James McCann Ties MLB Record for Most Games Pitched by Position Player Before May

In a remarkable display of versatility, Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann made history on Thursday by tying an MLB record for the most games pitched by a position player before May, achieving this feat in just four appearances. This milestone places him alongside Christian Bethancourt, who also pitched in four games for the San Diego Padres in April 2017.

During the Diamondbacks’ lopsided 13-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, McCann stepped to the mound for one inning, surrendering one unearned run on one hit while issuing two walks. He employed a mix of soft, high-arching “eephus” pitches, with his first 22 offerings averaging a leisurely 36.8 mph. Notably, he unleashed a 65 mph fastball for his final pitch, which resulted in a ground ball leading to a 4-6-3 double play.

Despite the unearned run attributed to a throwing error by second baseman Tim Tawa, McCann’s efforts allowed him to lower his season ERA from 15.00 to 11.25. Across his four appearances this season, he has given up five runs, nine hits, and three walks over four innings.

Meanwhile, on a brighter note for the Diamondbacks, infielder Ildemaro Vargas extended his impressive hit streak to 23 games, tying him for the second-longest streak to start a season since 1940. Vargas, who currently leads MLB with a .378 batting average and ranks third with a 1.087 OPS, has also made five pitching appearances throughout his 10-year MLB career.

Manager Torey Lovullo expressed his disdain for using position players as pitchers, stating, “Probably one of my least favorite things in baseball.” Despite his reservations, McCann has been called upon twice in the last three days as the D-backs have struggled defensively, allowing 10 or more runs in five games this season.

With Thursday’s defeat, the Diamondbacks fell to 16-14, placing them third in the National League West. Their recent form shows a concerning trend, as they have lost five of their last nine games.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.