In 1812, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write “The Star-Spangled Banner” while witnessing the bombardment that Fort McHenry took from the the British navy in attempts to defend the Baltimore Harbor. Because of the structure of the fort and the job it did in defending the Baltimore Harbor, it was made into a national monument in 1925. While Fort McHenry can be credited with the aiding of victory, the Pirates have their own version that has done the same exact thing.
During the 2011 season, the Pirates had a turntable of catchers go behind the plate. Ryan Doumit, Chris Snyder, Dusty Brown, Eric Fryer, Jason Jaramillo, Wyatt Toregas and Matt Pagnozzi all took their turn. But on June 13, exactly one year ago today, the Pirates acquired Michael “The Fort” McKenry from the Boston Red Sox as he would be a part of the Major League record eight catchers used during the season. While the likes of Toregas and Pagnozzi would play a total of eight combined games, McKenry assumed the bulk of the catching.
Over the past two years, there are three at bats that stick out in Pirates fans minds as the top moments in Clint Hurdles tenure in Pittsburgh. The home run against Carlos Marmol, the showdown in the rain between Jose Veras and David Ortiz and then the extra inning victory over Aroldis Chapman thanks to back to back doubles. Wouldn’t you know it, McKenry was involved in two of those.
“Going back to those two at bats, they are both so different, but both so similar,” McKenry said. “I can’t explain how ecstatic I was during both those at bats.”
McKenry is known more for his defense, but it didn’t take long for him to become a fan favorite following his big home run off of Marmol last season. While he did the majority of the catching for the Pirates last year, he’s had to adjust to a backup routine this year which he said is kind of difficult.
“It’s been a big adjustment and a learning process for all the guys that are young and trying to play everyday to only play every couple of days,” McKenry admitted. “It’s a process that Hurdle and the coaching staff have our back and they want us to learn this role, as well as being able to play everyday. It’s been a fun process and I’m just trying to learn everyday as I go.”
The reason for McKenry’s lesser playing time was the offseason signing of Rod Barajas. When McKenry heard about the signing, he said he was anything but upset.
“I was ecstatic,” McKenry said. “He’s a guy that has 14 years of experience. A guy that I can really grow from and learn from.”
McKenry said it isn’t a competition between the two, that he just is looking to learn from the veteran.
“I never look at it as a competition, I look at it as a betterment of the team,” McKenry said. “He’s a guy that handles the pitching staff well and that’s the ultimate goal of a catcher. Building off the year that we had last year, I think it was a great move to bring him in. It’s a chance for me to learn as much as I can.”
And learn he has. McKenry told me that Barajas has helped him ever since spring training with his defense and how to handle the pitching staff. He also said that Barajas gave him some offensive tips and though his average is just .203, he feels good about the place he’s at at the plate.
“I made some adjustments this offseason and it’s a process I’m still growing through,” McKenry said. “I’m in a great spot to where I’m close to where I want to be with it. Not playing everyday has actually slowed down the learning curve and we always want those instant results. It’s tough when we don’t get them, but the fact of the matter is if you keep plugging along and you don’t worry about that, but you just worry about that day, good things can happen.”
McKenry kept shifting the attention off of him and wanted to emphasize the importance of the unity of the team and picking each other up.
“That’s what it’s all about,” McKenry said. “When a guy falls down, we pick him up and put him on our back and go. That’s what we do as a team and I think that’s what kind of team we have here.”
As for being in the hunt for first place, McKenry said they don’t pay attention to that, but it does make for a better locker room atmosphere.
“We have a team that’s built together,” McKenry said. “There’s not one individual that we rely on and every single day, we come out and try to play the game and win by one run. Obviously we have some All-Star caliber players, but each day someone different steps up. We try not to focus whether we’re in first or last, or ten games out.”
The secret McKenry said is to take it one day at a time.
“We try to focus on today’s game and pitch by pitch,” McKenry said. “If we can do that consistently, we are going to be really special this year. The group of guys in this locker room is phenomenal in the sense that we all pull for each other. We don’t want one person to succeed, we want everyone to do their best. If we do that, we’re going to be great.”
His teammates count on McKenry in the locker room as a sense of comedic relief Barajas told me. And while baseball is his job and he plans to play awhile, McKenry told me about another sport he’d love to get into before he retires.
“I want to do a competition as funny as that sounds,” McKenry said laughing. “I’m really big into Olympic lifting and one of my goals before baseball is over is to compete. I want to have a set structure, nothing to crazy, but I want to compete.”
McKenry said that since he was a young age, it’s something he’s been passionate about.
“I’m a meathead at heart,” he said laughing. “I just love to work. It’s something god instilled in me. I just like working and doing those things. It’s definitely something I want to do someday.”
With his two big hits in his career that helped lead his team to victory, as the self-proclaimed meathead, McKenry can also protect his teammates who he says are like family. To protect on the way to victory; just like the original Fort McHenry.
Photo credits: Associated Press
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