McCann emerges as All-Star at only 22

ATLANTA (AP) _ Suddenly, Brian McCann is in an elite club of the youngest All-Stars in Braves history. <br/><br/>McCann, just 22, is the second-youngest player in Atlanta history to make the All-Star team,

Saturday, July 8th 2006, 11:12 am

By: News On 6

ATLANTA (AP) _ Suddenly, Brian McCann is in an elite club of the youngest All-Stars in Braves history.

McCann, just 22, is the second-youngest player in Atlanta history to make the All-Star team, behind only John Smoltz, who was about three months younger when he made the 1989 team.

Otherwise, the only other Braves players to make the All-Star team at a younger age are Hall of Famers whose images are displayed on the Turner Field outfield wall _ Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews. Each was 21 for his first All-Star team in Milwaukee _ Aaron in 1955 and Mathews in 1953.

McCann's All-Star berth is a surprise for reasons other than his youth. When he was involved in a home-plate collision with Arizona's Eric Byrnes on May 20, there was no reason to think the catcher would be an All-Star candidate.

McCann's left leg took the worst of the collision. The first fear was he had suffered a knee injury. Instead, it was his ankle. Even after X-rays were negative, the left ankle sprain was severe, especially for a catcher.

But McCann refused to give in to the pain. He was back in uniform much earlier than expected, making an injury rehab appearance as a designated hitter the first week of June even when he could barely jog to first base.

At the time of the injury, McCann was leading the National League with a .350 batting average. On his June 9 return, he went 3-for-3 and has continued to keep his average around .350, even though he still is clearly slowed by the injury.

McCann almost certainly has been the slowest baserunner in baseball in his month back with the Braves.

``He's costing me RBIs,'' jokes his roommate Jeff Francoeur, who hits behind McCann in the lineup.

McCann acknowledges that he can't score from first. The left-handed hitter has less power to pull the ball than when healthy. And he can forget about picking up any average-boosting infield hits.

``But when I'm behind the plate I can squat, I can block, I can throw,'' he said. ``The hitting could be better. It has been tough to pull the ball. I'm just trying to hit the ball the other way and that's about all I can do. But I'm to the point now where it's almost back to where it was.''

McCann wasn't going to sit out any longer than necessary in his first full season as a starter. He also wasn't going to consider opting for a break and missing the All-Star experience.

``I wouldn't trade the All-Star game for four days of rest. No way,'' McCann said. ``I'm going to have enough rest. There will be two days off. That will be a break. I'm excited to be able to go.''

Even if he were hitting .250, McCann would be valuable to the Braves. Despite his youth, he has been a stabilizing factor for a suddenly shaky pitching staff. From the time of his debut last season as the personal catcher for Smoltz, McCann has impressed pitchers with his skills behind the plate.

``Right off the bat he has an idea with what I want to do with hitters,'' said Horacio Ramirez. ``I don't shake him off much. I call my own game, but we just get on the same page right off the bat.

``There's been a couple times this year where I won't know what pitch to throw in a certain situation and I'll ask him what he sees. I think it has happened twice, and he's been right both times. He's real smart back there.''

Francoeur and McCann each were members of the Braves' 2005 rookie class, but it was Francoeur who made the biggest immediate splash. Francoeur had his all-star experience when he was named to the U.S. World Baseball Classic last spring. Now it's McCann's turn.

``He's excited. He's going to have such a great time,'' Francoeur said.

Francoeur says the grit demonstrated by McCann while playing on the still-sore ankle is no surprise to anyone who has seen the catcher's work ethic.

When the Braves traded catcher Johnny Estrada to Arizona in the offseason, McCann seized the opportunity.

``People know Brian is tough. He wants to be out there,'' Francoeur said. ``When Johnny got traded, I saw how excited he was to have the opportunity to be the everyday catcher. He worked his butt off. For him, that was the challenge. I think it brought out the best in Brian, having the opportunity.''

McCann was a regular in offseason workouts with Smoltz, Andruw Jones and others in Atlanta.

``It looked like every day he was showing up, trying to get better,'' said Jones, who with shortstop Edgar Renteria will join McCann as Atlanta representatives on the NL squad. ``He has shown that this first half.''

Jones says Braves veterans have taken note of McCann's determination to play through the injury.

``The ankle is tough, especially for the catcher,'' Jones said. ``For him to go out there and show that he wants to win, it's big. He deserves to be an All-Star. His numbers are good and the way he has gone about his business, he deserves to go.''