Reese McGuire Bio
Reese Jackson McGuire (born March 2, 1995) is an American professional baseball catcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs. McGuire was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft, and was traded to the Blue Jays in 2016. He made his MLB debut for Toronto in 2018.
Early Life and Background
Reese Jackson McGuire was born on March 2, 1995, in Seattle, Washington, the middle son of Scott and Robin McGuire. Growing up, McGuire played Little League alongside his older brother Cash, switching between pitcher and catcher. Once Cash’s preteen growth spurt pushed him toward pitching, Reese settled into a more regular catching role, the position that would later define his professional career.
McGuire’s reputation as a top amateur player grew quickly. In 2012, he was named USA Baseball Player of the Year after starring for the United States national under-18 baseball team. Playing catcher, third base, first base, left field, and designated hitter, he led Team USA with a .400 batting average and 11 runs batted in across 35 at bats, helping the team capture a gold medal at the 2012 18U Baseball World Championship in Seoul.
As a senior at Kentwood High School in Covington, Washington, McGuire batted .436 with four home runs and 20 runs batted in. His combination of defensive polish behind the plate and a committed college path to the San Diego Toreros made him one of the most talked-about high school catchers in the 2013 draft class.
Path to Professional Baseball
Major League Baseball analysts praised McGuire’s defensive ability as a high school catcher and projected him as a first-round pick. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected him 14th overall in the 2013 MLB draft, the highest draft selection for a high school catcher since 2008. He signed with the Pirates on June 18, earning a $2.36 million signing bonus, and was assigned to the Rookie-level GCL Pirates.
His professional debut on July 4 was a strong statement, as he recorded four hits, three runs batted in, and two doubles. After hitting .330 with 11 doubles and 21 runs batted in across 46 Gulf Coast League games, McGuire was promoted to the Class A Short Season Jamestown Jammers at the end of August. He spent the next several years climbing the minor league ladder, sharpening his defense and his bat, before reaching the major leagues in 2018.
Reese McGuire Career
Early Career (2013-2016)
McGuire began his professional climb with the Low-A West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League in 2014, where he posted a 1.8-second pop time behind the plate and put together a 19-game hitting streak in May. That performance earned him South Atlantic League All-Star honors, and he finished the year batting .262 with three home runs and 45 runs batted in across 98 games.
The following season, McGuire opened 2015 with the High-A Bradenton Marauders of the Florida State League and was named a Florida State League All-Star in June. After two consecutive seasons of declining batting averages, he joined the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League to refine his approach, hitting .294 in 14 games. In 2016, he opened the year with the Double-A Altoona Curve, batting .259 with one home run and 37 runs batted in across 77 games.
Toronto Blue Jays Breakthrough (2016-2021)
On August 1, 2016, McGuire was part of a trade package that sent him, Harold RamÃrez, and Francisco Liriano from the Pirates to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Drew Hutchison. He finished that year with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. In 2017, a torn meniscus in his right knee limited him to 45 games, but he returned in August and was named Eastern League Player of the Week after homering in three consecutive games.
McGuire was added to the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster in November 2017 to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He opened 2018 with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons before being promoted on September 6, 2018, against the Cleveland Indians. He doubled in that debut for his first major-league hit, and on September 26, 2016, he hit his first career home run against the Houston Astros. Across parts of four seasons with Toronto, he made 141 major-league appearances, batting .248 with nine home runs and 26 runs batted in.
Chicago White Sox Era (2022)
On April 3, 2022, the Blue Jays traded McGuire to the Chicago White Sox for catcher Zack Collins. McGuire played in 53 games for Chicago, batting .225 with no home runs and 10 runs batted in. During the same season, on August 1, 2022, the Boston Red Sox acquired McGuire and Taylor Broadway from the White Sox in exchange for reliever Jake Diekman, and he finished 2022 with Boston, batting .337 with three home runs and 12 runs batted in across 36 games.
Boston Red Sox Era (2022-2024)
McGuire reached agreement on a one-year contract with the Red Sox on January 13, 2023, avoiding salary arbitration, and served as Boston’s backup catcher until a right oblique strain sent him to the injured list on June 22. He was activated on August 1 and hit his first home run of the season later that day. Across 72 appearances, he slashed .267/.310/.358 with one home run and 16 runs batted in.
On January 12, 2024, McGuire once again avoided salary arbitration by signing a one-year contract with the Red Sox. On April 7, he drove in a career-high five runs in a 12-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. The Red Sox designated him for assignment on July 28, and he cleared waivers before electing free agency on September 30, 2024.
Chicago Cubs Era (2025-Present)
On January 22, 2025, McGuire signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs. He batted .280/.360/.467 with three home runs and 19 runs batted in across 22 appearances for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. On May 25, the Cubs selected his contract, and in his first plate appearance that day he hit a solo home run, then added a game-tying solo home run later in a comeback victory. In 44 appearances for the Cubs, he batted .226/.245/.444 with nine home runs and 24 runs batted in. On November 21, he was non-tendered by Chicago and became a free agent.
Notable Events and Milestones
McGuire’s first multi-home-run game as a Cub, on the same day he was promoted, served as one of the signature moments of his 2025 campaign. He also reached a career-high five runs batted in during a 2024 win over the Los Angeles Angels while with the Red Sox, underscoring his occasional offensive pop from the catcher position.
Reese McGuire Career Wins
As a catcher rather than a pitcher, Reese Jackson McGuire’s career is measured less by wins than by consistent major-league opportunity across four organizations.
Major League Highlights
McGuire’s most prominent major-league stretch came with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he made 141 appearances across parts of four seasons. He later served as a backup and part-time starter with the White Sox, Red Sox, and Cubs, earning everyday at-bats in Boston during 2022 and producing a .337 batting average in 36 games. With the Cubs in 2025, he set a personal best with nine home runs in 44 appearances.
Reese McGuire Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Reese Jackson McGuire is the middle of Scott and Robin McGuire’s three sons. His older brother, Cash, played second base at Seattle University, while his younger brother, Shane, played catcher at the University of San Diego. Shane was selected in the 2021 MLB draft and has continued his career in the Athletics organization, giving the family a notable presence in professional baseball.
Personal Life
Public information about McGuire’s personal relationships is limited. In February 2020, he was charged with a misdemeanor count of indecent exposure in a shopping center parking lot in Dunedin, Florida, near the Blue Jays spring training complex. He later pleaded no contest to a charge of disorderly conduct and was fined $500.
2025 Season Performance
Reese Jackson McGuire opened the 2025 season with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs after signing a minor league deal with Chicago in January. He batted .280/.360/.467 with three home runs, 19 runs batted in, and two stolen bases across 22 appearances, earning a promotion to the major-league roster on May 25. In his first plate appearance for the Cubs that day, he hit a solo home run, then added a game-tying solo home run later in a comeback victory, signaling a strong start to his time in Chicago.
Across 44 major-league appearances with the Cubs in 2025, McGuire batted .226/.245/.444 with nine home runs and 24 runs batted in, setting a personal single-season high for home runs. His power surge from the catcher position gave the Cubs a left-handed bat off the bench and a reliable defensive option behind the plate. On November 21, the Cubs non-tendered him, making him a free agent heading into the 2026 offseason.
