LOS ANGELES − In his postseason debut, Matt McLain looked like the player the Cincinnati Reds expected throughout 2025.
Facing the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 30, McLain was the only Reds player to record multiple hits. He doubled, singled and scored a run in Cincinnati’s 10-5 loss at Dodger Stadium.
“I was kind of proud of him last night. He jumped on a first-pitch fastball, pulled it for the double,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “He’s had a lot thrown at him this year, like our whole team has, but he never quit. He didn’t pout. Played defense. Probably our best base runner. There’s a reason you stay with guys. He wasn’t throwing (crap) in the dugout. Just handled it, and there’s a better player than what his end-of-the-year numbers are gonna be. I think because we were patient, we’re gonna see it.”
McLain, 26, played in 147 games in 2025 after missing all of 2024 due to a shoulder injury. Over the regular season, McLain hit .220 with a .643 OPS and was eventually dropped to the No. 9 position in the batting order. Compared against the .290 average and .864 OPS he offered in 89 games in 2023, it was a disappointment, and the Reds need more from McLain.
McLain previously told The Enquirer he still has a lot to prove his ability to be an everyday player.
“It’ll always be that way,” said McLain, who acknowledges the onus might be greater coming off almost six months of struggles in his first full season in the big leagues.
Francona remains optimistic about McLain’s future, though, and perhaps even a couple good postseason showings could serve as a foundation for McLain ahead of spring training in 2026.
“Sometimes with shoulders, and a year of development, it’s just not as easy as you want it to be,” Francona said.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Matt McLain impressed Reds manager Terry Francona in wild card opener
