James McCann

Married, wife's name is Jessica. The couple has twin boys, Christian and Kane...Attended the University of Arkansas and Dos Pueblos (Calif.) HS...Is an avid hunter...Named a semifinalist for the 2011 Johnny Bench Award, awarded annually to the top collegiate catcher...Participated in the 2024 Birdland Caravan...Served as an ambassador for JACK'S PLACE for Autism Foundation during his time with the Tigers...Serves as a brand ambassador for the Taylor Hooton Foundation which enlightens the world to the truth about appearance and performance-enhancing substances...McCann and his wife Jessica sponsor meals at Nashville-area hospitals for the nurses...Played his collegiate career at the University of Arkansas...Played in 169 games and slashed .284/.354/.422 with 85 runs, 156 hits, 26 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs and 83 RBI throughout three seasons with the Razorbacks...Named a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award in 2011...Selected in the 31st round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft by Chicago-AL out of high school but did not sign.

2023

Slashed .222/.269/.377 (46-for-207) with 14 doubles, six home runs, 25 runs scored, 26 RBI, nine walks and three stolen bases in 70 games (61 starts) with the O's...His 14 doubles were his most since 2019 w/CWS (26)...Missed time on the injured list from 3/30-4/9 (left oblique strain) and 6/18-7/4 (left ankle sprain)...Began the year on the IL with a left oblique strain. Reinstated from the 10-day injured list on 4/9 and made his O’s debut that afternoon against NYY, batting ninth and starting at catcher...Clubbed a run-scoring double on 4/11 vs. OAK for his first hit and RBI with the Orioles...Hit his first homer as an Oriole on 4/22 vs. DET...Stole his first base of the season on 5/4 at KC, his first since 9/3/22 vs. WSH w/NYM...Appeared in his 800th career game on 5/12 vs. PIT...Became the first MLB catcher to go 3-for-3 (or better) with a walk, stolen base and five RBI in a game (since RBI became an official stat in 1920) per STATS Perform. On 8/4 vs. NYM, finished 3-for-3 with a double, a run, five RBI, a walk and a steal. Also became one of three players since RBI became official to record five or more RBI and reach base safely in every plate appearance in their first game against a former team (8/4 vs. NYM), joining Vladimir Guerrero vs. WSH in 2005 and Bobby Bonds vs. LAA in 1978 per ESPN Stats & Info...Made his first career pitching appearance on 8/15 at SD (1.0 IP, 2 H). Became the first position player to pitch for the O’s since Josh Lester on 6/23 vs. SEA...Reached base in a career-high 16 straight games from 7/16-8/25...Hit in a season-high 10 straight games from 8/2-25, his longest such streak since another 10-gamer from 5/1-14 (G2)/18 w/DET...Posted his second career multi-homer game on 9/9 at BOS (also: 9/9/20 at PIT w/CWS)...Made Baltimore's ALDS roster but did not appear in a game.

2022

Missed nine weeks due to two Injured List stints: 5/11-6/24 (left hamate fracture) and 7/10-8/3 (strained left oblique)...Appeared in 61 games, his fewest in a full MLB season in his career...Launched his first home run of the season, a 452-foot, two-run shot off of J.B. Wendelken on 4/22 at ARI; was the farthest home run of his career and fifth-hardest ball he's hit in his career (107.6 mph) per Statcast...Had a three-hit game on 4/26 at STL; was the first No. 9 hitter with a three-hit game for the Mets since Brandon Drury (7/27/21 vs. ATL)...Lined a pinch-hit RBI double on 5/17 at ATL...Blasted a three-run homer on 7/7 vs. MIA; marked his first home run at Citi Field since 9/11/21...Started at first base in the regular season finale on 10/5 vs. WSH; finished 3-for-4 with a three-run home run off of Erick Fedde...Entered as a defensive substitution in the eighth inning of game two in the National League Wild Card Series vs. SD.

2021

Made 103 starts, including 97 as a catcher and five as a first baseman, in the first season of a four-year contract...His 17 catcher caught stealings were tied for the eighth-most in the majors...Threw out 17 of 63 stolen base attempts (27%)...Batted .364 (4-11) with two doubles, a home run, five RBI and a 1.203 OPS as a pinch hitter...Drove in his first run of the season with his first hit with the Mets, an RBI single in the season opener on April 5...Hit his first homer as a Met on April 14 vs. Philadelphia...Had an RBI in three straight games from May 2-May 6...Had a season-high four RBI in a 7-6 Mets win at Arizona on June 2...Hit a game-tying, three-run home run in the seventh at Atlanta on June 29 in a 4-3 Mets win...On July 19 at Cincinnati, hit a pinch-hit, go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning...Added another RBI as the game went 11 frames and the Mets won, 15-11...Had five extra-base hits and 11 RBI in his final 18 games starting September 10, matching his output from his previous 46 games (June 23-September 9)...Drove in the game-winning run on September 28 (G2) vs. Miami with a walk-off fielder's choice...Was his third career walk-off RBI.

