When the Colorado Rockies traded with the Arizona Diamondbacks for outfielder Jack McCarthy back in January, their logic was fairly clear.
First, he brought a left-handed bat to platoon with righty CF Brenton Doyle; second, he has outfield versatility that would allow him to play all three positions and give Doyle a day off; and third, he is fast (99th percentile in sprint speed) with a career K% of 19.2%, which means he can play the kind of fast baseball manager Warren Schaeffer was looking to develop
at Coors Field.
(Plus, the Rockies would have him for an even-numbered year, a point illustrated by his FanGraphs page, since he has historically struggled in odd-numbered years.)
With the season, roughly, one-third over, it’s worth taking a moment to consider how McCarthy has adjusted to baseball at elevation.
All numbers are current as of Sunday, May 31, 2026.
What the offensive numbers show
So far, McCarthy has appeared in 49 games and has 158 plate appearances. He’s slashing .282/.323/.444 with a 99 wRC+. Those numbers include 10 stolen bases and three home runs. And while Statcast indicates he does not hit the ball hard, he does get on base consistently.
Currently he has a 5.7% walk rate and a 19.0% strikeout rate. While the BB% is unremarkable among Rockies hitters, only Tyler Freeman and TJ Rumfield have better scores. He leads the Rockies in stolen bases.
He’s also shown an ability to hit left-handed or right-handed pitching. Against righties, he has a 126 wRC+, and against lefties, that number falls to a respectable 93 wRC+. So in that way, he has given Schaeffer the kind of platoon ability that the Rockies are committed to this season.
For McCarthy, that’s just part of his game.
“I think it’s an easy excuse to say, ‘You know, he was a tough lefty,’ and it’s hard to not swing at this pitch or whatever,” McCarthy said.
“But I’ve always wanted to get the opportunity to face (lefties), and I think all hitters feel that way. I just think it’s the same principles. It’s just getting good pitches to hit, putting a good swing on them, and maybe not giving them too much credit, where, ‘Oh, the ball is coming from behind my head,’ or ‘It’s a different type of angle.’ I think the fundamentals and the principles still apply, regardless of where (the pitch) is coming from.”
Plus, he’s enjoyed working with Rockies hitting coach Brett Pill.
“He’s a guy who definitely knows what he’s talking about,” McCarthy said, “but also understands how hard this game can be. I think it’s good to be around people who have been through it, and understand that sometimes it doesn’t make sense, and what you’re feeling or what you’re going through is is normal.”
McCarthy has also improved over the course of the season. In March and April, McCarthy had a 91 wRC+; that number grew to 104 in May, probably due, at least in part, to seeing more playing time with Doyle on the IL with an oblique injury.
And what does he think of Coors Field now that it’s his home park?
”I think it’s a really fun place to hit,” he said.
What the defensive numbers show
On the defensive side, McCarthy’s is holding his own as well.
The Rockies original plan involved using McCarthy primarily in left with occasional stints in center, and having Jordan Beck become the primary right fielder. However, injuries derailed that strategy, so here’s how the 354.2 innings McCarthy have spent in the outfield break down:
- Left Field: 141.0 innings; -1 DRS; 0 OAA; 0 FRV; 1.000 FP.
- Center Field: 202.2 innings; -1 DRS; -1 OAA; 0 FRV; .987 FP.
- Right Field: 11.0 innings; 0 DRS; -1 OAA; 0 FV; 1.000 FP.
So by those metrics, McCarthy has been fine. (He has posted slightly better numbers than Troy Johnston, Brenton Doyle, and Mickey Moniak.)
One notable drawback is McCarthy’s arm, which ranks the worst among center fielders according to Statcast.
Still, he’s noticed the challenges of playing in Coors expansive outfield.
“Obviously, I think with the bigger field and the ball carries a little more, so maybe the outfield you could say is more challenging,” McCarthy said.
And he’s had to make adjustments.
“Maybe you’re in a place — like we went from New York in April — where it’s cold and windy, to here, so maybe the ball is probably going to carry more, especially when it’s warmer here,” he said. “So maybe you take that into your adjustment in the outfield, where your positioning, or maybe what your first step is.”
But becoming more familiar with his new ballpark helps.
“I think over time, too, we get used to it. We have the advantage of being here 81 games a year. So I think there’s acclimation.”
What the mullet shows
If there’s a thing Rockies fans appreciate, it a good mullet. After all, they had years of watching the respective flows of Charlie Blackmon, Connor Joe, and Troy Tulowitzki. (Read this for the definitive Rockies mullet analysis.)
And, as it turns out, McCarthy has a mullet of his own.
“I’ve had long hair for a while now,” he said, “but this past offseason, I was like, ‘Maybe I’ll just try to cut it into a mullet.’ My wife doesn’t mind, so I wear a hat for a living anyway, so even if it looks egregious, I just, you know…”
And then he laughed.
Combine McCarthy’s look with his “Stairway to Heaven” walkup song, and you’ve got a player with personality.
What McCarthy has contributed
Clearly, it’s too early in the season to draw too many conclusions. However, in trading for McCarthy, the Rockies needed a utility outfielder and a player who could get on base.
He has delivered on both fronts.
When Brenton Doyle, Jordan Beck, and Mickey Moniak went on the IL, McCarthy seamlessly slid into the centerfield job while making consistent contributions at the plate.
Now the question is whether he can continue at this level as the rest of the 2026 season unfolds.
This week on the internet
Okay, I thought this was funny.
The chatter’s box: Troy Johnston interview | Just Baseball
Patrick Lyons caught up with Troy Johnston to get his thoughts on a variety of subjects, including podcasting, joining the Rockies, and his time in the minor leagues.
Colorado Rockies 2026 Player Survey: Mickey Moniak | Mile High Sports
Drew Creasman checks in with Mickey Moniak. Among other subjects, he discusses the best play he’s made, how he prepares, and the ideal off-day.
Guess which Phillies outfielder is up there with Cobb & Hornsby? | MLB.com
This is not a piece about the Rockies — I get that — but Mike Petriello’s analysis of Brendan Marsh’s BABIP is worth your time.
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