SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., January 27, 2024 — Jake McCarthy learned he’d been traded while celebrating his first wedding anniversary with his wife, Sophie, on Saturday morning. The outfielder was dealt from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Josh Grosz.
A Sudden Shift for McCarthy
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The trade comes after McCarthy signed a $1.525 million deal to avoid arbitration just two days prior.
- McCarthy expressed surprise but excitement about joining the Rockies.
- Last season presented challenges for the outfielder, but he found success in Triple-A.
- The trade reunites McCarthy with a familiar spring training location.
- Josh Grosz, the prospect heading to Arizona, was previously part of a deal with the Yankees.
“Pretty crazy morning. Whenever something like that happens, it catches you off-guard,” McCarthy said. “After my agent called, I told my friends and family and then they (the teams) went public with it about an hour later. Obviously some big changes.” Both teams announced the trade on X.
The Diamondbacks had a surplus of outfielders, making McCarthy a frequent subject of trade speculation. He now looks forward to the opportunity in Colorado. “You accept that things could change very, very quickly,” McCarthy said. “Obviously, when you get the call, you’re kind of like, Whoa! But I can’t express how excited I am to get to Colorado. We played those guys a bunch in division. I really think they have a good group of young guys who are getting better and better.”
A Rollercoaster 2023
Last season proved difficult for McCarthy. He endured an 0-for-24 start before recording his first hit and was hitting .073 (3 for 41) after 14 games when he was sent down to Triple-A Reno. He thrived with the Aces, batting .314 (65 for 207) with 43 runs, 15 doubles, four triples, one home run, 16 RBIs, and a near-perfect 12-for-15 in stolen bases across 49 games.
Arizona recalled McCarthy in June, where he batted .204 (42 for 206) with 18 runs, seven doubles, five triples, four home runs, 20 RBIs, and a perfect 6-for-6 in stolen bases over 67 games. “Last year wasn’t great,” McCarthy admitted. “I was grateful to have the opportunity to go to camp this year and do what I think I’m capable of doing. All the motivation factors are still the same, it’s just in a different place.”
What is Jake McCarthy’s career batting average with the Diamondbacks? McCarthy, a Scranton High School and University of Virginia product, was originally drafted by Arizona in the first round (39th overall) in 2018. He debuted in MLB on April 27, 2021, and in five seasons with the Diamondbacks, he batted .260 with 339 hits, including 24 home runs, 139 RBIs, 185 runs, and 83 stolen bases in 431 games.
He fondly remembers his time with the Diamondbacks, particularly the camaraderie with his teammates. “A lot of good friends. I was actually with a few guys from the team Friday night watching the football game,” McCarthy said. “A lot of us live out here. There’s a lot of guys on that team that I kind of grew up with, got drafted with, climbed the ranks through the minors. I think that’s the hardest part of it all. When you sign up for this job, you understand things can change at the drop of a hat. Saying goodbye to people I’ve been around the last six years is definitely tough. Same thing with my wife. She made a ton of friends with the other wives and things like that. That’s certainly going to be different, but really, really excited to get to work in Colorado. I really liked playing there. It’s one of my favorite parks to visit.”
McCarthy will join a Rockies outfield that includes Brenton Doyle, Mickey Moniak, and Jordan Beck. He expressed eagerness to compete for a role. “I’m very excited to walk into a building in February and have a shot to contribute and earn a job and show people what I can do,” McCarthy said. “Obviously I want to be involved, but there’s no expectation. I want to go out and earn it and show people what I’m capable of.”
A Familiar Spring Training Location
Interestingly, the Rockies and Diamondbacks share the same spring training facility, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, in Scottsdale. This will make the transition relatively seamless for McCarthy. “I’ve got to drive like 100 yards past where I have been turning in,” he joked. “It will be weird going to Arizona as a visitor.” Colorado is scheduled to visit Arizona from May 21-24.
As for Josh Grosz, he was initially drafted by the New York Yankees in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB draft and was part of the trade that sent third baseman Ryan McMahon to the Yankees last season. He posted a 5-14 record with a 4.67 ERA, 55 walks, and 135 strikeouts in 125.1 innings across 23 games (22 starts) with High-A Hudson Valley and Spokane. MLB Pipeline ranked him 20th in the Rockies’ farm system.
