D-Backs catcher James McCann ties MLB record for most games pitched by position player before May
The veteran catcher averaged 36.8 mph, tossing 23 eephus pitches and one fastball versus the Brewers, allowing one unearned run.
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann tied an MLB record on Thursday, becoming the first position player to pitch in four games before May. Alas, since Thursday was the last day of April, he won’t get an opportunity to surpass Christian Bethancourt, who also pitched in four April games for the San Diego Padres in 2017. McCann threw one inning in t he D-Backs’ 13-1 first to the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing one unearned run and one hit with two walks.
He got through the eighth inning on a barrage of soft, high-arching “eephus” tosses. Four pitching appearances ties McCann with Christian Bethancourt in 2017 for the most by a position player before May since at least 1901. This does not count two-way players, nor those who were pitchers at the time that later converted to being a position player.
https://t. co/Gx17pQEEn8 — Jessica Brand (@JessicaDBrand) April 30, 2026 The veteran catcher’s first 22 pitches averaged 36. 8 mph with five of them reaching 40 mph.
His fourth pitch was clocked at 49. 6 mph, but was outside of the strike zone for a leadoff walk to Brice Turang. However, McCann reared back for his final pitch of the inning, throwing a 65 mph fastball in the lower middle of the zone that Sal Frelick grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.