williams is running around, literally trying to wear many different hats… or shoes… you get the point. What results is a mess of confusion, some hilarity, some deeply sad moments and a total disaster for even a phenomenal performer who ends up with underwear on his face.

This is not entirely unlike how trying to learn multiple new positions often works in professional sports.

It’s easy to forget that from 2013-2015, when Colorado Rockies prospect Ryan McMahon was making waves with his bat through the first three levels of the minors, he was playing third base every day.

It’s easy to forget because over the last two seasons he has added first and second base to his repertoire and the superstar Colorado has entrenched at the hot corner makes it hard to think of anyone else on this team as a third baseman.

We at BSN Denver have been high on the idea of getting the most out of McMahon’s athleticism since before the changes were officially announced and have done as much as anyone to promote the narrative that he has quickly made a transition into some kind of Ben Zobrist-like super-utility starter. Or maybe, their own Kris Bryant.

But, for a myriad of reasons, maybe we should pump the breaks just a bit.

That may eventually be the goal, or he may find himself cemented in at first base—or second should DJ LeMahieu leave in free agency after 2018—but it is unwise to believe that a player could become MLB capable at two new positions in such a short time.

Even getting totally comfortable at one new position over the last two years would be impressive.

We’ve all been so focused on his bat, which tends to happen when you slash .374/.411/.612 at Triple-A in the ramp up to your debut, but it’s not entirely fair to either his teammates or McMahon to throw him out onto the field in spots he doesn’t have the prerequisite experience to sufficiently man.

His bat may be ready, but Colorado has shown, pretty much in a bombastic way since the trade of Corey Dickerson, they believe in the philosophy of having a high floor across the board. They don’t want those little pesky things like defense and baserunning to cost them games. Alexi Amarista was the poster child in 2017 for being a player whose value was largely in his lack of mistakes.

This is not to say definitively that McMahon lags in these departments. All the reports are positive on how he has taken to both positions. His 6’2 frame is perfect for first and LeMahieu has proven how it can be expertly employed at second. He’s a cerebral player with great footwork and quick lateral movements. He hasn’t played quarterback outside of the backyard games with the family since graduating from Mater Dei, but he still thinks, acts, and moves like one.

But showing natural affinity and remarkable growth is wholly different from showing the ability to compete at an elite level against the very best in the world.

Additionally, MLB is a tough place to experiment with learning and implementing new concepts. Sure, it can be done, but it’s nice to take the pressure off a young player trying something new. He can gain confidence in preparation for his inevitable call-up upon injury.

While you may be of the belief that the Rockies are best off with McMahon in the everyday starting lineup, given the apparent needs on offense, they are best off with multiple options for the offense that include McMahon’s as the ultimate insurance policy.

If we do see him begin the season in Triple-A, it will almost certainly be so that he can hone the details of the game, including his new positions. It’s easy to get excited about him leading the club in hitting this spring. And every story you’ve heard or read about his exceptional character is true. But that doesn’t mean a little more seasoning in a low-pressure environment couldn’t do him some good.

In fact, it could go a long way toward turning “Ryan McMahon, Slugger” into “Ryan McMahon, All Around Great Baseball Player.”