There are countless athletes in history that you have to wonder how much they would have produced if they would have been able to stay healthy their entire career. Injuries are just part of sports. They are going to happen. In some sports more prevalent than others.Â
Matt Mclain of the Cincinnati Reds has the potential to be one of the next great players. As great as the young Mclain has shown to be on the field, he is also displaying an extensive injury history into his young career. The Orange, California, native was already destined to have the spotlight. The Reds chose Mclain with the 17th pick overall in the 2021 draft. The team knew right away they had a diamond in the rough. It was only 2 short years before he would finally get that call to come to the Majors. Nearly 2 years to the date on May 15, 2023, Mclain’s Major League career started. He would play like a seasoned veteran making the most of his chance. The Reds second baseman played 89 games with 16 home runs and 50 runs batted in. Mclain was cruising along destroying Major League pitching. And then it hit. The injury bug bit Mclain like a bullet ant.
By the end of August 2023, he was done. An oblique injury would sideline Mclain for the rest of his rookie campaign. All hopes were geared towards a bright 2024 for a young man who had shown all-star like flashes in his rookie season. Exit oblique, enter labrum. Mclain would face an injury 10 times tougher than the oblique or any Major League pitcher. Mclain would have to have shoulder surgery on his labrum that would   for what could be a future all-star. Cincinnati is presently
.500 and holding their own in the National League Central Division. Mclain has 4 home runs and 10 RBIs. To see an athlete who has already been through so much so early in his career shows the spirit of Mclain.
The Reds have some of the most promising young talent in the majors with Mclain, Elle De La Cruz, and Hunter Green. Mclain looks to be one of the core pieces that can hopefully restore the Reds to glory.