Jake McCarthy Stats & Scouting Report

AB	442
AVG	.285
OBP	.349
SLG	.4
HR	8

Full name Jacob Joseph McCarthy
Born 07/30/1997 in Scranton, PA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Virginia
Debut 08/27/2021
Drafted in the CB-A round (39th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018 (signed for $1,650,000).

View Draft Report

The Virginia center fielder hasn''t been able to showcase his ability for most of the spring season, playing just 13 games because of a left wrist injury sustained in early March. As of April 26, McCarthy had yet to return to action, but he did hit .314/.446/.412 in his brief 13-game stint before the injury. Scouts and evaluators aren't dinging him too much for the injury, as it's not a chronic issue and his overall package and track record is impressive. With a strong return--whenever that may be--McCarthy could push himself into the first round as a college outfielder with a chance to play center field with above-average to plus speed. Missing this many games during a draft season is easier to tolerate with McCarthy because his history in the ACC and with a wood bat is so impressive. In 2017, McCarthy hit .338/.425/.506 with five home runs, 11 doubles and was seventh in the nation with seven triples. During the summer, McCarthy played 20 games with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team and also hit .387/.441/.613 in a nine-game stint in the Cape Cod League. He draws some comparisons to former Virginia outfielder Adam Haseley, with opinions on his defensive ability ranging from a no-doubt center fielder with some scouts to other evaluators thinking he merely has a chance to stick there. Where McCarthy winds up will depend on what he does once healthy, but there's no denying he has an impressive body of work.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: McCarthy’s career seemed stalled, first by injuries in 2019 and then by the pandemic in 2020, but after retooling his swing during quarantine, he opened eyes at instructional league that fall and carried his momentum into the 2021 season. McCarthy played well at both Double-A and Triple-A, earning a late-season promotion to the majors, where he held his own across 24 games.

Scouting Report: McCarthy’s best tools remain his defense in center field and his speed. He gets good reads and takes accurate routes in center and likely was the D-backs’ best defender in the majors at the position all season. In addition to his blazing speed—Statcast rated him among the Top 10 fastest players in baseball—McCarthy also is a smart, aggressive baserunner who looks to take the extra base. He tapped into more power than before thanks to his reworked swing; his 17 homers in 2021 were more than his previous career total in college and pro ball combined. It came with more swing and miss but club officials are hopeful that comes down as he continues to refine his swing.

The Future: McCarthy has the skill set to carve out a solid big league career—and he figures to come into spring training with a chance to win the center field job on Opening Day.
TRACK RECORD: McCarthy received a $1.65 million bonus as the 39th overall pick in 2018, following his older brother Joe on a path from Virginia to the professional ranks. He immediately went about working to rebuild his swing, an effort that was sidetracked by injuries that limited him to just 53 games with high Class A Visalia in 2019.

SCOUTING REPORT: McCarthy showed up to instructional league in 2020 looking completely different. He put on some 20 pounds of good weight, and just as noticeable were the changes to his swing. Once rigid and upper-body driven, it is now more athletic while incorporating a leg kick. McCarthy was perhaps the D-backs' most productive hitter during the fall, a performance that teased flashes of an aboveaverage hitter with 20-plus home run power and re-established his prospect value. McCarthy remains an excellent defender whose speed plays well in center field. He saw time at first base during instructs, a move designed to increase his versatility.

THE FUTURE: McCarthy's transformation brings to mind the swing changes made by former D-backs outfielder Mitch Haniger. He'll now try to show he can carry that success into 2021 and sustain it.
Track Record: A wrist injury limited McCarthy to just 20 games during his junior season, but his strong track record allowed him to maintain his draft status. He signed with the Diamondbacks for $1.65 million as the 39th overall pick, following his older brother, Joe, on the same path to the pros from the University of Virginia. He showed off a well-rounded skill set during a 55-game pro debut in the short-season Northwest League.

Scouting Report: McCarthy has an athletic frame with room to add strength. He has had success using a simple, contact-oriented swing, but it's somewhat stiff and upper-body driven, and the D-backs would like to see him become looser and more rhythmic while using his lower half more. He runs well and takes good routes to balls, and some scouts believe he'll easily stick in center field with a chance to be a plus defender there. His arm is fringe-average. He is considered a hard worker and excellent teammate and is said to have great makeup.

The Future: Though McCarthy is lefthanded, he has an all-around game that's reminiscent of A.J. Pollock when he was drafted. Most see McCarthy's floor as a fourth outfielder, and if, like Pollock, he can make adjustments and learn to tap into more power, he could develop into an everyday player. He likely will start the 2019 season at high Class A Visalia.

Draft Prospects

The Virginia center fielder hasn''t been able to showcase his ability for most of the spring season, playing just 13 games because of a left wrist injury sustained in early March. As of April 26, McCarthy had yet to return to action, but he did hit .314/.446/.412 in his brief 13-game stint before the injury. Scouts and evaluators aren't dinging him too much for the injury, as it's not a chronic issue and his overall package and track record is impressive. With a strong return--whenever that may be--McCarthy could push himself into the first round as a college outfielder with a chance to play center field with above-average to plus speed. Missing this many games during a draft season is easier to tolerate with McCarthy because his history in the ACC and with a wood bat is so impressive. In 2017, McCarthy hit .338/.425/.506 with five home runs, 11 doubles and was seventh in the nation with seven triples. During the summer, McCarthy played 20 games with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team and also hit .387/.441/.613 in a nine-game stint in the Cape Cod League. He draws some comparisons to former Virginia outfielder Adam Haseley, with opinions on his defensive ability ranging from a no-doubt center fielder with some scouts to other evaluators thinking he merely has a chance to stick there. Where McCarthy winds up will depend on what he does once healthy, but there's no denying he has an impressive body of work.

