D-backs call up top-25 OF prospect Jake McCarthy
Aug 27, 2021, 2:29 PM
AMARILLO, TEXAS - MAY 22: Outfielder Jake McCarthy #7 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles hits the ball during the game against the Midland RockHounds at HODGETOWN Stadium on May 22, 2021 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
(Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
The Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday called up 24-year-old outfielder Jake McCarthy from Triple-A Reno.
He will bat seventh and play center field in his MLB debut Friday night in Philadelphia against the Phillies.
McCarthy, from Scranton, Pa., replaces recently waived infielder Asdrúbal Cabrera on the 40-man and active 26-man roster. McCarthy is ranked 23rd on the D-backs top-30 prospects list on MLB Pipeline. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound lefty was selected 39th overall in the 2018 MLB Draft.
He made the leap from Double-A to Reno this summer. In 50 games with the Aces, McCarthy has an .838 OPS with nine home runs.
He slugged .653 in August and hit four home runs in three games earlier this week.
From MLB Pipeline:
McCarthy has a strong track record at the plate, though he is more hit-over-power at this point in time. A .337 career hitter in college, he’s followed that up by hitting .283 over his first two pro seasons. McCarthy has shown some extra-base pop in the past and perhaps the muscle he added prior to the 2021 campaign will translate into more over-the-fence power as he’s worked on elevating the ball a bit more as well. While his bat path can get flat at times, he generates impressive exit velocities and has a strong approach at the plate. Once on the bases, he is an above-average runner who has stolen 39 bases over the first two years of his career. Defensively, he has the speed and instincts to stay in center and develop into an above-average defender.
D-backs manager Torey Lovullo told the media Wednesday that the team is ready to up its youth movement to the next level.
This is a step in that direction.
