Brian McCann (baseball)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Brian McCann**
Major League Baseball debut
Atlanta Braves — No. 16
Catcher
Bats: Left	Throws: Right
June 10, 2005 for the Atlanta Braves
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006)
Batting average	.333
Home runs	29
RBI	116
Slugging Percentage	.523

Brian Michael McCann, (born February 20, 1984 in Athens, Georgia), is a Major League Baseball player for the Atlanta Braves. He is known as one of Major League Baseball's best hitting catchers.

[edit] Beginning of Career

Brian McCann was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 2nd Round of the 2002 June free agent baseball draft. McCann advanced steadily through the Braves' minor league system playing for the Rome Braves (Low A) in 2003, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High A) in 2004, and the Mississippi Braves (AA) in 2005.

McCann made his Major League Baseball debut with the Atlanta Braves on June 10, 2005. McCann, a personal catcher for John Smoltz for most of the 2005 season, hit his first home run in just his second regular-season game, and became the first Braves player in franchise history to hit a home run in his first playoff at-bat on October 6, 2005, accomplishing the feat in the second inning of a 7-1 victory over Roger Clemens and the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the 2005 NLDS Series.

At the end of the 2005 season, the Braves traded catcher Johnny Estrada to the Arizona Diamondbacks, effectively making McCann the Braves' everyday catcher in 2006.

[edit] Emergence in 2006

Though McCann showed great promise in 2005, few could have foreseen the type of year he would have in 2006. Bolstered by his .354 batting average during the first half of the 2006 season, McCann was named to the National League All-Star team. McCann continued to excel during the second half, continuing to hit well over .300 while hitting for more power and driving in more runs. McCann finished the season batting .333/.388/.572 with 34 doubles, 24 home runs, 41 walks, and 93 RBI in just 483 plate appearances.

McCann hit his first career major-league grand slam on July 17, 2006, at Busch Stadium, and also hit home runs in five consecutive games in mid-July.

Even at this early stage in his career, McCann already has gained the respect of his teammates and counterparts around the league. Aside from already being considered the top hitting catcher in the National League, pitchers have cited his knowledge, work ethic and maturity as reasons why McCann is a valuable teammate.

Hoping to put him at the center of the Braves future, the Braves rewarded McCann and bought out his arbitration years with a 6-year, $27.8 million contract during spring training in 2007. [1]