Braves' Player Recap: Brian McCann

Today's Braves' recap will be on catcher Brian McCann.
McCann was originally drafted by the Braves and came up through their minor league system. He made his major league debut in 2005. Since then he has had six seasons of 20 home runs or more, five All-Star game selections including an All-Star game MVP award, and five Silver Slugger awards for the best offensive catcher in the National League for that season. He has been one of the best catchers, if not the best, in Atlanta Braves history.
In 2012 though, McCann had his worst season to date. He had his lowest batting average, he didn't make the All-Star team and didn't win the Silver Slugger Award. A shoulder injury contributed to that, but he never seemed to find his swing. He finished the year with a .230 batting average and that is where it actually hovered almost all season. McCann struggled the most in a thirteen game span from August 1st to August 19th. In those games, he had only four hits and one RBI.
McCann did provide a few highlights during the year. On May 2nd, he hit a game-tying grand slam off of Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay to help the Braves get back into a game they would eventually win. Also, on September 8th against the New York Mets, he went four for five, with a double, a home run, four RBI's and three runs scored. McCann finished off the season with his .230 average, 20 home runs and 67 RBI's.
McCann will be back with the Braves next year after they picked up his $12 million option this past week. He might miss the beginning of 2013 though after having surgery on the shoulder that troubled him throughout much of the past year. Once he is healthy, look for McCann to bounce back and have a good year. One reason being it is his contract year, and most players put up big numbers in the final year of their contract. With his age and his health being a concern, the Braves could also trade him to get something of value in return instead of letting him go in free agency and getting nothing back. Either way, it would be a shame to Braves fans to see another fan favorite leave so soon after Chipper's retirement.