Chris McMahon Stats & Scouting Report

IP	217.667
ERA	5.044
WHIP	1.521
BB/9	2.688
SO/9	9.014

Full name Christopher James McMahon
Born 02/04/1999 in West Chester, PA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 217 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Miami
Drafted in the 2nd round (46th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2020 (signed for $1,637,400).

View Draft Report

McMahon has shown impressive athleticism and arm strength dating back to his high school days, when he was up to 95 mph and showed potential with two quality offspeed offerings. He ranked No. 76 in the 2017 BA 500, but made it to Miami and should go off the board well before that range in 2020. The top arm in southern Florida, McMahon has a solid collegiate track record with the Hurricanes and scouts believe his pitch metrics will excite analytically inclined evaluators as well. His fastball is a plus offering, regularly in the mid-90s, but the pitch plays better than its velocity thanks to deception and solid riding life. He also has a slider and a changeup. Some scouts have the slider as his better offspeed offering, calling it a plus breaking ball, while others are high on a changeup that gets plus grades as well. He pulls the string with that pitch and induces whiffs and ground balls from hitters of both sides. McMahon has also implemented a cutter, though some evaluators believe it’s not a true cutter, simply a more firm version of his slider. Whatever the pitch, scouts believe both breaking balls have plus potential. McMahon has a minor back injury on his resume, but he’s largely been successful when healthy and was off to his best collegiate season in 2020 with a 1.05 ERA in four starts and 25.2 innings, with 38 strikeouts and five walks. Some teams could like him as high as the 20s, and it would be surprising to see him slide out of the second round.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: Knee and back injuries limited McMahon’s time on the mound in college, but he was dominant when healthy. He posted a 2.25 ERA with 123 strikeouts in 112.1 career innings for Miami, then signed with the Rockies for $1,637,400 after Colorado drafted him No. 46 overall. He proceeded to impress in instructional league, then put up a 4.17 ERA in 22 games (20 starts) in his professional debut for High-A Spokane in 2021.

Scouting Report: McMahon’s fastball sits in the low 90s and can run up to 95 mph with some late action that can induce weak contact. He has above-grade command and also features a hybrid breaking pitch that moves like a slurve, as well as an average changeup that’s still a work in progress. He battles on the mound, attacks hitters, has good instincts and is athletic, but will probably need to shorten his arm action as he faces better hitting. His slider and curve also need more consistency.

The Future: McMahon’s ceiling is as a mid- to back-end starter if he can continue to hone his control and develop his changeup to keep hitters off a non-dominant fastball. He’ll likely start 2022 in Double-A.
Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Curveball: . Control: 50.

TRACK RECORD: Offseason meniscus surgery forced McMahon to miss the start of his freshman year at Miami in 2018, and a minor back injury slowed him for a short period of time as a sophomore. But when he was on the mound, McMahon was excellent for the Hurricanes. He put up a 2.55 ERA with 123 strikeouts in 112.1 career innings, leading the Rockies to draft him 46th overall in 2020 and sign him for $1,637,400.

SCOUTING REPORT: McMahon’s best offering is a fastball that sits 95-96 mph and was located well when he participated in instructional league. He complements his fastball with a solid-average slider and changeup that has a chance to be a plus offering down the line. The consistency of those secondary offerings will be key for McMahon. He throws strikes with average control, and the Rockies like the mound presence and moxie that he brings to his craft. McMahon’s athleticism, three-pitch repertoire and arm strength should keep him alive as starter.

THE FUTURE: McMahon has yet to officially debut and he’ll have to prove himself in 2021. The Rockies are already pleased with what they’ve seen so far and think they have a potential mid-rotation starter.

Draft Prospects

McMahon has shown impressive athleticism and arm strength dating back to his high school days, when he was up to 95 mph and showed potential for two quality offspeed offerings. He was drafted by the Braves in the 33rd round but opted for Miami, where he emerged as the top pitcher in his class in southern Florida. McMahon has a solid track record with the Hurricanes, and scouts believe his pitch metrics will excite analytically-inclined evaluators. His fastball is a plus offering that regularly sits in the mid-90s with deception and solid riding life. Some scouts consider his slider the better of his two secondary offerings and call it a plus breaking ball, while others are higher on a changeup that draws plus grades as well. Neither is consistently plus, but both flash it. McMahon has also implemented a cutter, though some evaluators believe it is simply a more firm version of his slider. McMahon has a minor back injury on his resume, but he’s largely been successful when healthy. He was off to his best collegiate season in 2020 with a 1.05 ERA, 38 strikeouts and five walks over 25.2 innings. With his potent three-pitch mix and accomplished track record, McMahon is in the mix to go as high as the back of the first round, and it would be surprising to see him slide past the second round.
McMahon's season got off to a later start as he played basketball in his senior year. The Miami recruit, however, had already shown plenty with a successfull turn on the showcase circuit, as he reached 95 mph with his fastball and showed the makings of two useable offspeed pitches. McMahon's best attributes are his athleticism and arm strength. He has a loose, repeatable delivery and plus arm speed that could lead to an elite fastball down the line. His fastball flashes late life, particularly when he's able to locate it down in the strike zone. Evaluators who believe in McMahon are banking on his athleticism and his ability to improve his below-average offspeed pitches. He's shown the makings of a useable curveball in the past; thrown in the upper 70s, the pitch showed trackable 11-to-5 break in the summer and fall. Most evaluators view his changeup as more likely to be part of his arsenal long term, as he's shown some feel to locate it down in the zone with late tumbling action. McMahon is not expected to come cheap, but some teams have shown significant interest in him and could try to sign him away from college.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Knee and back injuries limited McMahon&#39s time on the mound in college, but he was dominant when healthy. He posted a 2.25 ERA with 123 strikeouts in 112.1 career innings for Miami, then signed with the Rockies for $1,637,400 after Colorado drafted him No. 46 overall. He proceeded to impress in instructional league, then put up a 4.17 ERA in 22 games (20 starts) in his professional debut for High-A Spokane in 2021.

