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

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.

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.”