Kevin Edward McCarthy (born February 22, 1992) is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

who is a free agent. He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...

. Listed at and , he throws and bats right-handed.

Early years

McCarthy attended

Kellenberg Memorial High School Kellenberg Memorial High School is a Roman Catholic college-preparatory school in Uniondale, New York, on Long Island, United States. Kellenberg Memorial is a Marianist school on Long Island, alongside St. Martin de Porres Marianist School in Un ...

Uniondale, New York Uniondale is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in central Nassau County, New York, on Long Island, in the Town of Hempstead, within the New York metropolitan area. The population was 32,473 at the time of the 2020 United States census ...

, and played

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played by Student athlete, student-athletes at institutions of higher education. In the United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, ...

Marist College Marist University is a private university in Poughkeepsie (town), New York, Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Marist was founded by the Marist Brothers, a Catholic Church, Catholic religious institute, in 1905 to prepare brothers for their ...

. He was drafted by the

in the 16th round of the

2013 Major League Baseball draft The 2013 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2013. The first two rounds were broadcast from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. Each team received one selection per round, going in reverse order of ...

Professional career

Kansas City Royals

McCarthy signed with the Royals and spent 2013 with the

Burlington Royals The Burlington Royals were a minor league baseball team in Burlington, North Carolina, United States. They were a Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League. The team was affiliated with the Cleveland Indians from 1986 to 2006 as the Burlington ...

where he was 4–2 with a 3.40

earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...

(ERA) in

innings pitched In baseball, the statistic innings pitched (IP) is the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of Batter (baseball), batters and baserunners that have been put out while the pitcher is on the Baseball field#Pitcher's mou ...

. He pitched in only two games in 2014 due to an injury. In 2015, he played for the

Lexington Legends The Lexington Legends are an American professional baseball team based in Lexington, Kentucky. They are a member of the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of Major League Baseball. The Legends have ...

Wilmington Blue Rocks The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Wilmington, Delaware, and play their home games at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium. Fra ...

, and

Northwest Arkansas Naturals The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springdale, Arkansas, Springdale, Arkansas. The team is a member of the Texas League, and serves as the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. T ...

where he posted a 5–4 record and 2.74 ERA in 33 relief appearances. In 2016, he pitched with Northwest Arkansas and the

Omaha Storm Chasers The Omaha Storm Chasers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are located in Papillion, Nebraska, a suburb southwest of Omaha, Nebraska, Omah ...

where he compiled a 5–6 record, 3.04 ERA, and 1.15

WHIP A whip is a blunt weapon or implement used in a striking motion to create sound or pain. Whips can be used for flagellation against humans or animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain, or be used as an audible cue thro ...

in 47 appearances out of the bullpen. McCarthy was called up to the majors for the first time on September 6, 2016. He made his major league debut on September 9, appearing in the eighth inning during the Royals' 7–2 loss to the

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...

; he retired the only batter he faced. He made a total of 10 appearances with the 2016 Royals, accruing a 6.48 ERA with a 1–0 record and 7 strikeouts in innings pitched. In 2017, McCarthy split time between the minors and the Royals bullpen. In 33 games for the Royals, he again posted a 1–0 record, recording 27 strikeouts in 45 innings with a 3.20 ERA. In 2018, McCarthy appeared in 65 games, all in relief; he pitched to a 3.25 ERA and a 5–4 record, with 46 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched. McCarthy made the Royals' 2019

Opening Day Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball (MLB) and most of the American minor leagues, this day typically falls during the first week of April, although in recent year ...

roster. For the season, he compiled a 4–2 record and 4.48 ERA in 56 games, and 38 strikeouts in innings pitched. With the 2020 Royals, McCarthy appeared in five games, registering no decisions with a 4.50 ERA and two strikeouts in six innings pitched. On October 30, 2020, McCarthy was outrighted off the Royals roster; he became a

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

instead of accepting a Triple-A assignment. Overall, in parts of five seasons with Kansas City, he appeared in 169 games (all in relief) while striking out 120 batters in innings pitched with a record of 11–6 and a 3.80 ERA.

Boston Red Sox

On November 16, 2020, McCarthy signed a minor league contract with the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

. McCarthy did not make the club out of Spring Training but chose not to trigger the opt-out clause in his contract. McCarthy appeared in 28 games in 2021 for the Triple-A

Worcester Red Sox The Worcester Red Sox (nicknamed the WooSox) are a professional minor league baseball team based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Beginning play in 2021, the team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, succeeding the Pawtucket Red Sox. Th ...

, posting a 7.13 ERA with 35 strikeouts. On August 23, 2021, McCarthy was released by the Red Sox.

Chicago White Sox

On September 7, 2021, McCarthy signed a minor league deal with the

. He was assigned to the Triple-A

Charlotte Knights The Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. They are located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and play their home games at Truist Field ...

. He appeared in 7 games for Charlotte, struggling to a 7.04 ERA in 7.2 innings of work.

Chicago Cubs

On March 1, 2022, McCarthy signed a minor league deal with the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...

organization. McCarthy logged 3 appearances for the Triple-A

Iowa Cubs The Iowa Cubs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. They are located in Des Moines, Iowa, and are named for their Major League Baseball (MLB) affiliate. T ...

, struggling to a 9.00 ERA with 4 strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched before he was released on May 3.

Cleburne Railroaders

On May 26, 2022, McCarthy signed with the

Cleburne Railroaders The Cleburne Railroaders are a professional baseball team based in Cleburne, Texas, that plays in the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball. The team, which began play in 2017, plays i ...

of the American Association. McCarthy appeared in 45 contests for Cleburne, recording a 3-2 record and 4.80 ERA with 50 strikeouts and 2 saves in 60.0 innings pitched. McCarthy was released by the Railroaders on March 24, 2023.

Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos

On April 20, 2023, McCarthy signed with the

Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos The Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos (English: Two Laredos Owls), formerly known as the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo (English: Nuevo Laredo Owls), are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League. The Tecolotes are a binational baseball team, spli ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...

. In 17 starts for Dos Laredos, he compiled a 6–7 record and 4.18 ERA with 47 strikeouts across 84 innings pitched. McCarthy appeared in 18 games (15 starts) for the Tecolotes in 2024, registering a 3–4 record and 4.52 ERA with 31 strikeouts over innings pitched.

Conspiradores de Querétaro

On November 13, 2024, McCarthy was loaned to the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the

. However he was released prior to the start of the season.

References

External links

Marist Red Foxes bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCarthy, Kevin 1992 births Living people Sportspeople from Rockville Centre, New York Baseball players from Nassau County, New York Major League Baseball pitchers Kansas City Royals players Marist Red Foxes baseball players Burlington Royals players Lexington Legends players Wilmington Blue Rocks players Northwest Arkansas Naturals players Surprise Saguaros players Omaha Storm Chasers players Worcester Red Sox players Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos players Cleburne Railroaders players American expatriate baseball players in Mexico