Colorado Rockies: A closer look at Ryan McMahon’s season, excellent August

The month of August is nearing a close and it’s a month that Colorado Rockies infielder Ryan McMahon will not want to end.

As most players do, he has had his ups and downs this season both on offense and defense. Defensively, he was the best player in the sport last year by Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) but he struggled a lot in the first month of the season. Since, he has, once again, been one of the best defenders in the league. Offensively, he started off slowly as well.

Throughout much of the rest of the season, though, he has been pretty good. The month of August has been excellent, though.

Rockies: Ryan McMahon’s excellent month of August

In the month of August thus far, Ryan McMahon has been one of the best players in the National League. He has hit .329/.372/.582 with a 150 wRC+ in the month. 10 of his 26 hits in the month have been extra-base hits (five doubles and five home runs) and 15 RBI.

His success has meant that he has been moved up in the lineup on occasion. Including Saturday’s game against the Mets, he has been the Rockies’ leadoff man in their starting lineup in four of their last six games, which are the first four times that McMahon has ever started a game as the leadoff man in the majors.

Entering Saturday, his fWAR in the month of August is 1.0, which is the 12th-highest among offensive players in the NL. Five of the 11 players ahead of him were All-Stars this season

In general on the season, McMahon has been one of the club’s more clutch bats as well. On the season with runners in scoring position, he is hitting .267/.380/.457 with three home runs, 45 RBI, seven doubles, and two triples. His 2.9 rWAR is second on the club behind Brendan Rodgers but by fWAR, his 2.6 WAR leads the club.

According to Statcast, McMahon is also among the best in baseball on the season in these categories:

• Average Exit Velocity: 89th percentile
• Max Exit Velocity: 92nd percentile
• Hard Hit Percentage: 80th percentile
• xwOBA: 71st percentile
• Barrel percentage: 59th percentile
• Walk rate: 79th percentile
• Chase Rate: 69th percentile
• Outs Above Average (Defense): 98th percentile

Perhaps, McMahon will be able to continue his hot streak into September to put together a longer string of success despite the club not being in contention.

Colorado Rockies: What Bud Black is watching for as season winds down

There are plenty of things that the upper management of the Colorado Rockies and manager Bud Black are looking to see as the 2022 season winds down.