Minor League Top Prospects

McCarthy followed older brother Joe first to the University of Virginia and then into professional baseball after being drafted by Arizona in the first supplemental round. A wrist injury in his junior year in Charlottesville limited McCarthy to 20 games, but his draft status wasn't affected by the lost time due to a solid track record at Virginia as well as with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team. Using a shorter, compact stroke, McCarthy hit for more doubles than home runs in his first season, although the Hillsboro ballpark tends to suppress over-the-fence power. Despite his size, McCarthy is a plus runner and is very athletic, giving him a good chance of staying in center field. He was playing too shallow early in the season but began getting better jumps when he played deeper. He projects as a plus defender albeit with a below-average arm. What stands out most for the lefthanded-hitting outfielder is his outstanding makeup, getting an 80 grade from observers. It was noted that he made adjustments to his swing on his own after arriving in Hillsboro.

Scouting Reports

Track Record: McCarthy’s career seemed stalled, first by injuries in 2019 and then by the pandemic in 2020, but after retooling his swing during quarantine, he opened eyes at instructional league that fall and carried his momentum into the 2021 season. McCarthy played well at both Double-A and Triple-A, earning a late-season promotion to the majors, where he held his own across 24 games.

Scouting Report: McCarthy’s best tools remain his defense in center field and his speed. He gets good reads and takes accurate routes in center and likely was the D-backs’ best defender in the majors at the position all season. In addition to his blazing speed—Statcast rated him among the Top 10 fastest players in baseball—McCarthy also is a smart, aggressive baserunner who looks to take the extra base. He tapped into more power than before thanks to his reworked swing; his 17 homers in 2021 were more than his previous career total in college and pro ball combined. It came with more swing and miss but club officials are hopeful that comes down as he continues to refine his swing.

The Future: McCarthy has the skill set to carve out a solid big league career—and he figures to come into spring training with a chance to win the center field job on Opening Day.
TRACK RECORD: McCarthy received a $1.65 million bonus as the 39th overall pick in 2018, following his older brother Joe on a path from Virginia to the professional ranks. He immediately went about working to rebuild his swing, an effort that was sidetracked by injuries that limited him to just 53 games with high Class A Visalia in 2019.

SCOUTING REPORT: McCarthy showed up to instructional league in 2020 looking completely different. He put on some 20 pounds of good weight, and just as noticeable were the changes to his swing. Once rigid and upper-body driven, it is now more athletic while incorporating a leg kick. McCarthy was perhaps the D-backs' most productive hitter during the fall, a performance that teased flashes of an aboveaverage hitter with 20-plus home run power and re-established his prospect value. McCarthy remains an excellent defender whose speed plays well in center field. He saw time at first base during instructs, a move designed to increase his versatility.

THE FUTURE: McCarthy's transformation brings to mind the swing changes made by former D-backs outfielder Mitch Haniger. He'll now try to show he can carry that success into 2021 and sustain it.
TRACK RECORD: McCarthy received a $1.65 million bonus as the 39th overall pick in 2018, following his older brother Joe on a path from Virginia to the professional ranks. He immediately went about working to rebuild his swing, an effort that was sidetracked by injuries that limited him to just 53 games with high Class A Visalia in 2019.

SCOUTING REPORT: McCarthy showed up to instructional league in 2020 looking completely different. He put on some 20 pounds of good weight, and just as noticeable were the changes to his swing. Once rigid and upper-body driven, it is now more athletic while incorporating a leg kick. McCarthy was perhaps the D-backs' most productive hitter during the fall, a performance that teased flashes of an aboveaverage hitter with 20-plus home run power and re-established his prospect value. McCarthy remains an excellent defender whose speed plays well in center field. He saw time at first base during instructs, a move designed to increase his versatility.

THE FUTURE: McCarthy's transformation brings to mind the swing changes made by former D-backs outfielder Mitch Haniger. He'll now try to show he can carry that success into 2021 and sustain it.
TRACK RECORD: McCarthy received a $1.65 million bonus as the 39th overall pick in 2018, following his older brother Joe on a path from Virginia to the professional ranks. He immediately went about working to rebuild his swing, an effort that was sidetracked by injuries that limited him to just 53 games with high Class A Visalia in 2019.

SCOUTING REPORT: McCarthy showed up to instructional league in 2020 looking completely different. He put on some 20 pounds of good weight, and just as noticeable were the changes to his swing. Once rigid and upper-body driven, it is now more athletic while incorporating a leg kick. McCarthy was perhaps the D-backs' most productive hitter during the fall, a performance that teased flashes of an aboveaverage hitter with 20-plus home run power and re-established his prospect value. McCarthy remains an excellent defender whose speed plays well in center field. He saw time at first base during instructs, a move designed to increase his versatility.

THE FUTURE: McCarthy's transformation brings to mind the swing changes made by former D-backs outfielder Mitch Haniger. He'll now try to show he can carry that success into 2021 and sustain it.