Joe McCarthy

Position: LF
Level: AFL
Affiliate: Peoria Javelinas
League: Arizona Fall League
Born: 02/23/1994 (Age: 30)
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 220
B/T: Left / Left
Acquired: 5th Rd., 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft (TAM); Traded to SFG 7/31/2019

Prospect Spotlight

NOTES FROM THE FIELD, ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE:

  • Large and built frame that looks the part on a corner. Very strong.
  • Power+patience approach; has a plan at the plate and a sense of the zone; looks to draw FBs he can yank with power to pullside; ability to work late into counts also leads to plenty of strikeouts. Better ABs versus RHP, shows platoon issues against same-side arms.
  • Above-avg raw power; towering flyball drives to pullside in BP; approach and swing to get to it in games; 15-20 HR upside.
  • Has a track record of stealing bases, but body has thickened up and he’s looking less mobile after numerous injuries. 
  • Split time between LF and 1B in regular season. Playable at best in LF, fits better at 1B from a defensive standpoint over long stretches.
  • Fringy arm that is a fit for his corner-only defensive status. 

SUMMARY: Big LH power gets him to the big leagues, though presuming he’s a 1B, the question is if he’ll hit lefties enough for every day ABs. See likely outcome as a semi-regular platoon guy, moving between 1B and DH and providing thump in a role where his matchups are managed.