McCann makes the most of his final season

By Riley Zayas
Horns Illustrated Contributor

In a season marked with unfortunate events, the loss of starting catcher DJ Petrinsky was among the worst for the Texas baseball team in 2019.

Luckily, the Longhorns had a reliable backup in fifth-year senior Michael McCann, a guy who was ready whenever his number was called.

“He gives everything he ever has,” head coach David Pierce said. “That’s all you can ask out of a player.”

[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]

However, this wasn’t a simple pinch-hit appearance or a start here or there, this was for the long run and McCann was ready for the challenge.

Five years ago, the Central Texas native got the opportunity to come to the Forty Acres as the No. 3 catcher recruit in the state. Little did he know that in the next five years he’d go through two coaches, go a year without playing at all, and play sparingly in the other three seasons. It is not the kind of college career a freshman hopes for.

Yet in this, his fifth season, all the extra batting practice, all the film, all the preparation would eventually pay off and as McCann found himself as a trusted leader on a young and inexperienced ballclub that is fighting to keep the season afloat.

“I really try to do it all for the other eight guys on the field and everybody in the dugout,” McCann said. “At the end of the day it’s about winning for the team and winning for the university, that’s what I play for.”

Those leadership qualities are a huge part of what makes McCann such a respected player on this team.

“He’s been incredible over the past few seasons about making people around him better,” Pierce said.

The responsibilities can pile up for a catcher. A portion of the pitching staff’s performance is on his shoulders and his performance can easily impact a game in either direction. It is up to the catcher to call the right pitches to the right batters in coordination with his coach, to know each opposing batter’s strengths and weaknesses, block pitches in the dirt, and throw out runners trying to swipe an extra base.

“Now he’s had to take a more physical role as an everyday player,” Pierce said. “He’s been very functional, and it’s not only been a tough chore for him to be good everyday but also deal with a lot of young pitchers everyday.”

As Pierce mentioned, the pitching staff has been a very young one in 2019, featuring just two senior pitchers. Still, it’s been the young pitchers that have really helped Texas earn some wins when their offense was sputtering.

A big part of that is due to McCann, who has worked with the young hurlers and helped them stay confident during tough games. With him behind the plate, the team has combined for 415 strikeouts and a 1.42 WHIP (walks + hits per inning pitched).

And that’s just on defense. Like every other hitter, McCann has needed to be disciplined at the plate and make each at bat count. He has definitely embraced those qualities this season, as the senior is batting .214 with double the amount of homers he had in 2018 to go along with 15 walks.

The veteran McCann is also a successful student who makes his grades a priority. A few weeks ago, he was honored as an Academic All-Big 12 player, the third such honor of his career. As a catcher, focus is important, which is something that is not only improved on the diamond, but also in the classroom.

Each of these qualities have made McCann such an amazing story this season. He was patient and his patience paid off. Unlike other players in college sports, who transfer immediately after not earning a starting role, McCann trusted the process and worked hard to reach a level in which the coaching staff could trust him with the starting role.

“It’s a tough balance, especially when you have to be the everyday guy, but I’m really proud of Michael,” Pierce said.

As he plays his final games at the school which he has done so much for, no doubt each of his experiences on the Forty Acres will be going through his mind.

It’s been a great ending to a dedicated college career for McCann.

“He’s done a lot for this program,” Pierce noted, “and this program has done a lot for him.”

[/s2If] [s2If !current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] [habeabk] [/s2If]