2020

Appeared in 31 games during the pandemic-shortened season, making 27 starts as the White Sox catcher...Caught Lucas Giolito's no-hitter on Aug. 25...Batted .429/.528/.714 (12-28) with two homers vs. left-handed pitchers...Hit .362/.415/.660 (17-47) with four homers and 10 RBI in 16 games at home...Recorded the first multi-homer game of his career on Sept. 9 at Pittsburgh.

2019

Established career highs in every offensive category in his first season with the White Sox ... Made his first career All-Star team, becoming the White Sox first All-Star catcher since A.J. Pierzynski in 2006 ... Made 102 starts at catcher … Sox pitchers posted a 4.50 ERA (453 ER/905.1 IP) when he was behind the plate … threw out 26.0 percent (13-50) of attempted base stealers ... Batted .295/.372/.492 (36-122) vs. left-handers, .321 (35-109) with seven homers and 47 RBI with RISP, and .309 (17-55) with four homers and 26 RBI with RISP/two outs ... His 34 multihit efforts ranked second among AL catchers, and tied for fourth-most among MLB backstops ... Went 7-45 (.156) with six RBI in 13 games as the DH … hit 10 of his 18 home runs from the cleanup spot ... Batted .331/.399/.549 with eight doubles, seven homers and 26 RBI in the seventh inning or later … his .331 average ranked fourth in the American League and 10th in the majors ... Tied for the major-league lead with two grand slams … joined Sherm Lollar (1958) and Ed Herrmann (1970) as the only catchers in Sox history to hit multiple slams in one season ... Hit .316/.371/.502 (73-231) with nine home runs and 30 home runs in 63 games before the break, including .367 (18-49) in April and .338 (25-74) in May ... Batted .382/.421/.607 (34-89) with eight doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI, 16 runs scored and 11 multihit efforts over his first 24 games from 3/28-5/12 ... Made his Sox debut on Opening Day (3/28) at Kansas City … hit safely in six straight games from 3/31-4/14, going 8-23 (.348) with one homer and RBI … connected on his first home run with the White Sox on 4/12 at the Yankees ... Recorded three straight multihit efforts and four in a five-game span from 4/22-29 … snapped a scoreless tie with a three-run home run in the fifth inning on 4/22 at Baltimore ... Matched his career-high with four hits (second time) on 5/11 at Toronto … became the first White Sox catcher with four hits in a game since Alex Ávila on 6/23/16 at Boston ... Went 19-58 (.328) with three doubles, five home runs, 15 RBI, a 1.029 OPS and seven multihit efforts in 15 games from 6/15-7/4 ... Hit a three-run homer in the eighth on 6/15 vs. the Yankees, snapping a 27-game drought … homered in his next game (Father's Day) on 6/16 vs. the Yankees … connected on a solo homer off Chris Sale on 6/26 at Boston ... Was a finalist for the AL starting catcher spot in the first-ever Google MLB All-Star Starters Election … finished second with 1,085,254 votes, trailing the Yankees' Gary Sánchez (2,266,469) … was selected to the AL All-Star team via the player vote, his first career honor … went 1-1 at the Midsummer Classic in Cleveland, singling off Brandon Woodruff in the seventh inning ... Batted .226/.281/.413 (47-208) with nine homers and 30 RBI over 55 games after the break ... Hit a game-tying, solo home run with two outs in the ninth on 7/20 at Tampa Bay … it marked the first game-tying or go-ahead home run by a Sox catcher in the ninth or later since Tyler Flowers on 6/30/15 at St. Louis (game-winner in the 11th) ... Slammin' Good Time: Hit a game-winning grand slam on an 0-2 pitch in the eighth on 8/14 vs. Houston … it marked the Sox first game-winning grand slam in the eighth inning or later since Adam Eaton on 8/17/16 at Cleveland (ninth inning) … became just the second White Sox catcher ever to hit a game-winning slam in the eighth or later (also Sherm Lollar in 1961) … hit his second grand slam on 8/16 at the Angels, establishing a new career-high for home runs with 14 … became the first Sox player with multiple slams in a season since Carlos Quentin in 2010 … also joined Lollar (1958) and Ed Herrmann (1970) as the only Sox catchers with multiple grand slams in a year ... Hit a game-tying, three-run homer in the eighth inning off Carlos Carrasco on 9/3 at Cleveland … Eloy Jiménez followed with a game-winning solo shot … connected on his 18th and final homer on 9/26 vs. Cleveland ... Was the White Sox winner of the Heart and Hustle Award presented by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association … the award is voted on by alumni and active MLB players, and is presented annually to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game.

