Jake McCarthy is a left-handed outfielder from Scranton, Pennsylvania who has built himself into a reliable offensive piece in the big leagues. He made his MLB debut on August 27, 2021, and has shown the ability to mix power with speed — a combination that fully clicked in 2026 when he hit .306 with 13 home runs and 20 stolen bases for the Colorado Rockies.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Jake McCarthy
- Position: Outfielder
- Team: Colorado Rockies
- Number: 31
- Bats / Throws: Left / Left
- Height / Weight: 6’0″ / 214 lb
- Born: July 30, 1997 (age 29), Scranton, PA 🇺🇸
- MLB Debut: August 27, 2021
Background
McCarthy grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania before working his way to the majors. He broke in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and spent his early years alternating between productive stretches and the natural growing pains that come with developing at the big-league level. As a left-handed hitter and thrower, he brings a less common profile to left field.
Professional Career
McCarthy’s first few seasons in Arizona showed flashes of what he could be. His best year as a Diamondback came in 2024: a .285 average, 8 home runs, 56 RBI and 25 stolen bases with an OPS of .749, proving he could contribute in multiple offensive dimensions.
The 2025 season was a significant step back. McCarthy hit just .204 with 4 home runs and 20 RBI in Arizona, posting a .592 OPS that raised real questions about his trajectory.
The move to Colorado in 2026 changed everything. With the Rockies, McCarthy had the best offensive season of his career: .306 average, 13 home runs, 67 RBI, 57 runs scored and 20 stolen bases, all backed by an .859 OPS. It’s the kind of bounce-back that reminds you how much a change of scenery can matter for a young player who needed the right environment and role to unlock his potential.
The stolen base numbers — 20 in 2026 — underscore his value as more than just a power bat. In today’s game, a player who can hit for average, drive in runs and steal bases is exactly the kind of versatile piece teams covet.
Career Stats at a Glance
- 2026 – Colorado Rockies: .306 AVG | 13 HR | 67 RBI | 57 R | .859 OPS | 20 SB
- 2025 – Arizona Diamondbacks: .204 AVG | 4 HR | 20 RBI | 18 R | .592 OPS | 6 SB
- 2024 – Arizona Diamondbacks: .285 AVG | 8 HR | 56 RBI | 66 R | .749 OPS | 25 SB
Awards and Records
McCarthy hasn’t collected any major individual awards — no MVP hardware, no Silver Slugger — yet. His career is still being written, and his 2026 numbers with Colorado are the strongest argument so far that recognition could be coming.
One More Thing
McCarthy is a genuinely rare player in that he both bats and throws left-handed, which puts him in a smaller club across professional baseball. His resurgence in 2026 after a difficult 2025 is a clean example of how a fresh start — new team, new role, new expectations — can unlock a young player who never stopped believing in himself.