Scouting Report: McMahon&#39s fastball sits in the low 90s and can run up to 95 mph with some late action that can induce weak contact. He has above-grade command and also features a hybrid breaking pitch that moves like a slurve, as well as an average changeup that&#39s still a work in progress. He battles on the mound, attacks hitters, has good instincts and is athletic, but will probably need to shorten his arm action as he faces better hitting. His slider and curve also need more consistency.

The Future: McMahon&#39s ceiling is as a mid- to back-end starter if he can continue to hone his control and develop his changeup to keep hitters off a non-dominant fastball. He&#39ll likely start 2022 in Double-A.
Track Record: Knee and back injuries limited McMahon’s time on the mound in college, but he was dominant when healthy. He posted a 2.25 ERA with 123 strikeouts in 112.1 career innings for Miami, then signed with the Rockies for $1,637,400 after Colorado drafted him No. 46 overall. He proceeded to impress in instructional league, then put up a 4.17 ERA in 22 games (20 starts) in his professional debut for High-A Spokane in 2021.

Scouting Report: McMahon’s fastball sits in the low 90s and can run up to 95 mph with some late action that can induce weak contact. He has above-grade command and also features a hybrid breaking pitch that moves like a slurve, as well as an average changeup that’s still a work in progress. He battles on the mound, attacks hitters, has good instincts and is athletic, but will probably need to shorten his arm action as he faces better hitting. His slider and curve also need more consistency.

The Future: McMahon’s ceiling is as a mid- to back-end starter if he can continue to hone his control and develop his changeup to keep hitters off a non-dominant fastball. He’ll likely start 2022 in Double-A.
Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Curveball: . Control: 50.

TRACK RECORD: Offseason meniscus surgery forced McMahon to miss the start of his freshman year at Miami in 2018, and a minor back injury slowed him for a short period of time as a sophomore. But when he was on the mound, McMahon was excellent for the Hurricanes. He put up a 2.55 ERA with 123 strikeouts in 112.1 career innings, leading the Rockies to draft him 46th overall in 2020 and sign him for $1,637,400.

SCOUTING REPORT: McMahon's best offering is a fastball that sits 95-96 mph and was located well when he participated in instructional league. He complements his fastball with a solid-average slider and changeup that has a chance to be a plus offering down the line. The consistency of those secondary offerings will be key for McMahon. He throws strikes with average control, and the Rockies like the mound presence and moxie that he brings to his craft. McMahon's athleticism, three-pitch repertoire and arm strength should keep him alive as starter.

THE FUTURE: McMahon has yet to officially debut and he'll have to prove himself in 2021. The Rockies are already pleased with what they've seen so far and think they have a potential mid-rotation starter.
Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Curveball: . Control: 50.

TRACK RECORD: Offseason meniscus surgery forced McMahon to miss the start of his freshman year at Miami in 2018, and a minor back injury slowed him for a short period of time as a sophomore. But when he was on the mound, McMahon was excellent for the Hurricanes. He put up a 2.55 ERA with 123 strikeouts in 112.1 career innings, leading the Rockies to draft him 46th overall in 2020 and sign him for $1,637,400.

SCOUTING REPORT: McMahon’s best offering is a fastball that sits 95-96 mph and was located well when he participated in instructional league. He complements his fastball with a solid-average slider and changeup that has a chance to be a plus offering down the line. The consistency of those secondary offerings will be key for McMahon. He throws strikes with average control, and the Rockies like the mound presence and moxie that he brings to his craft. McMahon’s athleticism, three-pitch repertoire and arm strength should keep him alive as starter.

THE FUTURE: McMahon has yet to officially debut and he’ll have to prove himself in 2021. The Rockies are already pleased with what they’ve seen so far and think they have a potential mid-rotation starter.
Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Curveball: . Control: 50.

TRACK RECORD: Offseason meniscus surgery forced McMahon to miss the start of his freshman year at Miami in 2018, and a minor back injury slowed him for a short period of time as a sophomore. But when he was on the mound, McMahon was excellent for the Hurricanes. He put up a 2.55 ERA with 123 strikeouts in 112.1 career innings, leading the Rockies to draft him 46th overall in 2020 and sign him for $1,637,400.

SCOUTING REPORT: McMahon’s best offering is a fastball that sits 95-96 mph and was located well when he participated in instructional league. He complements his fastball with a solid-average slider and changeup that has a chance to be a plus offering down the line. The consistency of those secondary offerings will be key for McMahon. He throws strikes with average control, and the Rockies like the mound presence and moxie that he brings to his craft. McMahon’s athleticism, three-pitch repertoire and arm strength should keep him alive as starter.

THE FUTURE: McMahon has yet to officially debut and he’ll have to prove himself in 2021. The Rockies are already pleased with what they’ve seen so far and think they have a potential mid-rotation starter.