Jake McCarthy's Biography
Jacob Joseph McCarthy was born on July 30, 1997, in the United States. He hails from a sports-loving family and carved out a successful career in professional baseball as an outfielder. Today, he competes in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks. His journey to the MLB started at an early age, nurtured at Scranton High School in his native city, Scranton, Pennsylvania. Known for his baseball prowess, McCarthy embraced his passion and honed his skills, which paid off when he was presented with an opportunity to play professionally.
In 2015, McCarthy was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 23rd round of the Major League Baseball Draft soon after finishing high school. However, not one to rush things, he chose to enhance his skills further by playing college baseball at the prestigious University of Virginia. His time at Virginia was marked by striking performances, making the baseball community take notice of his extraordinary talent.
In the summer of 2017, McCarthy played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners from the Cape Cod Baseball League enhancing his already impressive baseball resume. His remarkable performances did not go unnoticed. After three seasons at Virginia, having boasted an impressive batting average of .337/.423/.476 and stealing 36 bases in 38 attempts, he was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks during the competitive balance round A of the 2018 MLB draft.
McCarthy began his professional career with the Arizona League Diamondbacks which led to an eventual promotion to the Hillsboro Hops. He showcased his skills throughout 2019 with the Visalia Rawhide, batting .277/.341/.405 in 195 at-bats with 18 steals in 20 attempts. After the season, he went on to participate in the Arizona Fall League.
With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the minor league season was cancelled, bringing McCarthy’s rising career to a temporary halt. Undeterred, he started 2021 with the Amarillo Sod Poodles before earning a promotion to the Reno Aces. He impressed with a batting average of .253/.332/.500, executing 29 steals in 33 attempts across both teams, thus proving his mettle consistently.
The D-backs, recognizing his potential, promoted McCarthy to the major leagues on August 27, 2021. Two days later, he further cemented his place in the team by collecting his first career hit—an RBI double off the Philadelphia Phillies’ starter, Ranger Suárez. Over 24 games in the 2021 major league season, he achieved a .220/.333/.373 slash line with 13 hits, 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 4 RBIs and 8 walks.
In 2022, McCarthy asserted his role in the major leagues further, achieving impressive batting stats with .283/.342/.427 in 321 at-bats and 23 stolen bases in 26 attempts. His athletic prowess was evident as he recorded the fastest sprint speed of all major league right fielders, at 30.1 feet per second.
Baseball runs in the McCarthy family as his brother, Joe McCarthy, also excelled in the sport. He played baseball for the San Francisco Giants in 2020, thus carrying the McCarthy name in the major leagues.
Jacob Joseph McCarthy’s career is a testament to his commitment and passion for baseball. From the school fields of Scranton High School to the grand stadiums of Major League Baseball, he continues to be an inspiration for aspiring baseball players. His journey from being an inquisitive high school player to becoming a stalwart in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ outfield highlights his determination, resilience and unwavering love for the sport.
