• Matt McLain is struggling early in the 2025 season after missing a year due to shoulder surgery, batting .160 with a .290 slugging percentage.
• Despite the poor batting average, McLain's exit velocity, chase rate, and walk rate show improvement, suggesting his underlying talent remains.
• The author argues for patience, noting the typical adjustment period for players returning from major injuries and expressing confidence in McLain's ability to rebound.

Matt McLain, the Cincinnati Reds' promising young infielder, is experiencing a difficult start to the 2025 season after a year-long absence due to shoulder surgery. His current batting average of .160 is far below his impressive rookie season performance in 2023. This article analyzes the context of McLain's struggles, suggesting that patience is warranted given his injury recovery and positive underlying statistics, contrasting his current performance with his previous success and potential.

• What: Matt McLain is struggling in the early part of the 2025 season after returning from shoulder surgery, with a low batting average and slugging percentage.
• Who: Matt McLain (Cincinnati Reds infielder), Terry Francona (Manager), Chad Dotson (Author).
• When: Early May 2025 (time of the slump), 2023 (McLain's successful rookie season), April 5 (date McLain's performance declined after a brief IL stop).
• Where: Cincinnati, Atlanta (mentioned as a location of a recent loss).

The article provides a balanced perspective on Matt McLain's early-season struggles. While acknowledging the poor statistics, it emphasizes the context of his return from a major injury and highlights positive indicators like improved exit velocity and walk rate. The author effectively uses data to support the argument that McLain's struggles are likely temporary and that his underlying talent will eventually prevail. The comparison to other players returning from injury adds credibility to the analysis.

Just let him catch up a little bit. … He’s a (expletive) good player. He’s just having a tough time.

Despite a slow start to the 2025 season, there's reason to remain optimistic about Matt McLain's future performance. His underlying skills remain strong, and his early struggles may be attributed to the adjustment period following shoulder surgery. With patience and continued effort, McLain is likely to rediscover his form and contribute significantly to the Reds' success.