The Colorado Rockies announced Saturday morning that they have acquired left-handed outfielder Jake McCarthy from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
McCarthy was originally a first-round selection of the Diamondbacks in the 2018 draft out of the University of Virginia. He finished fourth in the 2022 National League Rookie of the Year voting after posting a 2.4 WAR season, hitting .283/.342/.427 with eight home runs and 23 stolen bases. Through parts of five big league seasons, he has 4.3 wins above replacement per Baseball reference while hitting .260/.324/.381 with 24 home runs and 83 stolen bases.
The 28-year-old outfielder isn’t exactly a power hitter and consistently ranks in the league’s lower percentiles in hard hits and barrels. However, he can make good contact to get on base and is around league average when it comes to squaring the ball. McCarthy also does well when it comes to avoiding strikeouts. In each of his last three seasons, he has posted a strikeout rate below 20%, although he doesn’t draw many walks.
McCarthy’s main skill is his elite speed. His sprint speed of 29.9 feet/second ranked eighth in baseball in 2025, ranking him higher than the Rockies’ Brenton Doyle (29.5 feet/second) but lower than famed speedsters like Trea Turner and Bobby Witt Jr. He is also an aggressive base stealer.
He can use that speed in the outfield with solid to above-average defensive range. He has taken the majority of his reps in right field for the Diamondbacks, although he is capable of playing all three outfield positions.
McCarthy is coming off a career-worst season in 2025. He bounced back and forth between Triple-A Reno and Arizona’s big league roster, hitting just .204/.247/.345 with seven doubles, five triples, four home runs and 20 RBIs in 67 games and stealing just six bases en route to a -0.7 WAR season.
McCarthy will make $1.525 million for the 2026 season.
Heading to Arizona in the trade is right-handed pitcher Josh Grosz (No. 28 PuRP).
The former East Carolina Pirate – and roommate of Zach Agnos – made seven starts with the High-A Spokane Indians after joining the Rockies organization last season. He posted a 5.87 ERA with 41 strikeouts and 20 walks over 38 1/3 innings, giving up nine home runs.
Although he initially struggled to start his tenure with the Indians, Grosz committed himself in his final three starts of the season. He pitched three straight quality starts, giving up six earned runs in 18 1/3 innings and striking out 24 batters.
This is a developing story and Purple Row will provide more information as it becomes available.
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