When you think of the best players in Colorado Rockies history, does Ryan McMahon come to mind?
Well, according to Baseball Reference’s version of Wins Above Replacement, McMahon already ranks 12th for the franchise, just ahead of Ellis Burks and hot on the heels of Andres Galarraga.
He has concocted three consecutive campaigns of at least three wins produced primarily through three straight 20-homer seasons and defense that has proven to be all-world at two positions.
Should he stay at his current rate for the next two seasons, he will leap into the Top 10, overtaking Galarraga, DJ LeMahieu, Vinny Castilla, and Matt Holliday for eighth place. And if he does it for the entirety of his contract, upon which four years remain, he will pass Carlos Gonzalez and probably Charlie Blackmon, depending on how much Chuck Nazty has left to contribute.
If he were to be extended just one season and keep playing at that 3.5 WAR rate, he would then pass Trevor Story to become Top 5 all-time.
Of course, that’s a lot of hypotheticals. He could just as easily fall short of those numbers or end up posting them for some other team, but he could also outperform what he has been so far and truly make his case as an all-time Rockie.
For some, this might feel a bit counterintuitive. He hasn’t been glorified the way the Blake Street Bombers or Cargo and Tulo or Chuck and Nolan ever were. And that’s fair, he has yet to be, at his best, as good as any of the greats.
There are also some frustrating parts to his game. Yes, he is already 11th in franchise history in walks and 14th in home runs, but he is also fifth in strikeouts. If he stays long enough, he will accomplish the rare feat of taking an all-time record from Todd Helton but unfortunately it will be for punching out the most.
It’s also been tough timing for his career. He was a young player finding his way the last time the team was good and while he had some clutch moments, he wasn’t a fixture for that group. Since taking over in a leadership role, the club hasn’t come close to making the postseason and his excellent defense is tougher to appreciate on a team desperate for offense and pitching.
But don’t be surprised if a few years from now you look up and Ryan McMahon has indeed cemented himself as one of the greatest Rockies of all time.
