Fansided

Colorado Rockies: Ryan McMahon, Trevor Story, and the mutual fan club

By Kevin Henry |
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 16: Ryan McMahon #24 and Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies smile after a 3-0 win over the Miami Marlins at Coors Field on August 16, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 16: Ryan McMahon #24 and Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies smile after a 3-0 win over the Miami Marlins at Coors Field on August 16, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
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SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 19: Ryan McMahon #24 of the Colorado Rockies poses for a portrait during Photo Day at the Colorado Rockies Spring Training Facility at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 19, 2020 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 19: Ryan McMahon #24 of the Colorado Rockies poses for a portrait during Photo Day at the Colorado Rockies Spring Training Facility at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 19, 2020 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images) /

SCOTTSDALE — Last season, in their first full campaign of working together in the middle infield for the Colorado Rockies, Ryan McMahon and Trevor Story formed one of the best young up-the-middle duos in the National League.

Trevor Story and Ryan McMahon were indeed a “power couple” for the Colorado Rockies, belting a combined 59 homers and 168 RBI. Individually, they each finished in the top four in both categories on the team while putting up 7.9 WAR combined (with Story’s 6.5 leading the squad).

Defensively, Story finished fifth in Major League Baseball last season in Outs Above Average (OAA) with 15. McMahon, meanwhile, finished overall at 0. However, when looking at balls hit toward the first base side of McMahon’s range, the number jumped to 3. With Story’s range, McMahon could afford to lean more toward first base and help Daniel Murphy stay closer to the bag.

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But there’s more to the duo than just numbers. In fact, there has to be a bit of a deeper dive because, again, it was the first full season that McMahon and Story have patrolled the middle of the Rockies infield together. As Rockies fans are well aware, McMahon won the position in 2019 spring training after DJ LeMahieu signed with the New York Yankees. McMahon also knew the shadow that loomed at second with the Rockies

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it but I don’t think I ever felt any pressure,” McMahon told me in an exclusive chat. “We are two completely different players. DJ is an amazing player and he does some amazing things on the field. I also think there are some things I can do pretty well. I’m just going to try to go out there and do my thing and be the best Ryan McMahon that I can be.”

And he has been, slashing .250/.329/.450 in his first full big league season, belting 24 home runs (a franchise high for a Rockies primary second baseman) and finished third on the team with 56 walks.

But again, there’s more than just numbers at play here. When you talk to Story, McMahon, and Colorado manager Bud Black, you get a sense for just how deep the relationship and respect runs between shortstop and second base for the Rockies.

LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 20: Manger Bud Black of the Colorado Rockies of the Colorado Rockies before playing the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 20, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won 12-5. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 20: Manger Bud Black of the Colorado Rockies of the Colorado Rockies before playing the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 20, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won 12-5. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

For Black, the foundation for the Story-McMahon connection began last season on the practice fields here in Scottsdale.

“It starts with both guys having a commitment to work in practice, and that’s how it starts, because it’s a combo. You need two to tango,” Black told me. “They’re both on board with practice and work, so it’s a natural development. They have the time together and they’re getting their repetitions.

“On the personal side, they’re both good guys. They have personalities that mesh and they have similar interests. They’re both tremendous athletes.

“Mac has sort of stepped into DJ’s shoes. He’s a guy that Trevor likes working with, practicing with, and talking baseball with, so it’s a great fit.”

Story worked with LeMahieu for three seasons as his double play partner but has quickly been impressed with what McMahon has been able to do at second. Colorado’s All-Star shortstop, however, says it’s more than just the talent that McMahon brought with him as one of the prospects that intrigued Rockies fans most since being drafted in the second round of the 2013 draft.

“He’s really good over there, but not by accident. He’s put in the work,” Story said. “He’s taken his ground balls with great intent and you see that pay off in the game. He makes incredible plays and he doesn’t make silly errors or anything like that, which I think is the most important part. He’s used his athleticism over there really well. I’m happy for him. I think he could be one of the best.”

Those words, “one of the best,” are words that McMahon doesn’t take likely. He also knows he can’t rest on what was a solid 2019 campaign.

“I’m not too comfortable in this game,” McMahon said. “I’m going to keep working but I’m going to go up there with confidence, even if I have struck out the last 10 at-bats. I’ve had success at the big league level so now, for me, it’s about doing it consistently.

“I’m not going to be comfortable with where I’m at. I’m going to keep working on what I need to do to get better and I’m going to take this confidence with me.”

DENVER, CO – JULY 12: Ryan McMahon #24 and Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies celebrate after a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on July 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JULY 12: Ryan McMahon #24 and Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies celebrate after a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on July 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Story and McMahon have not only developed chemistry on double plays, but also working together off the field on their relationship and timing on the diamond.

“Me and Mac are real close so we talk a lot and we’re always communicating,” Story said. “I think we’ve always been pretty comfortable with each other out there. Since spring last year when he was playing second, it’s just been a natural flow for us.”

When told of Story’s words, McMahon quickly deflected the praise back to his shortstop as easy as he would start a 6-4-3 double play.

“Trevor makes it really easy to have chemistry with,” McMahon smiled. “He does a lot of things really well that makes my job much easier. Once I figured out how he was going to do things, it was kind of easy for me to feel a smooth rhythm with him.

“He makes it really easy to play second, that’s for sure.”

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So what’s next for the duo? For McMahon, this spring has given him the chance to focus more on taking the next steps he wants to take as a second baseman. That includes finally being able to focus primarily on one position rather than bouncing between third, second, and first base.

That focus included a long portion at the start of the spring where McMahon didn’t even take any reps at first base. That was a big statement after he was asked in previous seasons to split his time around the infield.

“I wanted to give my whole heart and focus to second base, but whatever happens and however I can help the team out, I’ll do that,” McMahon said. “Buddy had mentioned it to me, making sure I popped over to first and third. Honestly, I just hadn’t. I had gotten so caught up in the day-to-day stuff at second that I forgot to slide over there.

“It’s just easier (focusing on second). When you’re doing multiples (positions), you have to divide your time. It’s not that hard because we have a bunch of great coaches that help us out with planning and stuff like that. So I’ll start working around and making sure I touch those bases.”

McMahon always credits Story for being a sounding board last season as he learned how to flourish at second.

“It made it easier for me to ask him questions,” McMahon said of their relationship off the field and Story’s attitude. “If I wasn’t feeling comfortable with something or if I was having trouble with something, I wasn’t going to be afraid to go up to him, as opposed to if you don’t know a guy very well or something like that, you might ask someone else.”

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What’s next for Story and McMahon? How will the chemistry on and off the field develop even more in 2020? The answers to those questions could provide plenty of excitement and optimism for Rockies fans in 2020 and beyond.

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