Yankees Look to Unlock Potential of Ryan McMahon

Ryan McMahon, who turns 31 this weekend, is entering his 10th season in the majors, and the Yankees view him much like they would a promising prospect ready to make a leap. General manager Brian Cashman commented this week, “With a full spring training and winter work, we think we can figure some things out.” It’s clear they’re hoping to refine his batting.

Coach Aaron Boone said during the winter meetings, “We believe we have a solid two-way player. With the right adjustments, he can really show what he’s capable of.” In past seasons, the Yankees successfully tapped into talent from the Rockies, with players like Mike Tuchman and DJ LeMahieu thriving in New York. Could McMahon be another success story after a full season there?

It’s not common for a veteran like McMahon—who has over 1,000 games in nine seasons without ever hitting above-average OPS—to elevate his performance at this stage, but there’s optimism around his signing from Colorado. Efforts are underway to enhance his swing.

Boone mentioned, “He began joining our hitting program over the winter. His discussions with our staff have been really productive. He’s athletic with genuine power, and he seems to understand the strike zone well.” However, he acknowledged that there are certain aspects of McMahon’s swing that can lead to difficulties, but he wouldn’t be shocked if the player improves offensively.

McMahon’s primary issue is evident: he swings and misses—though not as much as some. He typically doesn’t chase outside the strike zone, demonstrating patience and discipline; last season, he walked frequently and had a notable batting average that put him in the same league as some big hitters. Nevertheless, he struggles when actually making contact—his whiff rate on in-zone pitches was among the worst, contributing to a strikingly high overall strikeout rate.

Despite this, McMahon offers significant power, hitting at least 20 home runs in six seasons, with an impressive exit velocity last year. Cashman pointed out McMahon’s postseason performance, noting his strong contributions on both ends. “He was pivotal, with an OPS of .833 in October,” he remarked, recalling McMahon’s diving catch in the Wild Card Series. This enhances their pitching, especially with ground-ball pitchers like Carlos Rodon.

While Cashman thinks McMahon was a solid acquisition, he knows there’s room for improvement. The left-handed hitter has faced challenges against fellow lefties, performing much better against right-handed pitchers. A potential strategy could be pairing him with right-handed teammates like Amed Rosario and Miguel Andujar to bolster his stats.

Spending time with the Yankees’ coaching staff and fellow hitters could also yield positive results. Boone summed it up well: “I believe we’re just scratching the surface of what Mack can do on offense.”