Detroit Tigers: Top 5 Futures Game Alumni

Former Tigers catcher James McCann appears at Number 4, who represented Team USA in 2013.

James McCann holds a slight edge over Joe Jimenez, including a much better WAR over his Tigers career, coming in at 2.2 vs Jimenez’s -0.2 career mark. In addition to sabermetrics, McCann appeared in 452 games for the Tigers, posting a mediocre .240 batting average while playing average defense behind the plate for the club. The Tigers’ competitive window was closing as McCann broke in, but he was a member of the team’s last winning season in 2016, starting 105 games and knocking in 48 runs.

In the 2013 version of the Futures Game, McCann’s only action was one at-bat that resulted in a ground out to third.

McCann’s tenure in Detroit may be best remembered by his fight in the dugout with Jose Iglesias, but featured below is him knocking a first-inning grand slam against the Minnesota Twins.

Since leaving Detroit, McCann has been much better, including an appearance in the 2019 All-Star game as a member of the Chicago White Sox. He is currently a member of the New York Mets and has returned to his production levels from his time with the Tigers.