Reese McGuire Bio
Reese Jackson McGuire (born March 2, 1995) is an American professional baseball catcher who is currently a free agent. He has previously 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. The Blue Jays traded McGuire to the White Sox before the 2022 season, and the White Sox traded him to the Red Sox during the 2022 season.
Early Life and Background
Reese McGuire was born on March 2, 1995, in Seattle, Washington, as the middle child of Scott and Robin McGuire’s three sons. Growing up, he played Little League baseball alongside his older brother Cash, where he frequently switched between the roles of pitcher and catcher. As Cash developed into a more prominent pitcher during his preteen years, Reese took on more catching responsibilities. In 2012, McGuire was honored as the USA Baseball Player of the Year for his outstanding performance with the United States national under-18 baseball team, leading the team with a .400 batting average and 11 runs batted in (RBI) over 35 at-bats. He also captured a gold medal with the team at the 2012 18U Baseball World Championship in Seoul. As a senior at Kentwood High School in Covington, Washington, McGuire achieved a batting average of .436, hitting four home runs and driving in 20 RBIs.
Path to Baseball
As a high school catcher, Reese McGuire garnered praise from Major League Baseball (MLB) analysts for his defensive skills, leading to projections that he would be selected in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft. The Pittsburgh Pirates chose him 14th overall, marking the highest selection for a high school catcher since 2008. Although he had committed to play college baseball for the San Diego Toreros, McGuire signed with the Pirates on June 18, 2013, receiving a signing bonus of $2.36 million. He began his professional career with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Pirates, where he made a notable debut on July 4, recording four hits, three RBIs, and two doubles. McGuire’s performance in the Gulf Coast League included a .330 batting average, 11 doubles, and 21 RBIs in 46 games, leading to his promotion to the Class A Short Season Jamestown Jammers at the end of August.
Reese McGuire Career
Early Career (2013–2016)
Following his selection by the Pittsburgh Pirates, McGuire joined the Low-A West Virginia Power for the 2014 season. As a South Atlantic League prospect, he showcased impressive defensive skills, recording a pop time of 1.8 seconds behind the plate, along with consistent contact hitting. He finished the season with a batting average of .262, three home runs, and 45 RBIs in 98 games. In 2015, McGuire began the season with the Class A-Advanced Bradenton Marauders, where he was named an FSL All-Star in June after hitting .259 with 10 stolen bases and throwing out 14 opposing base stealers. He concluded the season with a .254 batting average, 15 doubles, and 34 RBIs. In 2016, McGuire was invited to spring training with the Pirates, where he demonstrated improved consistency and discipline at the plate, finishing the season with a .259 batting average, one home run, and 37 RBIs in 266 at-bats across 77 games.
Breakthrough (2018–2021)
On August 1, 2016, McGuire was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays along with fellow prospect Harold Ramírez and pitcher Francisco Liriano in exchange for pitcher Drew Hutchison. He concluded the 2016 season with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, batting .226 with five RBIs in 15 games. McGuire returned to the Fisher Cats for the 2017 season but faced challenges due to a torn meniscus in his right knee, which required surgery. Despite this setback, he returned to the field and earned Eastern League Player of the Week honors for his performance in August. In 2018, McGuire was promoted to the major leagues, making his MLB debut on September 6 against the Cleveland Indians, where he recorded his first career hit. He finished his debut season with a .290 batting average, two home runs, and four RBIs in 14 games. McGuire continued to develop with the Blue Jays, playing in 78 games during the 2021 season, where he batted .253 with one home run and 10 RBIs.
Notable Works and Milestones
Throughout his time with the Blue Jays, McGuire made 141 major-league appearances, achieving a batting average of .248, nine home runs, and 26 RBIs.
Chicago White Sox (2022)
On April 3, 2022, the Toronto Blue Jays traded McGuire to the Chicago White Sox for catcher Zack Collins. He played in 53 games for the White Sox, finishing the season with a batting average of .225 and 10 RBIs.
Boston Red Sox (2022–2024)
On August 1, 2022, the Boston Red Sox acquired McGuire in a trade for reliever Jake Diekman. He played 36 games for the Red Sox in 2022, batting .337 with three home runs and 12 RBIs. Overall, during the 2022 season, McGuire batted .269 with three home runs and 22 RBIs in 89 major-league games. He signed a one-year contract with the Red Sox on January 13, 2023, and served as the backup catcher until being placed on the injured list in June. McGuire was activated in August and recorded his first home run of the season shortly after. In 2024, he signed another one-year contract with the Red Sox, where he achieved a career-high five RBIs in a game against the Los Angeles Angels.
Chicago Cubs (2025)
On January 22, 2025, McGuire signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs. He made an immediate impact, hitting a solo home run in his first plate appearance for the Cubs. McGuire concluded the season with a batting average of .226, nine home runs, and 24 RBIs in 44 appearances.
Reese McGuire Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Reese McGuire has not received any notable award nominations.
Reese McGuire Awards Won
Reese McGuire has not won any official awards during his professional baseball career.
Reese McGuire Family
Reese McGuire’s family includes his older brother Cash, who played second base for Seattle University, and his younger brother Shane, who played baseball at the University of San Diego and was drafted in 2021.
Personal Life
In February 2020, McGuire faced legal issues when he was charged with a misdemeanor count of indecent exposure in a shopping center parking lot in Dunedin, Florida. He pleaded no contest to a charge of disorderly conduct and was fined $500.
