[3] During his high school career he had 29–7 win–loss record with a 1.02 earned run average (ERA) and 187 strikeouts in 123 innings pitched.

He began 2019 with the Bowling Green Hot Rods, was their Opening Day starter,[13] and earned Midwest League All-Star honors.

[14] He was promoted to the Charlotte Stone Crabs in June after posting a 4–4 record in 11 appearances (10 starts) with a 3.40 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 53 innings pitched.

He made his regular season debut against the Oakland Athletics pitching four innings, allowing two runs with five strikeouts.

[citation needed] McClanahan was selected to the 2022 MLB All-Star Game, after ending the first half of the season 10–3 with a 1.72 ERA and 147 strikeouts.

[citation needed] McClanahan was the Rays' Opening Day starter for the second year in a row, where he pitched six innings of shutout ball against the Detroit Tigers.

[25] The move ended his season, in which he made 21 starts and posted an 11–2 record, a 3.29 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 115 innings of work.

[27] After missing the entire 2024 season, McClanahan was named the Rays' Opening Day starter for the third time in his career.

McClanahan's standard pitching repertoire includes a four-seam fastball, a changeup, a curveball, and a slider.

[2] McClanahan has said he admires pitchers like Greg Maddux (who he called a "master of efficiency") and Cliff Lee for their ability to locate and sequence pitches.

[2] McClanahan is in a relationship with soccer player Andrea Rán Snæfeld Hauksdóttir, who currently plays for the USL Super League side Tampa Bay Sun.