The 2026 Major League Baseball season was another brutal one for the Colorado Rockies, who have not posted a winning campaign since 2018. However, an exciting young core is starting to rise within the organization. 

All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman had a 40-home-run season in 2026, and rookies TJ Rumfield and Cole Carrigg were also impressive. Among the players who helped the Rockies improve their win total by 15 from 2025 to 2026 was also Jake McCarthy.

2026 was McCarthy's first season in the Mile High City after being traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to Colorado, and he did not disappoint.

McCarthy, 29, appeared in 147 games for the Rockies and posted a .291 batting average, a .334 on-base percentage, a .475 slugging percentage, and a .809 OPS with 15 home runs. His batting average, slugging percentage, OPS and home run total were all career-high marks.

McCarthy also logged a career-high 83 RBIs and 30 doubles. His only blemish was a career-high 95 strikeouts.

As a defender, McCarthy was also solid. He spent most of his time playing left field (81 games), but he also spent time in center field (68 games) and right field (24 games). 

From a fielding standpoint, McCarthy's best numbers came in center field. In the 68 games that he appeared in center field, he posted 166 putouts and a .994 fielding percentage.

Overall, McCarthy's season deserves an A. He was integral in helping the Rockies finish the regular season with the fifth-best OPS in baseball, as well as the fourth-best batting average, the seventh-best on-base percentage, and the fifth-best slugging percentage. 

McCarthy is a player who was able to shine in his first year with the Rockies after flying under the radar in Arizona. He has demonstrated that he can be one of the players alongside Goodman, Rumfield and Carrigg who can help Colorado return to winning consistently.

The Rockies' front office has a long offseason ahead in which it must address the team's issues. While the offense has taken great strides, pitching has been egregious. The good news for President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta is that he has the foundation for what could be a good team in the future.

It will be interesting to see what McCarthy’s future with Colorado looks like, but for the time being, the coming years should feature him. McCarthy will not be an unrestricted free agent until 2029. Until then, he will have two years of arbitration.