James McCann Bio
James Thomas McCann, nicknamed “McCannon,” is an American professional baseball catcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on June 13, 1990, in Santa Barbara, California, he played college baseball at the University of Arkansas before being drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2011. Across his MLB career, McCann has suited up for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, and Baltimore Orioles before joining the Arizona Diamondbacks. He earned an All-Star selection in 2019 and has caught two major league no-hitters.
Early Life and Background
James Thomas McCann was born on June 13, 1990, in Santa Barbara, California. His mother, Carla, suffered a torn amniotic sac during her pregnancy with McCann and spent most of the pregnancy on bed rest. Doctors recommended an abortion, citing less than a 25 percent chance of survival and a high risk of permanent disability, but McCann was born healthy, a fact he has attributed to faith. He grew up in the Santa Barbara area and was teammates in Little League Baseball with future MLB All-Star Jeff McNeil.
Carla McCann served as her son’s tee-ball coach and regularly drove him to Little League games and tournaments. During her bed rest, she watched local sports, including the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association and the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball, which helped shape James’s early interest in athletics. McCann attended Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, California, where he played baseball in the Channel League. He was named to the all-league first team in 2006, 2007, and 2008, establishing himself as one of the top amateur catchers in the region.
Path to Major League Baseball
Out of high school, the Chicago White Sox selected McCann in the 31st round of the 2008 MLB draft, but he did not sign, choosing instead to attend the University of Arkansas. As a freshman in 2009, he teamed with future major leaguers Dallas Keuchel, Drew Smyly, Mike Bolsinger, Brett Eibner, and Andy Wilkins to help the Arkansas Razorbacks reach the 2009 College World Series. During his sophomore year, McCann served as team captain and hit a walk-off home run to beat the 14th-ranked LSU Tigers, 4–3, in front of a Baum Stadium record crowd of 11,103, a moment later voted the third-most memorable in Baum Stadium history.
McCann spent the summer of 2010 with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, a prestigious collegiate summer circuit. In his junior season at Arkansas, he posted a .306 batting average with six home runs, 14 doubles, 11 stolen bases, 38 runs batted in, and 35 runs scored in 61 games. His performance earned him semifinalist honors for the Johnny Bench Award, presented to the top catcher in NCAA Division I. After the 2011 college season, McCann represented the United States national baseball team at the 2011 Baseball World Cup and the 2011 Pan American Games, where he won a silver medal.
James McCann Career
Minor Leagues (2011–2014)
The Detroit Tigers selected McCann in the second round, 76th overall, of the 2011 MLB draft, making him Detroit’s first pick of that draft and one of four catchers the team selected. He signed with the Tigers and made his professional debut in 2011, playing five games with the Gulf Coast League Tigers of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League before being promoted to the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Single-A Midwest League. The Tigers invited McCann to spring training in 2012, and he opened the season with the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the High-A Florida State League before earning a promotion to the Erie SeaWolves of the Double-A Eastern League on June 6.
After batting .200 for Erie, McCann adjusted his offensive approach and hit .283 through July 14 of 2013, earning a spot in the All-Star Futures Game. He finished 2013 with a .277 average, eight home runs, 30 doubles, 54 runs batted in, and a .731 on-base plus slugging percentage. McCann began 2014 with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens and batted .295 with seven home runs, 54 runs batted in, and a .770 on-base plus slugging percentage, positioning himself for a major league call-up.
Detroit Tigers (2014–2018)
On September 1, 2014, the Detroit Tigers called up McCann, and he made his MLB debut that day in the bottom of the ninth inning, replacing catcher Alex Avila. His first major league start came on September 19, 2014, when he caught Justin Verlander against the Kansas City Royals and produced two hits, a stolen base, and two runs scored. After winning the backup catcher job in spring training in 2015, McCann hit his first MLB home run, an inside-the-park home run, on April 29, 2015, becoming the first player since Tim Raines in 1981 to hit an inside-the-park home run and a walk-off home run as his first two career homers. On June 28, 2015, he added a second walk-off home run, joining Tony Piet in 1932 as the only MLB players to reach that mark within their first three career homers.
McCann set the modern major league record for most consecutive games played at catcher to start a career without an error, surpassing a 93-game mark set by Frankie Pytlak from 1932 to 1934, and finished 2015 with no errors in 112 games behind the plate. His strong arm, which threw out 41 percent of would-be base stealers, helped earn him the “McCannon” nickname among Detroit fans. He was named the 2015 Detroit Tigers/Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association Rookie of the Year after batting .264 with 18 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, and 41 runs batted in. In 2016, McCann was a Gold Glove Award finalist at catcher after throwing out 45 percent of base stealers and leading his position with nine double plays.
