When the New York Mets despatched catcher James McCann to the Orioles this winter, they weren’t looking for a prime prospect; Baltimore returned a rookie-level outfielder who had but to get out of the Dominican Summer League. They weren’t trying to save cash; the Mets agreed to pay all however $5 million of the $24 million owed to McCann over the following two years.
New York merely needed to eliminate him.
The commerce freed up a roster spot amid an offseason that featured report spending, with the Orioles utilizing the circumstances to safe a veteran backup for younger star Adley Rutschman. McCann has served nicely within the function, along with his work behind the plate and in conferences drawing reward from pitchers and supervisor Brandon Hyde. His offense, a trait of lesser significance for backup backstops, has nonetheless left a lot to be desired, however maybe he was saving his finest for vengeance.
In the Orioles’ 10-3 victory over New York on Friday night time at Camden Yards, McCann tied his profession excessive with 5 RBIs, stealing the highlight from longtime Baltimore supervisor Buck Showalter’s return to Camden Yards because the Mets’ skipper. Entering the day batting .197 with a .570 OPS for Baltimore (68-42), McCann completed with three hits, every driving in at the least one run, for his second multi-hit sport as an Oriole. Starting behind the plate with Rutschman at designated hitter, McCann additionally caught a strong pitching effort, with 4 Baltimore pitchers combining to permit 4 hits.
Also drawing a stroll his first time up, McCann grew to become solely the third participant since 1920 to drive in 5 runs whereas reaching in all of his plate appearances in his first sport towards his former workforce, in accordance with ESPN Stats & Info.
When requested whether or not the sport meant further to him, McCann stated, “I’d be lying if I said no.” But his focus was not on his former workforce, however his present one.
“To see guys truly love each other, guys truly pull for each other, that’s part of why you see the guys having the success they are,” McCann stated. “It’s only a great spot to indicate up each day to work. It’s not work while you love all the things you’re doing.
“There’s something special here.”
Both Hyde and rookie infielder Jordan Westburg, who scored the go-ahead run within the sixth and crushed his first profession residence run at Camden Yards with a three-run blast within the seventh, stated McCann was very important in Baltimore’s pregame hitters’ assembly, along with his familiarity with the Mets’ workers benefiting the Orioles’ strategy.
“I love how he’s willing to share everything and just wants to win,” Hyde stated. “He’s super helpful to our hitters, super helpful to our pitching staff, to Adley. I think it’s a great combination. … He’s been everything as advertised.”
The sport was scoreless till the fourth, when McCann slapped a two-out, two-run single into middle. The Orioles’ lead vanished within the sixth when right-hander Dean Kremer, who had cruised by 5 1/3 innings, issued three straight walks earlier than permitting a game-tying single to Francisco Lindor. Neither Hyde nor Kremer had an evidence for the sudden lack of command, however each praised Mike Baumann for coming into and ending the inning by getting Pete Alonso to floor right into a double play. With the Orioles placing up 4 runs within the body’s backside half, Baumann improved to 9-0, the primary reliever in Orioles historical past to win his first 9 selections.
Westburg began that sixth-inning rally with a one-out stroll, then raced across the bases to attain from first on Ryan O’Hearn’s lofted single. McCann introduced residence two within the inning with a double to deep left, stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly from Rutschman.
“He was playing with an edge tonight,” Westburg stated. “I felt like he was a little more fiery than usual, which was awesome to see.”
Before McCann slapped an RBI single to proper — giving him run-scoring knocks to every subject — within the seventh, he already had as many four-RBI video games towards the Mets since they let him go as he had in 182 video games with them throughout 2021 and 2022. An All-Star in 2019 who additionally carried out nicely within the shortened 2020 season with the Chicago White Sox, McCann signed a four-year, $40.6 million take care of New York. He hit .220/.282/.328 over the primary half of that contract to immediate the Mets to maneuver him for Baltimore minor leaguer Luis De La Cruz, who has but to play within the DSL this season.
Even with Friday’s output, McCann’s offensive manufacturing has been comparable in Baltimore, although his anticipated metrics counsel he’s had some dangerous luck. Still, most of his worth comes within the clubhouse and behind the plate.
“It’s never easy when you’re not playing every day, you’re getting two or three starts a week and try to produce,” Hyde stated. “That’s a tough role. He gives us good at-bats, and tonight was nice to see him get some results, hit the ball hard and drive in some big runs for us. Feeling a little frisky on the bases, as well. But really happy for him. The game he played was outstanding.”
McCann is now amongst various veterans whose contracts the Mets have paid all the way down to commerce them away, with New York parting with aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer forward of the commerce deadline amid this disappointing season. McCann, in the meantime, is on one of the best workforce within the American League, with Friday’s victory sustaining the Orioles’ two-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays within the AL East.
“He does wonders behind the dish,” Kremer stated. “Even when he’s not playing, he’s still involved with Adley and the pitching staff, the analytics guys, and kind of giving a game plan for us as a pitching staff. To see him crush some balls today was really fun.”
Around the horn
- Orioles middle fielder Cedric Mullins (proper groin pressure) is scheduled to start a rehabilitation project with Double-A Bowie on Saturday and also will play Sunday. Mullins has been sidelined since July 15, when aggravating an harm he initially suffered May 29.
- Right-hander Tyler Wells will pitch a brief outing for Bowie on Saturday, his first look since being optioned to Double-A on July 30. Wells was Baltimore’s prime starter within the first half, however after struggling in three outings out of the break, the Orioles optioned him for what Hyde known as a “reset.”
- Bowie shortstop Jackson Holliday, the group’s and baseball’s No. 1 prospect, was activated from the injured listing after lacking the previous week with an sickness.
- In his skilled debut, No. 17 total choose Enrique Bradfield Jr. went 2-for-2 with a stroll and a steal within the Florida Complex League.
Mets at Orioles
Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com