McCain Learns From Setbacks As Freshman, Ready For 2016

By: Addison Plank, OSU Athletics Communications

STILLWATER – The dust flew from second base as Oklahoma State's number three jersey hit the dirt.

The slide was supposed to be normal, but Cowboy freshman Garrett McCain knew something was wrong.

The next day, an X-ray revealed a broken right hand, and the following day brought surgery. McCain's injury came during a conference matchup against Kansas State on March 27.

"It was frustrating, but I knew that I could continue to be a good teammate and continue to help my team pursue our goal," McCain said. "Whether it was running or being a cheerleader on the bench, I was 100 percent okay with it. I know everyone has a role and if that was my role at the time, then that was what I needed to do."

McCain missed nearly a month of the 2015 season recovering from surgery and going through rehabilitation for his hand. He watched the Cowboys continue their season from the bench.

"It gives you a different perspective," McCain said. "You see the game as a whole instead of seeing the individual stuff just as you would if you were only playing. You don't have to focus only on your at-bat. You focus on everyone's at-bats. It was humbling; this game that we play all the time can be gone in a second."

At the time of his injury, McCain was a key piece of the Cowboy offense, batting leadoff and hitting .313 on the season. In his absence, adjustments had to be made.

"The loss of Garrett (McCain) allowed someone else to emerge and to help offset his loss," said OSU head coach Josh Holliday. "It developed other players as a result. Your team has to be able to absorb the loss of a key player, and we were able to do that until he got back."

McCain made a pair of pinch running appearances in late April and returned to the Cowboy lineup on May 8 against West Virginia. Then, during the Big 12 Championship title game against Texas, he was struck in the face while attempting a bunt. The injury required stitches, but McCain was back out on the field next week at the NCAA Regional in Stillwater.

Now a sophomore, McCain says his only focus is on the 2016 season, and the Wylie, Texas native will look to build on a season that saw him hit .319 with 13 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 30 games.

"My primary goal is to stay healthy," said McCain, who also showed a knack for getting on base with a .467 on-base percentage in his first collegiate season. "Besides that is to be the best teammate I can be regardless of the situation. I also want to do the right things to put us in the best situation to win baseball games."

With the Cowboys opening their season on February 19 in Arlington, Texas, the 2016 season is waiting to be written. One thing that is already written, however, is that Garrett McCain is expected be a key player in the success of the Cowboys on the diamond.

"Garrett brings a consistency and toughness as well as a team-first approach," Holliday said. "He is one of those guys where you know what you are going to get from him, and that's a comfort as a team and as a coach."

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