Diamondbacks Demote Starting Outfielder To Minors

He was supposed to be a key member of the newly-constructed outfield in the desert, but now the Arizona Diamondbacks are getting impatient with the painfully slow start of Jake McCarthy, and have demoted him to Triple-A.

#Dbacks OF Jake McCarthy is being optioned to Reno.

McCarthy is 9 for 63 to start the year (.143) with 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B, 5 BB, 12 K, 2 SB, and a -0.4 oWAR

— Arizona Diamondbacks | Stats & Info (@DbacksStatsInfo) April 25, 2023

McCarthy's horrid start includes a .143 average with a measly .467 OPS, and just two stolen bases in four attempts. Last season, in an impressive rookie year, he stole 23 bases in 26 attempts, while hitting .283 with a .769 OPS, and was well-above average as a major league hitter with an OPS+ of 118. This year, that mark stands at 30 thus far—making him 70% worse (yes, SEVENTY PERCENT) than the average hitter. 

McCarthy's performance last season, along with fellow rookie Corbin Carroll, allowed the D-Backs to trade outfielder Daulton Varsho to the Toronto Blue Jays in the Gabriel Moreno/Lourdes Gurriel deal. 

4th-year man Pavin Smith had already started to steal some at-bats from McCarthy, while posting a .355 mark with an 1.119 OPS along with 11 RBIs in 12 games. McCarthy had been benched in four of the previous eight games. 

The 25-year-old speedster will try to regain his touch down at Triple-A. 

Photo: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports