The Colorado Rockies entered the new season with one of the few positions that didn’t cause them any headaches: the catcher. Hunter Goodman had established himself as one of the best players on the roster. But behind him, the story was different — and that’s why Kyle McCann appeared at the right time.
On paper, Braxton Fulford was the backup catcher. But 38 games last season with a slash line of .213/.267 and a 30% strikeout rate in 120 PAs wasn’t something to reassure the coaching staff. Fulford was considered a platoon bat that hit better against left-handed pitchers, but the problem was: the majority of MLB pitchers are right-handed.
And that was the opening Kyle McCann could open.
McCann, the former 2019 Athletics fourth-round pick, had a very real MLB moment in 2024. In 54 games, he walked 10.2% of PAs — a remarkable number for a rookie catcher — and finished with a wRC+ of 102. Not a star, but a capable contributor.
The most memorable moment? His decisive home run against Craig Kimbrel, one of MLB’s most notorious closers, to secure a victory for the A’s. For a young catcher, that’s an unforgettable experience.
But MLB is also unforgiving. After a explosive start (.293), McCann plummeted in the second half of the season: just 6-for-48 (.125), with a strikeout rate soaring to 47.1%. When the A’s selected Jhonny Pereda as a backup for Shea Langeliers, McCann was released at the end of the following spring training.
No minor-league deal. No wildcard.
Instead, McCann went… to Mexico.
In the Mexican League—less spotlight but no shortage of competition—McCannn found his freedom. 32 games, .319/.450/1.061 OPS, 8 HR, 34 RBI. Yes, it wasn’t MLB. But for a catcher who had been overlooked, it was a strong reminder that he still knew how to hit the ball.
The Rockies saw enough to take the risk. A minor-league deal. No commitment. But not meaningless either.
What made McCann even more interesting was his handedness. He was a left-handed hitter—like Brett Sullivan, but different in age (younger) and upside. Sullivan, 31, had 112 MLB PAs with slashes of .204/.250 and wRC+ 50. A safe choice, but not one that offered much in the way of possibilities.
If the Rockies want to optimize Goodman’s platoon—and they really should—then having a lefty capable of hitting before right-handed pitching makes far more sense.
The only question remaining is: has McCann fixed what broke him in 2024?
Strikeout rate. The ability to adjust when the pitcher finds weaknesses. And equally important: how quickly they learn from new pitching staff. For a catcher, that’s a test no less important than hitting the ball.
But this is spring training. And for players like McCann, spring training is the last lifeline.
A hot spring. A few well-timed hits. A feeling of “clicking” with the pitcher. And suddenly, the road to Colorado isn’t far.
Nobody is betting big on Kyle McCann. But in a roster still searching for depth, sometimes the quietest names have the real chance—if they know how to seize it.
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