The Colorado Rockies announced on 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 National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2022 after turning in a 2.4 WAR season and hitting .283/.342/.427 with eight home runs and 23 stolen bases. Through parts of five big league seasons he has accumulated 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 much of a power hitter, consistently ranking among the lower percentiles of the league in hard hit and barrel rates. However, he can make solid contact to get on base and is around league average when it comes to squaring up on the ball. McCarthy also does well when it comes to avoiding strikeouts. In each of his last three seasons he has held a strikeout rate under 20%, although he doesn’t draw many walks.
McCarthy’s primary skill is his elite speed. His 29.9 feet/second sprint speed was tied for eighth-best in baseball in 2025, ranking above the Rockies’ Brenton Doyle (29.5 feet/second) but below famed speedsters like Trea Turner and Bobby Witt Jr. He is also an aggressive base stealer.
He can put that speed to use in the outfield with solid-to-above-average defensive range. He has taken the majority of his reps in right field for the Diamondbacks, though he is capable of playing all three outfield positions.
McCarthy is coming off a career-worst season in 2025. Bouncing back and forth between Triple-A Reno and Arizona’s big league roster he hit just .204/.247/.345 with seven doubles, five triples, four home runs, and 20 RBIs over 67 games and stole just six bases on his way to a -0.7 WAR season.
McCarthy is due to 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 and gave up nine home runs.
Although he initially struggled to start his tenure with the Indians, Grosz locked in for his final three starts of the season. He pitched three straight quality starts, giving up six earned runs over 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.