Kirk McCarty

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Kirk McCarty

| position = Pitcher

| team = Free agent

| number =

| bats = Left

| throws = Left

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|10|12}}

| birth_place = Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = April 24

| debutyear = 2022

| debutteam = Cleveland Guardians

| debut2league = KBO

| debut2date = April 2

| debut2year = 2023

| debut2team = SSG Landers

| debut3league = CPBL

| debut3date = June 4

| debut3year = 2024

| debut3team = CTBC Brothers

| statleague = MLB

| statyear = 2022 season

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 4–3

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 4.54

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 26

| stat2league = KBO

| stat2year = 2023 season

| stat21label = Win–loss record

| stat21value = 9–5

| stat22label = Earned run average

| stat22value = 3.39

| stat23label = Strikeouts

| stat23value = 116

| stat3league = CPBL

| stat3year = 2024 season

| stat31label = Win–loss record

| stat31value = 5–3

| stat32label = Earned run average

| stat32value = 2.76

| stat33label = Strikeouts

| stat33value = 62

| teams =

Cleveland Guardians ({{mlby|2022}})
SSG Landers ({{kboy|2023}})
CTBC Brothers ({{by|2024}})

| highlights =

Taiwan Series champion ({{by|2024}})

}}

Kirkland McCarty (born October 12, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Guardians, in the KBO League for the SSG Landers, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the CTBC Brothers.

High school and college

McCarty went to Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he played baseball. He was an effective hitter and pitcher in high school, as he hit to a .364 batting average and pitched to a 25–3 record in his high school career.{{cite web|url=https://www.maxpreps.com/m/athlete/kirk-mccarty/6Con__TsEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/baseball/stats.htm|title=Kirk McCarty High School Stats|website=MaxPreps}} He committed to Southern Miss to play college baseball before the 2015 college baseball season.{{cite web|url=https://southernmiss.com/sports/baseball/roster/kirk-mccarty/214|title=Kirk McCarty - Southern Miss|website=Southern Miss Athletics}} McCarty worked as both a starter and reliever as a freshman, compiling a 4–1 record and a 4.09 earned run average.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mccart000kir|title=Kirk McCarty Statistics|website=Baseball Reference}} Starting with his sophomore season, he played with future Guardians teammate Nick Sandlin.{{cite web | title=Prep pitcher commits to baseball Eagles | website=The Clarion-Ledger | date=2014-07-09 | url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/southernmisssports/2014/07/09/prep-pitcher-commits-to-baseball-eagles/12397519/ | access-date=2025-02-16}} McCarty recorded an 8–1 record and a 3.16 ERA, while leading the Southern Miss team in strikeouts with 89. After his sophomore season in 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod League, throwing for a 2–1 record with a 1.99 ERA.{{cite web|url=https://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=922099&seasonid=29795 |title=Kirk McCarty - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=July 28, 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2016&T=orleans_firebirds|title=2016 Orleans Firebirds Roster|website=The Baseball Cube}} He became solely a starter for his junior season, pitching to a 3.52 ERA, a 10–2 record, and 103 strikeouts across 17 starts.

Career

=Cleveland Indians / Guardians=

McCarty was drafted by the Cleveland Indians with the 222nd overall pick in the 7th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.sunherald.com/sports/college/conference-usa/university-of-southern-mississippi/article155955869.html|first=Patrick|last=Magee|title=Indians select Southern Miss' Kirk McCarty in MLB Draft|website=SunHerald}}

McCarty signed for a $250,000 signing bonus on June 24, 2017, forgoing his senior season at Southern Miss.{{cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/southern-miss/2017/06/24/kirk-mccarty-signs-indians-ending-southern-miss-career/426273001/|first=Hugh|last=Kellenberger|title=Kirk McCarty signs with Indians, ending Southern Miss career|website=Clarion Ledger}} He pitched for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers during the rest of 2017, going 2–2 with an earned run average of 1.85 while working as both a starter and a reliever. He pitched for the Lake County Captains and the Lynchburg Hillcats in 2018, becoming a full{{endash}}time starter. He pitched to a 5–11 record and a 4.06 earned run average across {{fraction|146|1|3}} innings for both teams. For Lynchburg in 2019, he pitched to a 3–7 record with a 5.66 earned run average across 13 starts. He pitched for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League after the minor league season was over.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/durham/news/four-2019-hillcats-named-to-arizona-fall-league-roster-310405524|first=Max|last=Gun|title=Four 2019 Hillcats named to Arizona Fall League roster|website=MILB.com}}

