SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — After sitting out the entire 2024 season due to left shoulder surgery, Matt McLain needed to get back in the swing of things. Despite having 365 big-league at-bats in 2023 and receiving Rookie of the Year votes, he chose to return to the Arizona Fall League, where he previously played as a prospect in 2022.
The 25-year-old McLain faced some challenges getting regular playing time; he appeared in two games early on but then missed over a week. As he sought to establish a routine, he encountered another hurdle: the Glendale Desert Dogs had a crowded infield roster, limiting his opportunities. Always eager to contribute, McLain jumped at the chance to play elsewhere when it was suggested.
“I spoke with our farm director, Jeremy Farrell,” McLain explained. “There were several guys vying for spots, and I was a late addition to the team. We discussed that if I wanted more at-bats, I might need to try other positions. I was all for it; I just wanted to play.”
That’s how McLain found himself starting in center field for Glendale during their 11-7 loss to Salt River on Tuesday afternoon.
While he had played center field before, it had been a while—he was UCLA’s regular center fielder in 2019, his freshman year. After hundreds of games primarily at shortstop and some at second base, adjusting back to the outfield wasn’t as easy as riding a bike.
“No, it’s not,” McLain admitted. “It’s definitely a different challenge. The pace is slower, so you really have to stay focused.”
There’s definitely a level of risk a player takes with a move like this, especially when returning from a serious shoulder injury. While getting reps is crucial, playing in an uncomfortable and unfamiliar position could increase the likelihood of injury.
“There’s certainly a risk involved, but that’s part of the game,” McLain acknowledged. “Risk is everywhere; no matter where I play, there’s going to be some level of risk. Right now, it’s all about getting at-bats and finding my rhythm. Being in the lineup is a positive for me.”
McLain reports feeling fully recovered—“I finally feel normal.” He aims to use his time in the Fall League to regain his timing and rediscover the routine that made him look like a big league regular last year. Although he’s had only 19 at-bats over six games, he’s collected six hits (.316/.500/.737), with four of them being extra-base hits.
“I’m starting to feel the flow of the game and building my workload each day so that by the end, I can say I’m ready to go every day, take a short offseason, and be prepared for spring,” he shared.
One of those extra-base hits came on Tuesday, a Statcast-projected 431-foot shot to center field that landed in a cactus above the batter’s eye at Salt River Field. McLain maintained his usual humility about the impressive blast, which came off his bat at over 102 mph.
“He threw me two sliders,” McLain recounted about facing D-backs No. 16 prospect Dylan Ray. “I should’ve hit them. I took them, then got a couple of good pitches and connected on a fastball up in the zone—the wind helped, too.”
While McLain is open to playing any position in the big leagues, he knows he probably won’t see much time in center at Great American Ball Park in 2025. However, he’s excited to make the most of his opportunities in Glendale to prepare for helping Cincinnati next season. Anyone who thinks he might carry a big league attitude while playing for Glendale clearly doesn’t know McLain well.
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