McLain missed the entire 2024 season with a shoulder injury.

Subsequent to missing the whole 2024 mission because of shoulder a medical procedure, Matt McLain needed to get some at-bats in the Arizona Fall Association.

Be that as it may, with the quantity of infielders on the Glendale Desert Canines’ list, McLain needed to switch positions.

“I chatted with our ranch chief Jeremy Farrell,” McLain told MLB Pipeline’s Jonathan Mayo. “There are a lot of folks, rules about how frequently folks need to play and I was a truly late add to the group. It was a discussion of, ‘On the off chance that you need more at-bats, you could need to attempt different positions.’ I was like, ‘Definitely, obviously. I simply need to play.'”

McLain played in focus field on Tuesday, completing 1-for-4 with a grand slam and an outfield help.

“There’s most certainly a gamble there, yet that is a piece of the game,” McLain said. “There’s risk all over; regardless of where I planned to play, there would have been risk. Right now, it’s just about the at-bats, getting back in beat with the at-bats. To get in the setup is something beneficial for me at this moment.”

McLain has had only 19 at-bats up until this point this fall, yet he is cutting .316/.500/.737 with four extra-fair hits.

“I’m at long last inclination the stream with the game a smidgen and attempting to develop my responsibility everyday,” he said. “So that toward the finish of it I can say I was all set consistently, have a smidgen of an offseason, get right once more into it, all set for spring.”

McLain was extremely eager to simply get back on the field and play baseball seriously once more. He has not played in a Significant Association game since September 27, 2023.

“I’m recently invigorated,” McLain said. “It was either here or winter ball. I picked here. I live here, mentors are here, the Reds complex is here. Simply the opportunity to get at-bats, it doesn’t matter to me where it is, what level, the way that I need to return here in the wake of being in the major associations, I couldn’t care less. It’s only baseball toward the day’s end and it’s simply fun.”

You can peruse Mayo’s full article on McLain here.

Ensure you bookmark Cincinnati Reds Talk for the most recent news, selective meetings, and everyday inclusion of the Cincinnati Reds!