2018

Appeared in a career-high 118 games with Detroit ... Ranked second among American League catchers with 24 caught stealings and threw out 36.5 percent (24-71) of attempted basestealers, the fourth-best rate in the AL ... Compiled a season-high, 10-game hitting streak from 5/1-12, going 13-37 (.351) … hit his third career grand slam on 5/28 vs. the Angels (Tyler Skaggs) ... Matched a career-high with three runs scored on 8/13 vs. the White Sox (third time, last on 8/24/17 vs. the Yankees).

2017

Established single-season career highs in runs scored (39), home runs (13) and RBI (49) in 2017...Finished the season sixth in the American League with 18 catcher caught stealings and eighth with a 29.6 caught stealing percentage (min. 40 stolen base attempts)...Became the fiirst Tigers catcher in franchise history to hit three homers in the fiirst seven games of the season...Recorded his seventh home run and his 11th hit of the season on May 9 at Arizona -- became the fiirst American League player to have at least seven home runs in his fiirst 11 hits of a season since New York (AL)'s Alex Rodriguez in 2009 (also 7 HR in fiirst 11 hits)...the last Major League player to do so was Colorado's Trevor Story in 2016 (also 7 HR in fiirst 11 hits)...Sidelined from May 26-June 9 with a left hand laceration...Finished the month of July with a .396 (19x48) batting average, fiive doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI...ranked second in the American League with a .473 on-base percentage during the month and third with a .396 batting average...Posted a career-best, 14-game hitting streak from July 16-August 4...hit .412 (21x51) with six runs scored, fiive doubles, one home run and six RBI during the streak...Belted his second career grand slam and drove in a career-high five RBI on August 12 vs. Minnesota.

2016

Established single-season career highs with 12 home runs and 48 RBI in 2016... Ranked second in the American League with 25 catcher caught stealing, while he was fourth with a 45.0 caught stealing percentage (min. 20 stolen base attempts) - his 45.0 caught stealing percentage was the best by a Tigers catcher since Ivan Rodriguez had a 51.0 caught stealing percentage in 2006... Was one of three finalists for the American League Gold Glove as a catcher, finishing in second... Made the Tigers Opening Day roster for the second straight season... Sidelined from April 12-May 3 with a right ankle sprain... Began an injury rehabilitation assignment with Triple A Toledo on April 26 - appeared in six games and hit .091 (2x22) with two runs scored and two RBI... Belted his first home run of the season on May 21 vs. Tampa Bay...Committed the first error of his major league career on May 30 at Los Angeles (AL) - snapped his errorless streak at 139 games, which established a modern major league record for consecutive errorless games as a catcher to start a career...Collected his first three-hit game of the season on June 3 vs. Chicago (AL)... Hit the first grand slam of his major league career in the first inning on July 31 vs. Houston off of Dallas Keuchel… established a career-high with four RBI... Recorded the first four-hit game of his major league career on August 25 at Minnesota, going 4x5 with two runs scored, a double, a home run and three RBI... Posted a .201 (45x224) batting average against righthanded pitchers…hit .258 (31x120) vs. lefties... Hit .218 (37x170) at Comerica Park…batted .224 (39x174) on the road... Compiled a .208 (36x173) batting average with 14 runs scored, three doubles, one triple, five home runs and 23 RBI before the All-Star break…hit .234 (40x171) with 17 runs scored, six doubles, seven home runs and 25 RBI after the All-Star break.

