Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy plays against the New York Yankees on Sept. 8, 2026 at Yankee Stadium. (ETHAN HAGGERTY / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy plays against the New York Yankees on Sept. 8, 2026 at Yankee Stadium. (ETHAN HAGGERTY / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy plays against the New York Yankees on Sept. 8, 2026 at Yankee Stadium. (ETHAN HAGGERTY / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy plays against the New York Yankees on Sept. 8, 2026 at Yankee Stadium. (ETHAN HAGGERTY / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy plays against the New York Yankees on Sept. 8, 2026 at Yankee Stadium. (ETHAN HAGGERTY / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy plays against the New York Yankees on Sept. 8, 2026 at Yankee Stadium. (ETHAN HAGGERTY / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy plays against the New York Yankees on Sept. 8, 2026 at Yankee Stadium. (ETHAN HAGGERTY / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
BRONX, N.Y. — Perhaps it is the change of scenery: the altitude and fresh Rocky Mountain air. Maybe it is the chance to play everyday.
Whatever the reason, Jake McCarthy has bounced back from his career-worst season to enjoying his career-best.
In 67 games last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Scranton native batted only .204 with 42 hits, including seven doubles, five triples, four home runs, 20 RBIs, six stolen bases. He also played 49 games at Triple-A Reno.
Then, on Jan. 10, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies for righthanded pitcher Josh Grosz. McCarthy has emerged as a bright spot for a team that has the worst record in MLB.
“It’s been great. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to get traded over here,” McCarthy said before the Rockies opened a three-game series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. “I think our record is a little frustrating, but I think we’re capable of winning more games. There’s a lot to be excited about with our team. We’re just trying to finish out the season strong and look to get better.”
Entering Thursday, McCarthy ranked seventh in the National League and 11th in the majors in batting average at .292. He has set career highs in hits (140), doubles (29), triples (8), home runs (15), RBIs (75) and stolen bases (29).
He was named National League Player of the Week for Aug. 3-9 when, in six games against the Tampa Bay Rays and St. Louis Cardinals, he batted .519 (14 for 27) with three doubles, two home runs, five RBIs, eight runs, three stolen bases.
“It’s probably a combination of a few things,” McCarthy said. “I definitely think playing everyday doesn’t hurt. I think I’ve been more aggressive. I think I’ve gotten back to sort of what makes me effective as a player. That’s having competitive at-bats, hitting lots of line drives, run the bases and play defense to the best of my ability. When you’re in the leadoff spot every single day, I get a lot of opportunities to showcase what I can do. I’ve been very grateful for it. It’s been a lot of fun.”
McCarthy has solidified the top spot in the Rockies batting order. He became the first player since Hall of Famer Edd Roush of the New York Giants in 1929 to hit two leadoff inside-the-park home runs in a season. The first came June 20 at Coors Field against Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. The second came July 12 at Oracle Park against the San Francisco Giants. Initially it was ruled a triple and an error, but later changed to a home run.
“It was cool and obviously one of them being off Skenes,” McCarthy said. “I’m fortunate enough to play in some big parks with some deep alleys and get a few lucky bounces and I get to run the bases as hard as I can. Just trying to drive the ball in the gaps and hopefully it rattles around a bit.
“It’s fun. To start the game, you get a situation where you can get on base, steal a base in the first (inning). It always seems like I’m coming up with runners in scoring position. Again, just being in opportunities to be dynamic and I’m always trying to make the most of it.”
When the Rockies hosted the Washington Nationals on July 22, McCarthy faced fellow former Lackawanna Leaguer Max Kranick of Valley View. It was the first time since 2015 when they were in high school that they played against each other. Kranick earned bragging rights when he struck out McCarthy to end the game and cap off a Nationals 8-0 win.
“I think that’s like the hardest pitch he’s threw all season. It was like 100 inside on the dot,” McCarthy said. “I was giving him (grief), he started me off with like four offspeed pitches and then he came back and dotted the fastball in. Obviously, he’s got really good stuff. It was cool to play against him at the big league level.”
All of this has helped McCarthy become a fan favorite in Colorado. More importantly, though, he has been an example for the Rockies’ younger players.
“Jake’s been unbelievable, I’ve been so happy for him,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “He’s been great for our team, the way he plays the game first and foremost. Take away all the stats that he’s compiled this year, just the way, the intensity that he plays the game with, the toughness that he plays with. It’s been great for our team to see that and to lead the way basically for us. How he stretches singles into doubles all the time. Then you add on top of that his numbers and how consistent he’s been for us. His power numbers have been great, out of the leadoff spot he’s got like 75 RBIs. Defense has been solid. The way he runs the bases sets the tone. He’s been top-notch for us. There’s no replacing him.”
T.J. Rumfield, the Rockies first baseman and former Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRider who himself is having a season worthy of National League Rookie of the Year consideration, said McCarthy is a leader in the clubhouse and on the field.
“He’s a fiery competitor,” Rumfield said. “You see how he plays, he plays with his hair on fire. He plays fast, but he also plays smart. He’s a cerebral player. He plays with his mind as well as his legs and all the other tools that he has. It’s been so much fun to be able to watch him, especially now that he’s bouncing back from the Diamondbacks and whatever years he had in the past. I’m not too familiar with that. All I know is he’s been the same guy every single day in the clubhouse this year and a joy to work with.”
Rumfield and players such as Cole Carrigg, Zach Veen and Kyle Karros are part of a young nucleus that give the Rockies the potential for a bright future. McCarthy would like to be a part of that.
“I want to be here for as long as possible,” he said. “Super-fun group of guys, I love playing for this staff and the front office. I think it’s been great. Again, we want to win more games and we have an opportunity here in the next few weeks.”