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Cincinnati Reds infielder Matt McLain is due for a strong comeback season, but will it be good enough to win a league-wide award? Following shoulder surgery last season that sidelined him for the entire year, McLain hopes to sneak back atop the list of the best young talent in Major League Baseball. Reds fans know that McLain has the capability of competing at an All-Star level.
Along with McLain's anticipated return to the field comes an expectation for awards. Could he be the MLB Comeback Player of the Year? With several elite players in line for this award, Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required) believes that McLain sure has his work cut out for him.
Reds' star Matt McLain faces stiff competition for 2025 MLB Comeback Player of the Year
Bowden's list includes three former MVPs (Ronald Acuña Jr., Mike Trout, and Christian Yelich), two ex-Cy Young Award recipients (Sandy Alcántara and Jacob deGrom), and four former All-Star pitchers (Félix Bautista, Shane McClanahan, Kodai Senga, and Spencer Strider). McLain is the only player among these 10 to not have won any prior award, which could work in his favor.
While there is an expectation for these other already-proven players, McLain can forge his own path. Unlike the rest of the players on Bowden's list, McLain doesn't have a set standard. Fans have only seen (less than) one season of of the Reds infielder, so the sky is the limit.
McLain, who showed up to camp early, is off to a red-hot start this spring, Through his first 11 spring training at-bats, McLain has five hits, including two doubles, one home run, and three RBI. This could be a preview of what's to come in 2025.
McLain's odds of winning the MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award are certainly high, but rather than having him chase such an honor, Reds fans would much prefer him to be on the field every day. If McLain receives such an award, that would just be the cherry on top.