2015

Finished his first full season with the Tigers in 2015, playing in 114 games. Selected the Tigers Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association. Named the Detroit Tigers 2015 Heart and Hustle Award winner by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. Led all major league catchers with a 1.000 fielding percentage (777TC/0E) after not committing an error in 112 games -- became the sixth catcher in major league history to catch at least 100 games in a season and not commit an error, joining Charles Johnson (Florida, 1997), Chris Iannetta (Colorado, 2008), Mike Matheny (St. Louis, 2003), Buddy Rosar (Philadelphia, 1946) and Chris Snyder (Arizona, 2008). Established a Tigers rookie record for innings caught with 943.1 innings, surpassing the previous record of 880.0 innings, which was set by Frank House in 1954. Ranked tied for third in the American League with 24 catcher caught stealing, while he was ninth with a 40.6 caught stealing percentage. Finished the season fourth among AL rookies with 29 multi-hit games, while he was fifth with five triples, seventh with 106 hits, 155 total bases and 41 RBI and tied for seventh with 18 doubles. Drove in the first run of his major league career with a RBI single in the eighth inning on April 8 vs. Minnesota. Collected the first triple of his major league career on April 19 vs. Chicago White Sox. Recorded the first home run of his major league career with an inside-the-park home run on April 29 at Minnesota -- according to the Elias Sports Bureau, McCann became the first player to have his first career home run be an inside the parker since Nori Aoki with Milwaukee on April 20, 2012 and the first Tigers player to hit an inside-the-park home run for his first major league home run since Frank Lary on April 17, 1956. Hit the first walkoff home run of his major league career on May 21 vs. Houston -- according to the Elias Sports Bureau, McCann became the first major league player whose first two career home runs included both a walkoff and an insidethe-park homer since Tim Raines in 1981. Recorded his second walkoff home run of the season on June 28 vs. Chicago White Sox -- according to the Elias Sports Bureau, McCann became the first rookie in Tigers history to hit two walkoff homers in one season and the first rookie to do so for any team since the Angels' Mark Trumbo in 2011...two of McCann's first three career home runs were walkoff homers and according to STATS, LLC, McCann became the third player in major league history to accomplish the feat, joining Kirby Higby and Kevin Romine. Hit safely in a season-best eight straight games from June 28-July 17 -- hit .438 (14-for-32) with six runs scored, one double, one triple, two home runs and seven RBI during the streak. Finished the month of July hitting .356 (21-for-59) with six runs scored, three doubles, one triple, two home runs and nine RBI -- ranked 10th in the AL with a .356 batting average.  Hit .320 (31-for-97) against lefthanded pitchers...batted .247 (75-for-304) with righthanders on the mound. Posted a .279 (56-for-201) batting average at Comerica Park...hit .250 (50-for-200) on the road. Hit .280 (54-for-193) with 17 runs scored, 11 doubles, three triples, four home runs and 21 RBIs before the All-Star break...hit .250 (52-for-208) with 15 runs scored, seven doubles, two triples, three home runs and 20 RBIs following the All-Star break.

2014

Appeared in nine games with the Tigers as he spent the majority of the 2014 season with Triple-A Toledo...Assigned to Toledo to begin the season...Collected a season-high four hits on April 13 versus Louisville -- equaled the high on May 13 versus Syracuse, June 8 at Scranton Wilkes-Barre and July 12 versus Pawtucket...Compiled a 13-game hitting streak July 25-August 10 -- batted .411 (23x56) with eight runs scored, nine doubles, two home runs and nine RBI during the streak...Batted .383 (31x81) with 11 runs scored, 14 doubles and 13 RBI in 21 games during July...Knocked a season-high five rBI on August 5 at Indianapolis...Hit .342 (41x120) with 13 runs scored, 16 doubles and 16 RBI against lefthanded pitching...batted .276 (82x297) with 36 runs scored, 18 doubles, seven home runs and 38 RBI with righties on the mound...Had his contract purchased by the Tigers from Toledo prior to the game on September 1 -- made his major league debut as a defensive replacement at catcher in the ninth inning that same night...Connected for his first major league hit with a single in the top of the fourth inning at Kansas City on September 19...Appeared in nine games for the Tigers in September, batting .250 (3x12) with two runs scored, a stolen base and one double.

2013

Spent the entire 2013 season with Double A Erie...Collected a season-high four hits on April 16 at Bowie...Compiled a season-best seven-game hitting streak April 14-20...Selected to participate in the Futures Game prior to the All-Star Game at Citi Field...Hit home runs in back-to-back days August 15-16...Named the Tigers Minor League Player of the Month for August after batting .299 (29x97) with 12 doubles, five home runs and 14 RBI in 25 games during the month...Named the best defensive catcher in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America.

2012

Assigned to Single A Lakeland to begin the 2012 season, before his contract was transferred to Double A Erie for the remainder of the season on June 6. ... Collected a season-high four hits on April 26 versus Dunedin -- matched the high with four hits for Erie on August 2 at New Hampshire. ... Hit safely in his final nine games with Lakeland May 25-June 4, batting .424 (14x33) with three doubles and four RBI. ... Named the best defensive catcher in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America. ... Saw action in 14 games with Mesa in the Arizona Fall League following the season, batting .195 (8x41) with three RBI.

2011

Made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Tigers after being selected by Detroit in the second round of the June 2011 draft...Hit safely in four of his five games with the Gulf Coast League Tigers before his contract was transferred to Single A West Michigan for the remainder of the season on August 20...Named the ninth-best prospect and best defensive catcher in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America...Saw action with Team USA during the Pan American Games following the season.