S
GOD CAN By Jon Ackerman
itting on the field along the thirdbase line at Cleveland’s Progressive Field, James McCann simply tried to soak it all in. Halfway through his fifth full year in the big leagues, the Chicago White Sox catcher was surrounded by the best players in the game, watching some of the top young sluggers duke it out in the 2019 All-Star Home Run Derby.
went on a tear. After 94 total hits, eight home runs and 39 RBIs in all of 2018, McCann collected 73, nine and 30 by the 2019 All-Star break, when he was hitting .316. Crushed and questioning himself at the end of 2018, here he was halfway through 2019 relishing in the All-Star festivities. He even got a line-drive hit in the bottom of the seventh to start a two-run inning for the American League All-Stars. Yet, when the 30-year-old looks back on that week, it wasn’t the hit or the game that he most cherishes. His fondest memory is from the night before, watching Pete Alonso, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and others slug it out in the derby. Not because of what they were doing — though it was a great show — but because of who was sitting in his lap. Sporting impressive faux hawks and mini All-Star jerseys were Christian and Kane, McCann’s 19-month-old twin boys.
“Here they are, they’re a year-anda-half years old and McCann was set they’re tracking home to make his All-Star run balls, they’re highGame debut the next fiving the guys in the night, quite the feat Home Run Derby,” considering where McCann recalled he was only nine recently on the Sports months prior. He’d Spectrum Podcast. “I’m just closed his “worst like, ‘This kid’s not even year offensively” with 2 years old. He has no a paltry .220 batting average, which resulted idea how lucky he is.’” in being let go by the Those on the field 98-loss Detroit Tigers. with McCann, and all But he signed with those who spotted the boys while watching on the White Sox prior to ESPN, surely thought the 2019 season and 16
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Left: AP Photo/Jeff Roberson; Top right: Photo courtesy of Carla McCann; Bottom right: Photo courtesy of New York Mets
GIVEN A 25-PERCENT CHANCE OF LIVING AFTER BIRTH, JAMES MCCANN IS NOT ONLY ALIVE, HE’S THRIVING IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES. ONE OF THE METS’ PRIZED OFFSEASON ACQUISITIONS, MCCANN’S BIRTH STORY — AS WELL AS THAT OF HIS TWIN BOYS — IS A TESTAMENT THAT ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.