Chicago White Sox (2019–2020)
On December 19, 2018, McCann signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Chicago White Sox, where he enjoyed the best stretch of his career. He batted .319 with nine home runs by the end of June 2019 and earned his first All-Star Game invitation, where he recorded a single in his only plate appearance. McCann finished 2019 with career highs of a .273 average, 18 home runs, and 60 runs batted in, cementing himself as a lineup cornerstone for the rebuilding White Sox.
The White Sox tendered McCann a $5.4 million contract for 2020, and on August 25, 2020, he was behind the plate when Lucas Giolito threw the 19th no-hitter in White Sox history. Across his White Sox tenure, McCann batted .289 with seven home runs and 15 runs batted in during the shortened 2020 campaign, establishing himself as a respected veteran presence.
New York Mets (2021–2022)
On December 15, 2020, McCann signed a four-year, $40.6 million contract with the New York Mets, marking the largest free-agent deal of his career. He appeared in 112 games for the Mets in 2021, batting .232 with 10 home runs and 46 runs batted in while providing veteran leadership behind the plate. On April 29, 2022, McCann caught another no-hitter, this time a combined effort by Tylor Megill, Drew Smith, Joely Rodríguez, Seth Lugo, and Edwin Díaz.
McCann’s 2022 season was disrupted by injuries, beginning with May surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his left wrist that cost him six weeks, followed by a July return to the injured list with a strained oblique muscle. He batted .195 in 61 games that year, and on December 21, 2022, the Mets traded him with cash considerations to the Baltimore Orioles.
Baltimore Orioles (2023–2024)
McCann joined the Baltimore Orioles and posted a .222/.269/.377 slash line with six home runs, 26 runs batted in, and three stolen bases across 69 games in 2023. He also pitched in his first major league game that season, throwing a scoreless eighth inning in a 10–3 loss to the San Diego Padres on August 15, 2023. In 2024, McCann played 64 games for the Orioles, batting .234/.279/.388 with eight home runs and 31 runs batted in, and was named the Orioles’ nominee for the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award.
One of McCann’s defining moments with Baltimore came on July 29, 2024, when he caught an entire 11–5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays despite being hit in the nose by a Yariel Rodríguez fastball in the first inning. Two days later, he started again while wearing a protective face mask, demonstrating the toughness that has marked his career.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2025–Present)
On March 17, 2025, McCann signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves, and in 42 appearances split between the Double-A Columbus Clingstones and Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, he batted a combined .305/.341/.510 with six home runs, 32 runs batted in, and one stolen base. After being released by the Braves organization on June 22, McCann signed a major league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 23, 2025. He made his Diamondbacks debut on June 25 against the Chicago White Sox and batted .260/.324/.431 with five home runs and 17 runs batted in across 42 appearances.
On November 21, 2025, McCann re-signed with the Diamondbacks on a one-year, $2.75 million contract, securing his place in the organization for the following season.
Notable Events and Milestones
McCann’s most celebrated milestones include his 2019 All-Star selection, the modern major league record for consecutive errorless games to start a career at catcher, and catching no-hitters from Lucas Giolito in 2020 and a Mets combined effort in 2022. He also became one of the few MLB catchers to pitch in a major league game, doing so twice with the Baltimore Orioles in 2023 and 2024.
James McCann Family
Personal Life
James Thomas McCann married his wife, Jessica, in November 2014, and the couple resides in Nashville, Tennessee. They welcomed their first children, a set of twin sons, in December 2017. McCann is an avid hunter and hosts an annual preseason duck hunt along the Mississippi flyway near Carlisle, Arkansas, a tradition that reflects his deep ties to the Razorbacks community.
2025 Season Performance
McCann opened 2025 in the Atlanta Braves organization, batting .305/.341/.510 across Double-A and Triple-A before being released in mid-June. He quickly found a new home with the Arizona Diamondbacks, debuting on June 25, 2025, against the Chicago White Sox. Across 42 major league appearances with Arizona, McCann posted a .260/.324/.431 slash line with five home runs and 17 runs batted in, providing a steady veteran presence behind the plate.
His consistent contact and on-base skills made him a stabilizing force in the Diamondbacks’ catching corps during the second half of the season. McCann’s re-signing on a one-year, $2.75 million contract in November 2025 underscores the organization’s confidence in his glove and clubhouse presence heading into 2025.