Jake McCarthy Bio
Jacob Joseph McCarthy, known professionally as Jake McCarthy, is an American professional baseball outfielder. He currently plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, where he wears jersey number 31. McCarthy previously spent five seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the organization that originally drafted him out of college in 2018.
Born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, McCarthy developed into one of the top collegiate players in the country during his time at the University of Virginia. He made his major league debut in August 2021 and has built a reputation as a high-contact outfielder with elite speed on the base paths. Across his MLB career, he has compiled a .264 batting average with 29 home runs, 167 runs batted in, and 94 stolen bases.
Early Life and Background
Jacob Joseph McCarthy was born on July 30, 1997, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the same northeastern Pennsylvania city that would shape his early athletic identity. Scranton has a long baseball tradition, and McCarthy was introduced to the sport at a young age, eventually developing into one of the most promising young athletes in the region.
McCarthy attended Scranton High School, where he starred on the baseball diamond and earned attention from professional scouts. As a high school prospect, he was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 23rd round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. Rather than turn professional immediately, McCarthy opted to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level, choosing to play college baseball at the University of Virginia.
Path to Baseball
McCarthy spent three seasons with the Virginia Cavaliers, where he developed into one of the most dynamic players in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Over his college career, he batted .337 with a .423 on-base percentage and a .476 slugging percentage, while also stealing 36 bases in 38 attempts. His combination of contact hitting, plate discipline, and speed made him a premium prospect heading into the 2018 draft.
During the summer of 2017, McCarthy played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the most prestigious wooden-bat leagues in the country. That experience helped sharpen his skills against elite competition. After his junior season at Virginia, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected McCarthy in the competitive balance round A of the 2018 MLB draft. He signed with the organization for a $1.65 million signing bonus.
Jake McCarthy Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
McCarthy made his professional debut with the Arizona League Diamondbacks before earning a quick promotion to the Hillsboro Hops. He spent the 2019 season with the Visalia Rawhide, where he batted .277 with a .341 on-base percentage and .405 slugging percentage in 195 at-bats. He also stole 18 bases in 20 attempts, demonstrating the speed that would become a hallmark of his game. Following the 2019 regular season, he joined the Arizona Fall League to gain additional experience against advanced competition.
The 2020 minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which kept McCarthy off the field for an entire year. He returned to action in 2021, splitting time between the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles and the Triple-A Reno Aces. Between the two affiliates, he batted .253 with a .332 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage, and he stole 29 bases in 33 attempts.
MLB Debut and Diamondbacks Breakthrough (2021–2022)
The Arizona Diamondbacks promoted McCarthy to the major leagues on August 27, 2021. Two days later, on August 29, he collected his first career hit, an RBI double off Philadelphia Phillies starter Ranger Suárez. McCarthy appeared in 24 games during his rookie season, finishing with a .220 batting average, .333 on-base percentage, and .373 slugging percentage. He totaled 13 hits, three doubles, two home runs, four RBI, and eight walks.
McCarthy took a significant step forward in 2022, batting .283 with a .342 on-base percentage and .427 slugging percentage in 321 at-bats. He also stole 23 bases in 26 attempts, showing continued growth as a baserunner. That season, he recorded the fastest sprint speed of all major league right fielders, reaching 30.1 feet per second, a measurement that confirmed his elite athletic tools.
Continued Diamondbacks Tenure (2023–2025)
In 2023, McCarthy appeared in 99 games for the Diamondbacks, batting .243 with a .318 on-base percentage and .326 slugging percentage. He collected 67 hits, seven doubles, two home runs, 16 RBI, and 26 walks during the campaign. While his overall production dipped slightly, he continued to handle regular duty in the outfield.
McCarthy rebounded in 2024, batting .285 with a .349 on-base percentage and .400 slugging percentage across 142 appearances. He recorded 126 hits, 13 doubles, eight home runs, 56 RBI, and 31 walks, emerging as a more complete offensive contributor. He opened the 2025 season struggling at the plate, batting 3-for-41 in his first stretch, and was optioned to Triple-A Reno on April 19. After hitting .314 in 49 games with Reno, he was recalled by Arizona on June 24. He finished the 2025 regular season with 67 appearances for the Diamondbacks, batting .204 with a .247 on-base percentage, four home runs, 20 RBI, and six stolen bases.
Driving Style and Strengths
McCarthy is widely recognized for his plus-plus speed, which is reflected in his 94 career stolen bases and his league-leading sprint speed among right fielders in 2022. He is also known for his disciplined approach at the plate, drawing walks and making consistent contact, which has made him a reliable table-setter in lineups. Defensively, his range and first-step quickness have allowed him to remain a steady presence in the outfield.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of McCarthy’s early MLB career came on August 29, 2021, when he recorded his first career hit against the Philadelphia Phillies. He has also posted multiple seasons with 20 or more stolen bases and recorded his 500th career major league appearance during his time with the Diamondbacks. His January 2026 trade to the Colorado Rockies marked the start of a new chapter in his professional career.
Jake McCarthy Career Wins
While baseball does not use a traditional win-loss record for position players, McCarthy’s career has been highlighted by consistent contributions across hitting, baserunning, and defense. He has accumulated 94 stolen bases, 29 home runs, and 167 RBI through his MLB career, along with multiple seasons of strong on-base percentages.
MLB Highlights
McCarthy’s most productive season at the plate came in 2024, when he batted .285 with eight home runs, 56 RBI, and 31 walks across 142 appearances. He also posted a strong 2022 campaign, batting .283 with 23 stolen bases, while recording the fastest sprint speed among major league right fielders. His rookie-season debut, including his first career RBI double in August 2021, stands as one of his most memorable early milestones.
Other Performances
In the minor leagues, McCarthy was a standout performer, most notably with the Visalia Rawhide in 2019, where he batted .277 and stole 18 bases. He also showed flashes at Triple-A Reno, including a .314 average over 49 games during his 2025 stint, which helped earn him a midseason return to the major leagues.
Jake McCarthy Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
McCarthy comes from a family with a strong athletic tradition. His brother, Joe McCarthy, is also a former baseball player, making the McCarthy siblings one of the notable baseball families to emerge from the Scranton, Pennsylvania area. Their shared background in the sport helped shape Jake’s path to professional baseball.
Personal Life
McCarthy married his wife, Sophie, in January 2025 in Philadelphia. The couple’s wedding was a notable personal milestone during his time with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is active on social media and can be found on Instagram, where he shares updates about his career and personal life.
2025 Season Performance
McCarthy’s 2025 season was marked by contrasting stretches of performance. He opened the year in a deep slump, batting just 3-for-41 in his first 11 games, which led to his option to Triple-A Reno in mid-April. With Reno, he rediscovered his timing, batting .314 across 49 games, which earned him a June 24 recall to the major leagues.
After returning to the Diamondbacks, McCarthy played 67 games in the major leagues during the regular season, finishing with a .204 batting average, .247 on-base percentage, four home runs, 20 RBI, and six stolen bases. While his offensive numbers in Arizona were modest, his renewed comfort at the plate in Triple-A suggested a return to form heading into the offseason.
His 2025 season closed on a high note professionally when, on January 10, 2026, the Diamondbacks traded him to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Josh Grosz. The move opened a new chapter in McCarthy’s career, giving him a fresh opportunity to contribute to a National League West rival and build on the momentum he generated during his Triple-A turnaround.
