Upper Arlington — To Upper Arlington coach Mark Galvin, Max McConnell is a lagspiller: a true team player.
McConnell is the kind of player statistics rarely capture fully, a diamond to those who value the details beyond the numbers. He brings more than just athleticism to the Golden Bears.
“His best attribute is his positivity and the smile he brings every day,” Galvin said. “Even though we have faced some adversity this year, he talks about staying in the moment and putting mistakes behind him. He’s great about communicating that next pitch mentality to the other guys.”
That mindset has helped make McConnell one of Central Ohio’s top defensive players.
Behind the plate this season, he has thrown out 61% of attempted base stealers. Between catcher and second base, McConnell has committed just one error in more than 50 defensive chances.
As impressive as his numbers are, McConnell does not see anything extraordinary about the role he plays defensively for Upper Arlington.
“It’s actually not as cool as it sounds. I’m just bumping around,” McConnell said. “It is really just about staying fresh and getting enough reps, because I have to be prepared to play both.”
Beyond his arm, McConnell excels at blocking pitches and keeping balls in front of him, key reasons why Upper Arlington’s pitchers trust him behind the plate.
But his value does not stop at catcher. In the infield, McConnell’s chemistry and baseball IQ can influence nearly every play before it happens.
“When I’m at second base, I can talk to the outfielders. I know where the hitter’s tendencies are at, I know where they miss, and I know where they want to throw,” McConnell said. “I have a general idea of where the ball is going based on the pitch coming, and I can kind of help setup where everyone is.”
To his coaches, it elevates the Golden Bears defense by allowing it to breathe. No matter where he is positioned, McConnell helps keep Upper Arlington organized and composed defensively.
Offensively, McConnell does not immediately stand out on the stat sheet as a leadoff hitter. But quality at-bats and hard contact rarely show up in a quick glance at the box score.
“His numbers are very deceiving, but he has handled it well,” Galvin said. “It is almost laughable at this point. Max has lined out at least 15 times this season. If it isn’t that, it’s somebody making a diving play. So, even if his numbers don’t show production, he has very quality at-bats.”
From a defensive anchor to a determined bat at the plate, McConnell is a lagspiller: the kind of player every coach hopes to have. He embraces every role, works relentlessly and refuses to give in.
He may not dominate every box score, but McConnell impacts every inning. For Upper Arlington, he is their indispensable lagspiller.
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