McMahon goes 1 for 3, makes dazzling defensive play in Yankees debut during 9-4 loss to Phillies

NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan McMahon moved into DJ LeMahieu's old locker between Trent Grisham's and Anthony Volpe's, then took over at third base on Saturday in his New York Yankees debut.

New York acquired the 2024 All-Star from Colorado on Friday for a pair of 22-year-old pitchers in the low minors, right-hander Josh Grosz and left-hander Griffin Herring, and inserted the 30-year-old into the eighth spot in the batting order against Philadelphia.

“This is every kid’s dream you know when you’re 9, 10 years old and hitting little balls in the backyard, you’re pitching yourself, Game 7 of the World Series at Yankees Stadium, so it’s going to be pretty cool,” McMahon said before going 1 for 3 with two strikeouts and a walk in a 9-4 loss to Philadelphia. He also made a fine defensive play at third.

“A little weightless,” he said. “This is a very special place.”

He tapped the interlocking “NY” on his jersey during Roll Call, then looked toward the Bleacher Creatures.

“I kind of just was thankful to be here," he said.

McMahon made a diving backhand stop behind third on a grounder, near the outfield grass, and followed with a strong throw to first to beat Otto Kemp in the eighth.

“A really special play, and you see the big third-base arm, too, getting up to his feet,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone, a former third baseman. “It’s a play that he looks like he’s made before and is comfortable doing.”

McMahon was hitting .217 with 16 home runs and 35 RBIs for last-place Colorado, which is in Baltimore this week. The Yankees arranged for an Uber, McMahon went straight to Yankee Stadium and dropped his gear off at about 8:15 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, then watched the rest of New York's 12-5 loss to Philadelphia on his phone.

He had been in the clubhouse for a while Saturday before his locker name plate arrived 2 1/2 hours before game time following an express delivery from TAG UP, the company in Minnesota that manufactures them.

McMahon wore No. 24 with the Rockies, which is used by current Yankees outfielder Jasson Domínguez. He chose 19, his dad's high school number and the jersey used by Charlie Blackmon, a Rockies teammate he admired.

It also was used in 2003 by Boone.

“I didn't think about it,” Boone said. “It's pretty cool.”

McMahon was teammates with LeMahieu on the Rockies in 2017-18. LeMahieu was released by the Yankees on July 10 after hitting .266 with two homers, 12 RBIs and a .674 OPS.

McMahon was hitting .300 with three homers and seven RBIs in six games following the All-Star break. His 127 strikeouts trailed only the 138 of Detroit’s Riley Greene, and strikeouts could trigger booing from fans already antsy over the Yankees' two-month slide.

“It comes with the territory, right? The fans are entitled to their opinion, and they can do whatever they want," McMahon said. “My goal is going to be to play winning baseball. I’m going to try to do everything I can and try to keep the blinders on and let the noise be the noise, but hopefully we get more cheering than booing.”

He had 198 strikeouts two years ago and 185 last season.

“Strikeouts happen when I’m not doing proper things, right? I think they drop down considerably when I have a better approach and take a better swing," McMahon said. ”I think it’s something you’re always trying to address."

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Colorado Rockies' Ryan McMahon follows the flight of his two-run home run off Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews in the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

New York Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon (19) enters the field during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, July 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon (19) warms up before a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, July 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Ryan McMahon (19) walks away after striking out during the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, July 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Ryan McMahon (19) hits a single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, July 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon (19) throws out Philadelphia Phillies' Otto Kemp at first base during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Colorado Rockies' Ryan McMahon follows the flight of his two-run home run off Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews in the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

SHEFFIELD, England (AP) — It was Georgia's day at the European figure skating championships Thursday.

Skaters representing the former Soviet nation won the pairs gold medal and took the lead in the men's event at the championships, a key warmup for next month's Winter Olympics.

Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava recovered from a fall to win their first European title after silver in 2024 and bronze last year.

The Georgians had the lead from Wednesday's short program and, even though Metelkina fell on a triple toeloop, the rest of their free skate was strong to score 139.80 for a total 215.76.

The two skaters laid on their backs on the ice in relief after finishing their free skate, as Berulava pumped his fists and made a snow angel gesture.

The title defense of Germany's Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin ended with an erratic free skate. Hase fell on a throw triple loop and tumbled to the ice again when Volodin tried to lower her down from their final lift.

Hase seemed in pain as she waited for the scores, and then stunned to see that she and Volodin had scored enough to stay ahead overall of third-place Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko of Hungary, 203.87 to 202.56.

Georgian figure skater Nika Egadze edged ahead of two Estonian brothers to take the lead in the men's short program.

Egadze scored 91.28 points for the lead after starting his program with a bang, following up a quadruple salchow-triple toeloop combination with a quad toeloop.

That was enough to beat last year's silver medalist Aleksandr Selevko on 88.71 and his younger brother Mihhail on 88.28. Defending champion Lukas Britschgi was sixth for Switzerland.

Estonia is on track for more medals as Niina Petrokina leads the women's event ahead of Friday's free skate.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/winter-olympics

Estonia's Aleksandr Selevko competes during the Men's Short Program on day two of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield, Thursday, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Georgia's Nika Egadze competes during the Men's Short Program on day two of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield, Thursday, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin compete during the Pairs Free Skating on day two of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield, England, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Georgia's Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava compete during the Pairs Free Skating on day two of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield, England, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Georgia's Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava compete during the Pairs Free Skating on day two of the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield, England, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)