Special season shaping up for McCann

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — He’s the best-hitting catcher in the National League, and arguably the majors. But there are those who believe Brian McCann is only going to get better. Soon.

“I think it’s probably time to say he’s ready to take the next step up,” third baseman Chipper Jones said of the Braves catcher who has become his protégé.

Second baseman Kelly Johnson said, “I have a feeling he’s going to take it to another level, as far as being compared to the best overall hitters, not just catchers. It could be special this year.”

A three-time All-Star who turned 25 last month, McCann leads all catchers over the past three seasons in doubles (114), home runs (65) and RBIs (272).

He’s the first Braves player to make the All-Star team each of his first three full seasons. But McCann is hardly content.

He dropped 20 pounds over the winter — down to 227 — to improve mobility and ease the stress on his knees during the long season.

How’d he do it?

“All diet,” he said. “Just by eating a healthy breakfast every morning, and not putting anything in my body that wasn’t good for me. And drinking nothing but water.

“It’s gonna be tough [to maintain] when we go on the road, but it’s something that I’ve got control of now, so I should be fine. I feel like a different person. I just feel a whole lot better.”

The Duluth native is a two-time Silver Slugger award winner who hit .301 last season, with 42 doubles, 23 homers and 87 RBIs.

Pretty impressive, especially since he was a .275 hitter in the minors and had 36 homers in more than 1,000 at-bats.

McCann tells teammates the primary reason for his big improvement in the majors is Chipper Jones.

“That’s 100-percent correct,” he said. “Chipper’s helped my mind-set. Not necessarily my mechanics, but my mind-set when I go up to the plate. Having a plan. To me, he’s far and away better than anybody I’ve ever been around when it comes to knowing pitchers and having a plan, and sticking to it.”

McCann’s carved a reputation for hitting, but wants more.

“I’ve always taken pride in swinging the bat, for sure,” he said. “Now I want to get better behind the plate. I’ve worked hard on throwing to second base. I want to be known as an all-around catcher, not just a guy who can swing the bat.”

But, man, can he swing it.

Minnesota’s Joe Mauer might be the only catcher on McCann’s level. McCann has a .297 career average and .859 on base-plus-slugging percentage, while Mauer has a .317 average and .856 OPS.

Mauer’s .399 on-base percentage is 41 points higher, and McCann’s .501 slugging percentage is 44 points higher.

Since McCann’s major-league debut on June 10, 2005, he has more than twice as many homers (70) as Mauer (33).

Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton was asked what kind of hitter McCann could become.

“A .330 one, with 25, 30 homers,” Pendleton said. “He can hit for that average and still hit for power. I don’t want to put that kind of heat on him, but I think he’s capable of doing that. The kid can hit.”