[7] As a freshman at UCLA in 2019, he appeared in 61 games (with sixty being starts) in which he slashed .203/.276/.355 with four home runs and thirty RBIs.

[9][10] In 2020, McLain played in 13 games and batted .397 with four home runs before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[12] The Cincinnati Reds selected McLain in the first round, with the 17th overall pick, in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.

[14] McLain made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Reds and was promoted to the Dayton Dragons of the High-A Central.

[22] On March 26, 2024, McLain underwent shoulder surgery to repair the labrum and some damaged cartilage, ruling him out indefinitely.