Colorado Rockies: Ryan McMahon is not Cody Bellinger

I know you’re going over this whole thing in your head and asking, “What’s the point?” Here’s the point. In order for McMahon to be seen as equal to or above Bellinger, the Rockies have to actually start him this season and play him regularly. A platoon situation may not be enough. Even when McMahon was with the Rockies last season, he had little consistent playing time. McMahon shows a lot of promise (.355 in 119 minor league games last season) and the front office seems to see his true potential. When the rest of the position players come to Spring Training, McMahon has to step up and show the coaches and his teammates that he’s ready to take on everything that will come his way this year.

An Underlying Flaw

This is an extremely realistic solution to the first baseman problem, but there are a few concerns. For example, what happens if he’s actually not ready? It’s a huge a risk to take for a team shooting for another postseason run, especially with someone who’s only gotten so much exposure.

I just want to know the secret formula as to how the Dodgers prepared Cody Bellinger and how to do that with McMahon. I don’t want to shape him like Bellinger, but just have him follow a path to help him with the grind that is the MLB season. If the Rockies are able to instill a workhorse mentality on him and get him into a rhythm with some successful playing time, they may have the key to success and a potential Rookie of the Year on their hands. USA Today recently named McMahon as one of the 100 players to know before the 2018 season began.

Next: First base and other Rockies battles to watch in spring training

Final Thoughts

As of now, Ryan McMahon will likely be the starting first baseman for the Rockies. That’s a good and bad thing. It’s good because the Rockies are embracing the youth movement. It’s bad because it’s taking a big gamble on a potential young star. Here you have a guy that’s very young in one of the most competitive divisions in baseball, but the Dodgers just did the same thing and look what happened.

That’s the thing, though. Ryan McMahon is not Cody Bellinger, but he could have a year like him in 2018. This is baseball and there are no players just alike. No, Ryan McMahon isn’t Cody Bellinger, but he can follow the same path as him to stardom.