Catching up with Casey McGehee

By George Takata
VSP Senior Writer-

For the first time in his now seven year professional career, former Diamond Dog third baseman Casey McGehee is getting exactly what he wants: an opportunity to make a big league club out of spring training. Claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers this offseason, the former Chicago Cubs farmhand is making noise in Brewers camp. As of Thursday March 12, McGehee is batting .429 with a pair of round trippers and five RBI, four of them coming in one at-bat, a grand slam against the Australian national team March 4th. Needless to say, McGehee is comfortable in his new surroundings.

“As soon as I walked in that clubhouse, I felt like I was a part of it,” McGehee said. “From Trevor Hoffman all the way down the line everyone’s been real positive and friendly. It’s a good mix of young guys and vets.”

Thanks to his strong start, the Brewers’ coaching staff has a tough decision to make as to whether or not McGehee will be granted a roster spot.

“I don’t know,” said McGehee. “They say I’ve got a chance. The way I’m looking at it is if I have a good spring there needs to be a discussion on whether I make the team or not. Whether it’s a good chance or not at least I have that chance.”

That wasn’t the case with the Cubs, who drafted McGehee in the tenth round in 2003.

“With the Cubs, no matter what I did I knew I wasn’t going to make that team out of spring training,” McGehee said. “It’s definitely different in that aspect, knowing that there’s an opportunity for me with Milwaukee.”

McGehee’s first opportunity to play in the majors was late last season. A September call-up, McGehee batted .167 with 5 RBI in nine games with the Cubs, and gained a ton of confidence after facing one of the best pitchers in the game.

“We were playing the Mets in New York and (Johan) Santana was starting,” McGehee said. “I hit a double my first at-bat, and every at-bat after that I felt I got his attention a little bit. I had some great at bats against him. The confidence I gained from experiencing it has been invaluable. I wasn’t a fish out of water.”

“The best thing about it is no matter what else I do, no one can take away that I went in and played against the best players in meaningful games,” he continued. “If I never have another at-bat in the bigs, I can say I faced the best there is to offer. I never felt overmatched.”

McGehee, who played for both Bob Bennett and Mike Batesole at Fresno State from 2001-2003, was one of the many proud alumni who watched the Diamond Dogs clinch the national title over Georgia in person. He was destined to be at Rosenblatt Stadium for the finale: his Iowa Cubs had an off day the same day as the final game, and it was just a two hour drive to Des Moines to Omaha. “It just worked out perfectly that I could get up there to see that,” said McGehee.

Will it work out perfectly for McGehee to make it to the show from the get-go?

“I’ve been lucky to get off to a good start. We’re about halfway through and a good start doesn’t mean anything if you have a bad finish. My focus is on having quality at-bats and making a good impression.”

It could, at long last, finally be a lasting impression.

THIS AND THAT: McGehee is wearing #52 with the Brewers. That could be an omen: that’s 25 backwards, the number of players allowed on a major league roster… Batted .296 with 12 home runs and 92 RBI for AAA Iowa in 133 games in 2008… Has a wife (Sarah) and son Mackail (2).

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