Casey McGehee

[Matt Breen]

Casey McGehee was a guy with limited athleticism (compared to his peers) and no tool that he could ride to success. He was a waiver wire pickup - almost an afterthought - who went on to play eight years in the majors and several more in Japan. 

He was born in Santa Cruz, California, on Oct. 12, 1982. He attended Fresno State and was drafted in the 10th round of the 2003 MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs. 

The right-handed hitting McGehee was not a top prospect. He hit for a decent average and had a solid arm but lacked power, was slow, and was limited defensively. McGehee played mostly 3B, but the Cubs did give him a shot at catcher - without much success. He was classic organizational fodder. 

By 2008, McGehee had reached AAA and even got a September callup with the Cubbies. But Chicago didn’t see a place for him. Aramis Ramirez was entrenched at 3B, and McGehee didn’t offer defensive versatility. Thus, he was waived after the season - and claimed by the Brewers.

The move to Milwaukee was a career changer for McGehee. He made the club out of spring training as a reserve infielder but soon saw more action due to injuries. By June, he played regularly - moving between third and second bases. And not just playing but playing well.

For the 2009 season, McGehee hit a robust .301 and surprised everyone by socking 16 home runs in only 355 at-bats. He had never hit more than a dozen home runs in the minors. For his performance, McGehee was fifth in voting for the NL Rookie of the Year. Going forward, the third base job was his. 

In the 2010 season, he was proved to be the high water mark for Casey McGehee. He played in 157 games, blasted 23 HR, drove in 104 runs, hit a solid .285, and was voted the team’s most valuable player. 

The 2011 season saw the Brewers capture the NL Central crown, but it was a disappointing year for McGehee. His batting average (.223) and power (13 HR) cratered. Plus, he struggled defensively, leading NL third basemen in errors. The Brewer infield defense that season - featuring McGehee, Yuniesky Betancourt, Prince Fielder, and Rickie Weeks - was brutal.

Looking to replace the recently departed big bat of Prince Fielder, the Brewers signed FA 3B Aramis Ramirez from the Cubs. Without a position, the Crew sent McGehee to the Pirates for reliever Jose Veras.

The next few years were a roller coaster for MeGhee. He struggled in 2012 and then went to Japan in 2013 to reestablish his value - hitting .292 with 28 HR. The Marlins brought him back to the States the following year, and he was their regular 3B - hitting .287 - but with only four home runs. 

His successful season led to a trade to the Giants, but the magic was gone. McGehee was bad, which led to a midseason release. He hooked back up with Miami later that year and then took a minor league deal with the Tigers in 2016 - leading to a short but dreadful stint in Detroit.

After that, there were two good seasons in Japan - and then retirement. 

In 2022, McGehee was named head coach of Union University, a private Baptist Christian college in Jackson, Tennessee. 

Casey McGehee had a short - only three years - but memorable stint with the Brewers. He was one of those guys who had AAAA player written all over him when Milwaukee claimed him off waivers from the Cubs. But when he got the chance to play - he seized the opportunity - and ended up having some really good years at a time when we needed someone at 3B. In three years in Milwaukee, he hit .267 with 52 HR. He always played hard - and the fans appreciated his efforts - even as his bat faltered.

Unfortunately, McGehee’s lack of athleticism caught up to him as he got a bit older - something not uncommon for players of his caliber. To his credit, when he faltered, he never stopped trying to adjust to the game. This led to several additional seasons in the Big Leagues, plus some success in Japan. 

Some highlights of McGehee’s Brewer career include hitting .301 as a rookie, driving in 104 runs in 2010, and a four-hit game that same year. 

Please share your memories of former Brewer 3B Casey McGehee.

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