Jake McCarthy Is Having a Career Resurgence in Colorado

Just two months after Paul DePodesta took over as the new president of baseball operations, the Colorado Rockies acquired two key pieces who have since become pillars of the lineup: Jake McCarthy and TJ Rumfield.

McCarthy was first to join Colorado’s organization via trade on January 10. It was a one-for-one trade that sent McCarthy from the Diamondbacks to the Rockies in exchange for minor league right-hander Josh Grosz.

The second deal was made on January 28, when the Rockies sent reliever Angel Chivilli to the New York Yankees for first base prospect TJ Rumfield.

Rumfield has certainly made an impact in his early Rockies tenure and has already collected National League Rookie of the Month honors for both May and June. Just 89 games into his MLB career, Rumfield is sporting a .297 batting average paired with a .861 OPS, showing that his bat is ready for the majors.

Circling back to McCarthy, he was drafted by the Diamondbacks with the 39th overall pick in 2018 out of the University of Virginia. McCarthy was a coveted prospect in that year’s draft with his blend of defense and speed to go with a respectable offensive projection.

After the Diamondbacks selected McCarthy with their Competitive Balance Round-A pick, during round two, they selected fellow outfielder Alek Thomas out of Mt. Carmel High School located in Illinois.

McCarthy made his MLB debut in 2021, with Thomas following a year later in 2022. Both would go on to become key components of the Diamondbacks’ outfield.

Things changed over the offseason when McCarthy was dealt to Colorado, signaling a shift in the Diamondbacks’ core. Thomas also endured a slow start to his 2026 campaign, batting just .181 with a .562 OPS. As a result, he was designated for assignment in early May before being dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

What looked to be a promising outfield duo for the Diamondbacks ended sooner than expected, despite both players being under club control through the 2028 season. McCarthy found slightly more success offensively than Thomas, but the duo ultimately failed to provide the level of production the organization had hoped for.

With Thomas still yet to make his Dodgers debut, McCarthy has been on a recent tear at the plate, continuing what has been an excellent first half in his first season with Colorado.

On July 3 against the San Francisco Giants, McCarthy became the first player in MLB history to record a leadoff home run, grand slam, and stolen base in the same game, finishing the night with four hits and six RBIs.

McCarthy’s resurgent season has helped lead the Rockies to one of the best offenses in the majors, believe it or not. As a team, Colorado ranks in the top 10 in batting average, on-base percentage, OPS, and runs scored, while sitting around the middle of the league in home runs and stolen bases.

McCarthy’s performance this season has played a big part in that strong offensive output for Colorado. Whether he’s playing his way into the Rockies’ core moving forward or boosting his trade value ahead of the August 3 deadline, McCarthy has been one of the more unsung offensive weapons in MLB this season.

McCarthy’s Offensive Surge

McCarthy has exceeded expectations for the Rockies’ offense, backed by his .305 batting average and .861 OPS. While one might assume that production is being fueled primarily by Coors Field, McCarthy has maintained similar success on the road.

McCarthy owns a .317 batting average at Coors Field this season but has still managed a .291 mark on the road. The biggest difference between his home and away splits comes in his power production, which is unsurprising given the impact of playing at elevation in Colorado. McCarthy has collected 21 extra-base hits at home, including seven home runs, compared to 10 extra-base hits and two home runs on the road.

McCarthy’s production may not translate as well if he is traded to another club in the next month, and his underlying numbers help explain why. While he is currently slugging a career-best .517, his .412 expected slugging percentage sits just above league average. The same trend appears with his wOBA, as his strong .368 mark is paired with a below-average .318 expected wOBA.

Setting his expected metrics aside, McCarthy is putting together his most valuable offensive season since 2022. His current 10 batting run value is already his highest mark since posting a 13 run value that season. With half of the 2026 campaign still remaining, McCarthy has plenty of time to continue building on that number and potentially set a new career high.

Something that has always been a valuable part of McCarthy’s game is his elite speed and impact on the basepaths. His sprint speed has averaged 29.9 feet per second, placing him in the 99th percentile among MLB players. That elite speed has translated into a +1 baserunning run value, placing him in the 76th percentile, per Baseball Savant.

Beyond the numbers behind McCarthy’s career-best offensive season, he has also consistently contributed in run-producing situations. His 49 RBIs rank second on the Rockies, trailing only Hunter Goodman, who has collected 51.

Will McCarthy Remain With the Rockies Long-Term?

McCarthy is doing everything right and will certainly draw plenty of attention from contending clubs over the next month. With his combination of club control, speed, defense, and offensive breakout, he would likely bring a strong return to the Rockies if they decide to move him.

It was recently reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today that the Houston Astros have shown interest in trading for Rockies outfielders Jake McCarthy and Mickey Moniak. With both players being left-handed hitters, their ability to provide lineup balance adds another layer to their potential trade value.

While it would be difficult for the Rockies to lose McCarthy, Moniak, or both, the organization does have internal options waiting in the wings. Sterlin Thompson, Zac Veen, and Jordan Beck have all received some major league experience but have yet to establish consistent, long-term roles.

We’ll have to wait and see what this Rockies team looks like after the trade deadline with new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta leading the way. If McCarthy remains in Colorado, Rockies fans will get to enjoy two more seasons of his impact. Regardless of what happens, he has played a major role in what has been an exciting first half for the Rockies’ offense.