Colorado Rockies: How Jonathan Lucroy impacted Ryan McMahon

McMahon enters the home stretch toward spring training with the potential of landing a starting job at first base. As I asked him if his approach to this offseason was changing, a smile started to cross his face.

"“Everyone keeps asking me that so I am starting to wonder if I should be doing something different,” McMahon laughed. “I’m still doing the exact same things. I’m still lifting. I’m still taking ground balls. I’m still hitting. I start everything I’ve always started.”"

Colorado Rockies

While he admits that he does know some of the talk about his potential role with the Rockies in 2018 and beyond, he is trying to keep it off to the side as much as possible.

"“I’d be lying if I said I don’t see it but it doesn’t affect me too much,” McMahon said. “I understand that (Colorado general manager) Jeff (Bridich) and (Colorado manager) Bud (Black) are going to do what’s best for the team. Hopefully I can show them and prove to them I am the best option.”"

Is there pressure in having to show your skills to earn the job?

"“There probably is to an extent. But when you’re in the moment, you’re just in the moment,” McMahon said. “During the moment, I don’t feel any pressure. You want to succeed for your teammates. We have a special group coming in this year. Maybe it’s more me putting pressure on myself because I want to be a part of that.”"

And some of wanting to be part of things this year is because of the taste of the postseason McMahon got last year. After being sent down a week after his first call-up, he was once again recalled on September 1 when Major League rosters expanded and was part of Colorado’s stretch run to make the postseason. It’s an experience that won’t be forgotten and will hopefully pay dividends down the road.

"“Being there at the Wild Card game, that was the coolest baseball I have ever seen,” McMahon said. “You guys think you’re hanging on every pitch? We’re hanging onto the breaths between the pitches. I know I didn’t miss one pitch from that Wild Card game. It was awesome baseball.”"