McCarty did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | last=Adler | first=David | title=2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled | website=MLB.com | date=2020-06-30 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled | access-date=2025-02-16}} He spent the 2021 season with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. After beginning the 2022 season with Columbus, the Guardians selected McCarty's contract as a COVID-19 replacement player on April 20, 2022.{{cite news |title=Guardians make a series of roster moves |url=https://www.mlb.com/guardians/press-release/press-release-guardians-make-a-series-of-roster-moves?t=guardians-press-releases |publisher=CleGuardians.com |date=April 20, 2022}} He made his major league debut on April 24, 2022, and was returned to Columbus the following day.{{Cite web|title=Guardians Promote Richie Palacios, Activate Luke Maile|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/guardians-promote-richie-palacios-activate-luke-maile.html|access-date=January 26, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=April 25, 2022 |language=en}} The Guardians selected McCarty's contract once more on May 8.{{Cite web|title=Guardians Select Kirk McCarty|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/05/guardians-select-kirk-mccarty.html|access-date=January 26, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=May 9, 2022 |language=en}} McCarty was designated for assignment following the promotion of Alex Young on July 3.{{Cite web|title=Guardians Select Alex Young, Designate Kirk McCarty For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/guardians-select-alex-young-designate-kirk-mccarty-for-assignment.html|access-date=January 26, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=July 3, 2022 |language=en}}

=Baltimore Orioles=

On July 6, 2022, McCarty was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.{{Cite web|title=The Baltimore Orioles claim Kirk McCarty: Let's learn about him|url=https://birdswatcher.com/2022/07/07/baltimore-orioles-claim-kirk-mccarty/|access-date=June 6, 2024|website=birdswatcher.com|date=July 7, 2022 |language=en}} He made one start for the Triple–A Norfolk Tides, allowing three runs on five hits with two strikeouts in four innings of work. On July 12, McCarty was designated for assignment following the waiver claim of Louis Head.{{Cite web|title=Orioles Claim Louis Head From Marlins, Designate Kirk McCarty|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/orioles-claim-louis-head-from-marlins.html|access-date=June 6, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=July 12, 2022 |language=en}}

=Cleveland Guardians (second stint)=

On July 14, 2022, McCarty was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Guardians.{{Cite web|title=Guardians Claim Kirk McCarty, Designate Alex Young|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/guardians-claim-kirk-mccarty-from-orioles.html|access-date=January 26, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=July 14, 2022 |language=en}} On July 26, McCarty earned his first career win after tossing four scoreless innings of relief against the Boston Red Sox.{{Cite web|title=Guardians' Kirk McCarty: Earns win as primary pitcher|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/guardians-kirk-mccarty-earns-win-as-primary-pitcher/|access-date=2023-05-25|website=cbssports.com|date=July 27, 2022 |language=en}}{{cite web | last=Wild | first=Tommy | title=Kirk McCarty Saves Guardians In Bullpen Game | website=SI.com| date=2022-07-27 | url=https://www.si.com/mlb/guardians/news/kirk-mccarty-saves-guardians-in-bullpen-game | access-date=2025-02-16}} In 13 total appearances for Cleveland, he compiled a 4-3 record and 4.54 ERA with 26 strikeouts across {{fraction|37|2|3}} innings pitched. McCarty was designated for assignment once more on November 15, and subsequently released on November 17.{{cite news |last1=Adams |first1=Steve |title=Guardians Release Kirk McCarty |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/guardians-dfa-anthony-gose-kirk-mccarty.html |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=November 17, 2022}}

=SSG Landers=

On November 27, 2022, McCarty signed with the SSG Landers of the KBO League.{{cite web | url=https://sports.news.naver.com/news?oid=241&aid=0003242256 | title=[단독] Cle 40인 로스터 왼손 맥카티, Ssg행 초읽기 }} He made 24 starts for the team in 2023, registering a 9–5 record and 3.39 ERA with 116 strikeouts across 130 innings pitched. McCarty became a free agent following the season.

=CTBC Brothers=

On January 17, 2024, McCarty signed with the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.{{Cite web|title=CTBC Brothers Sign Kirk McCarty|url=http://cpblstats.com/ctbc-brothers-sign-kirk-mccarty/|access-date=January 19, 2024|website=cpblstats.com|date=January 17, 2024 |language=en}} He was sidelined with left elbow inflammation to begin the season.https://x.com/gocpbl/status/1769286409414922524?s=46&t=UN5XGiNzRq3-vt33N7zCTw McCarty ultimately made 13 starts for the team, posting a 5–3 record and 2.76 ERA with 62 strikeouts across {{fraction|81|2|3}} innings pitched. With the Brothers, he won the 2024 Taiwan Series.{{Cite web|title=CTBC Brothers win their 10th Taiwan Series Title|url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/ctbc-brothers-win-their-10th-taiwan-series-title|access-date=November 11, 2024|website=wbsc.org|language=en}}

On January 9, 2025, McCarty re-signed with the Brothers.{{Cite web|title=CTBC Brothers Re-Sign Kirk McCarty for 2025 Season|url=http://cpblstats.com/ctbc-brothers-sign-kirk-mccarty-2025-season/|access-date=January 12, 2025|website=cpblstats.com|date=January 10, 2025 |language=en}} He was released by the Brothers on April 2, after struggles during spring training led to him not making the team.{{Cite web|title=CTBC Brothers Release Kirk McCarty|url=http://cpblstats.com/ctbc-brothers-release-kirk-mccarty/|access-date=April 4, 2025|website=cpblstats.com|language=en}}