Jake McGee

Jake McGee
McGee with the Colorado Rockies in 2016
Pitcher
Born: (1986-08-06) August 6, 1986 (age 38)
San Jose, California, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 14, 2010, for the Tampa Bay Rays
Last MLB appearance
September 8, 2022, for the Washington Nationals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record32–28
Earned run average3.71
Strikeouts613
Saves79
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
World Baseball Classic
Gold medal – first place 2017 Los Angeles Team

Jacob Daniel McGee (born August 6, 1986) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. McGee was selected by Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the fifth round of the 2004 MLB draft and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2008. He played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, and Washington Nationals.

Early life

McGee was born in San Jose, California.[1] He grew up in Sparks, Nevada, where he attended Edward C. Reed High School.[2] McGee was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the fifth round (135th overall) of the 2004 MLB draft.[3]

Professional career

Tampa Bay Rays

McGee with the Rays in 2012

McGee made his minor league debut in 2004, and spent 2004 and 2005 with the Princeton Devil Rays and the Hudson Valley Renegades. In 2006, McGee spent the year with the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays. He played with both the Vero Beach Devil Rays and the Montgomery Biscuits in 2007. he spent the entire 2008 with the Montgomery Biscuits, going 6–4 with 3.94 ERA. McGee was rated by Baseball America as the third-best organizational prospect for Tampa Bay Rays and 15th overall MLB prospect in 2008. In 2007, he was ranked 5th in the Rays' organization and 37th overall in all of baseball.[4]

McGee is nicknamed "Clockhands".[5] He earned the nickname due to his unconventional windup.[6]

McGee had Tommy John surgery on July 8, 2008.[7]

McGee was promoted to the MLB for the first time on September 14, 2010.[8] He made his MLB debut that night against the New York Yankees, walking three batters and striking out Derek Jeter for his first MLB strikeout.[9] McGee made the Rays MLB roster after spring training in 2011, but he was sent down to the team's Class AAA minor league affiliate after 11 appearances.[10]

In the last few months of the 2014 season, McGee became the Rays' closer. He finished the season with 19 saves. After undergoing elbow surgery to remove "loose bodies" in December 2014, McGee spent the early portion of the 2015 season with the Class AAA Durham Bulls.[11] He underwent knee surgery for a torn meniscus in late August, ending his season.[12]

Colorado Rockies

On January 28, 2016, McGee and Germán Márquez were traded to the Colorado Rockies for Corey Dickerson and Kevin Padlo.[13] McGee had a 4.73 ERA in the 2016 season. McGee and the Rockies avoided salary arbitration on December 3, 2016, by agreeing to a $5.9 million contract for the 2017 season.[14] In 2017, McGee had an 0–2 win–loss record, a 3.61 ERA, and three saves in 62 games.[15]

McGee signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Rockies after the 2017 season.[15] In 2018, McGee posted a career-worst 6.49 ERA in 61 games.[16] McGee spent time on the disabled list in 2019, posting an ERA of 4.35 in 45 games.[16] McGee was released by the Rockies on July 17, 2020.[17]

Los Angeles Dodgers

On July 21, 2020, McGee signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.[18] In the pandemic shortened season, he appeared in 24 games with a 3–1 record and 2.66 ERA.[16] McGee allowed one run in 1+13 innings over three games in the 2020 NLCS and pitched one scoreless inning in the 2020 World Series as the Dodgers won the championship.[16]

San Francisco Giants

On February 17, 2021, McGee signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants worth $7 million, with a club option for the 2023 season.[19] McGee was named National League Reliever of the Month for July 2021, after not allowing a run in 11 innings and recording seven saves.[20] He finished the 2021 season with 31 saves in 36 chances, as well as a 2.72 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP.

