The Rockies announced today that they agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Chris McMahon. The second-round draft pick recently completed his junior year at the University of Miami.
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McMahon, a native of West Chester, Pennsylvania, went 3-0 with a 1.05 ERA (25.2 IP, 3 ER) over four starts in the abbreviated 2020 season with five walks and 38 strikeouts. From 2018-20, the 6-foot-2, 217-pound righty combined to go 7-3 with a 3.28 ERA (112.1 IP, 41 ER), 37 walks and 123 strikeouts. In addition, McMahon was selected as a 2020 Collegiate Baseball All-America Second Team member, a 2019 All-ACC Academic and was selected to the 2019 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
McMahon was a player the Rockies had scouted since he was in high school.
“He wanted to attend the University of Miami,” Vice President of Scouting Bill Schmidt said, “which played out to be a good decision that continued his development.”
“We thought he was a good fit for us when it was our time to pick,” he added.
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When it comes to his pitch arsenal, McMahon says he has a four-seam fastball, added a cutter at the end of the summer, “which is a pitch I’ve gotten a lot of confidence in, and I think is one of my better pitches now,” a slider that “has a little more depth than the cutter,” and a changeup, in which he is increasingly confident.
“Obviously, Colorado is not a pitcher’s park. It’s a hitter’s park,” McMahon said. “But at the end of the day, I’ve just got to try to figure out a way to get outs and win ball games — just keep my ball down a little bit. Part of my game is elevating velocity a little bit, so I’m definitely going to have to be a little careful about that in Colorado. I’ll make adjustments and see what I’ve got to do to get outs.”
Terms of McMahon’s deal were not made public, but the slot value for his pick is $1,617,400.
Read more about Chris McMahon here.
With McMahon’s signing, catcher Drew Romo is the Rockies’ only unsigned draft selection.
Purple Row will continue to follow draft signings and developments.