MESA, Ariz. – The reunion of the McLain brothers is such a feel-good story.
On the surface, anyway.
Matt, now a key piece for the Cincinnati Reds, made the surprising decision to play in the Arizona Fall League the past two months to get at-bats after season-ending shoulder surgery.
Serendipitously, he ended up on the Glendale Desert Dogs alongside younger brother Sean, an up-and-coming prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The McLain brothers played together at Arnold Beckman High School in Irvine, California through 2018, but split up from there as Matt left for UCLA and Sean then chose Arizona State.
So when Matt delivered the news of their reunion at his house in Arizona last month, Sean was stoked, right?
Not exactly.
“I was like, ‘F—, dude, you’re going to take all of my playing time!” Sean said. “What the f—? This was supposed to be an opportunity for me, not you.’”
As Sean relayed the interaction to a reporter before one of the final games of the season, a bedeviled smirk spread across his face.
Him and Matt have a very close bond — competitive-brothers-close.
They have lived together in Arizona for the past several offseasons, so it’s not like the Fall League stint was the reunification of long-lost siblings.
Matt had to talk him off the ledge a bit, promising Sean would get his run.
“I’ve gotten enough playing time,” a relieved Sean said. “I’ve basically played every other day like I was supposed to.”
Matt McLain was subbed for his brother Sean McLain in their first Arizona Fall League game. Baseball rocks
— Jeff (@jefffcarr) October 9, 2024
With the initial crisis was averted, it did become a nostalgia-filled stint for the brothers.
Matt and Sean took infield together at second base during a weekday game in mid-November and challenged each other to turn double plays quicker than the other while avoiding errors.
Matt had an early lead, but a late bobble had Sean yelping in excitement.
“It’s basically just 1v1, going back and forth, talking sh–,” Sean said. “It gets you more competitive and more game-like. There is a purpose behind your practice.”
The brothers have loved to compete since childhood, and even though Matt is in the majors now, it harkened back those memories.
“It’s cool the way it worked out here,” Matt McLain said. “Hopefully it’s not the last time (we are teammates). I don’t think we ever really thought this would happen.”
Matt had 59 plate appearances in the Fall League, hitting .240 with four homers, 12 RBIs and an .876 OPS. The most notable part of the stint was his work in the outfield, though he clarified with me that it was mainly a way to get playing time, and that he wants to remain an infielder.
“I really like the infield, and I know the impact I make there,” Matt McLain said.
Matt McLain’s CF work in the Fall League has made many think he’s bound for a position switch in 2025.
The Reds’ star said that’s not necessarily the case, and he’d rather stay at 2B/SS.
“I really like the infield, and I know the impact I make there.”https://t.co/ZDDN9u5oBr pic.twitter.com/lLnxVkuQbX
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) November 7, 2024
When asked if he was able to relax and enjoy playing alongside his brother since he’s already a big leaguer with nothing to prove, Matt shook his head, those competitive juices showing through again.
“I’m always thinking of ways to get better, no matter what environment I’m in,” Matt said.
Sean McLain hit .254 with 10 stolen bases and a sparkling on-base percentage of .421 in the Fall League. He finished with an OPS of .879 after registering a .663 OPS during the minor league season.
Sean said he changed his swing halfway through the year and has since found his groove. He is hoping to follow Matt’s path and be the second McLain brother in the majors.
“Everything he’s done up to this point, I’ve done,” Sean said. “I don’t say that being cocky, but I’m confident. I’ve just got to keep my head down, stay humble, and keep doing exactly what I’m doing. The stuff will work out. It’s motivating to see him do it, and now I’ve got to get my piece of the pie, too. I’ve got to keep working and grinding.”
Sean McLain, INF, LAD
McLain opened up the scoring yesterday for Glendale with a double. He is hitting extremely well in the AFL, hitting 2 HR and a .357 batting average. pic.twitter.com/EP1YfWDkp9
— Chris Clegg (@ChrisCleggMiLB) October 30, 2024
Sean is a minor league prospect for the powerhouse Dodgers, so finding a major league roster spot won’t be easy, but his position flexibility helps.
“I think my versatility — playing short, second, third, I can even play outfield — will hopefully help me move up a little quicker,” Sean McLain said. “But whenever it is, it is. I don’t put a number on (a timeline to the big leagues). I just love playing baseball and it will take care of itself.”
Sean raves about the Dodgers. He said that when Matt was promoted to the majors by the Reds, Los Angeles flew him out to Colorado to watch Matt’s debut.
“I feel like I’m in the best org in baseball,” Sean McLain said. “Some organizations wouldn’t do that. I thought that was super special. I give the Dodgers a huge thank you for that. That was amazing. He killed it, then I flew home literally the next day and got back to my baseball stuff.”
Matt and Sean have a little brother, Nick, who was a third-round pick of the White Sox this past June. While the Fall League has ended, the trio is still in Arizona, living together and doing offseason training.
“I don’t know if we really planned it this way, but it’s worked out since we’re all in pro ball,” Matt McLain said. “We have similar schedules with the offseason stuff. We’re from Orange County and they both went to ASU, so we got a place out here to live together. It’s been fun.”
And while the on-field stuff is done for a few months, the competition never stops.
“We’re always trying to one-up each other,” Sean said. “It’s fun, and it’s all out of love. We make each other better.”