In 2022, McGee made 24 appearances for San Francisco but struggled to a 7.17 ERA with 11 strikeouts and 3 saves in 21.1 innings pitched. On July 9, 2022, McGee was designated for assignment after Luis González was activated off of the injured list.[21] On July 14, McGee was released by the Giants.[22]

Milwaukee Brewers

On July 22, 2022, McGee signed a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.[23] On August 7, 2022, McGee was designated for assignment.[24]

Washington Nationals

On August 9, 2022, McGee was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals.[25] On September 9, McGee was designated for assignment. He was released on September 11, 2022.

McGee announced his retirement from professional baseball on February 3, 2023.[26]

Personal life

Jake and Morgan McGee have been married since December 2009. As of late 2015, they live in Tampa, Florida. For the last several years, the couple has purchased Christmas presents for foster children in Reno and Tampa.[27]

References

  1. ^ Moran, Kirsten (February 10, 2021) [February 10, 2021]. "'Very fortunate.' Jake McGee weighs in on signing with hometown Giants". Nevada Sports Net. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  2. ^ "Top Prospects: Player Profile". Web.minorleaguebaseball.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  3. ^ "Jake McGee Pitching Statistics". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  4. ^ Ballew, Bill (November 12, 2008). "Prospects: Rankings: Organization Top 10 Prospects: Tampa Bay Rays: Top 10 Prospects". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  5. ^ Kaufman, King; Tan, Cecilia, eds. (2012). Baseball Prospectus 2012. John Wiley & Sons. p. 464. ISBN 978-1118197691. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  6. ^ Montgomery, William (July 17, 2011). "Rays recall former Renegade McGee from Triple-A". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  7. ^ "Rays' Percival fumes over catwalk-aided double – St. Petersburg Times". Tampabay.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  8. ^ Associated, The (September 14, 2010). "The Canadian Press: Rays call up lefty Jake McGee, send right-hander Mike Ekstrom to minors". Archived from the original on September 18, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  9. ^ "McGee's first MLB strikeout". MLB.com. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  10. ^ Little, Josh (May 2, 2011). "Jake McGee sent down to Triple-A". KOLO-TV. Archived from the original on February 26, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  11. ^ Chastain, Bill (May 6, 2015). "McGee could return to 'pen during homestand". MLB.com. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  12. ^ Gleeman, Aaron (August 20, 2015). "Rays reliever Jake McGee undergoes season-ending knee surgery". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  13. ^ Harding, Thomas (January 28, 2016). "Rockies to receive reliever McGee in four-player swap". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  14. ^ Adams, Steve; Todd, Jeff (December 3, 2016). "Players Avoiding Arbitration: Friday". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  15. ^ a b Harding, Thomas (December 15, 2017). "Shaw in, McGee back as part of Rox 'pen plan". MLB.com. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  16. ^ a b c d "Jake McGee Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  17. ^ Newman, Kyle (July 17, 2020). "Rockies release highly paid relievers Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw, ushering in new era for Colorado's bullpen". denverpost.com. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  18. ^ "LA options Lux, inks McGee to 1-year deal". MLB.com. July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  19. ^ "Giants' Jake McGee signing official; 'nice candidate' to be new closer". February 18, 2021.
  20. ^ "McGee, Iglesias are Relievers of the Month". MLB.com (Press release). August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  21. ^ "SF Giants shakeup: Jake McGee DFA'd to activate OF Luis González". mercurynews.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  22. ^ "Giants release reliever Jake McGee; veteran hopes to help contenders". July 14, 2022.
  23. ^ Franco, Anthony (July 22, 2022). "Brewers To Sign Jake McGee To Major League Deal". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  24. ^ McDonald, Darragh (August 7, 2022). "Brewers Designate Jake McGee For Assignment". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  25. ^ McDonald, Darragh (August 9, 2022). "Nationals Claim Jake McGee, Designate Donovan Casey". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  26. ^ Topkin, Marc. "Jake McGee is retiring and wants to be known as a Ray". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  27. ^ Mooney, Roger (December 24, 2015). "Rays' McGee, wife celebrate anniversary by spreading Christmas spirit". The Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on February 26, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2016.