POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Former Marist baseball player Kevin McCarthy has made the opening day roster of the Kansas City Royals.
McCarthy is heading into his fourth season in the Major Leagues. He was drafted by Kansas City in the 16th round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He was called up to the Royals on Sept. 6, 2016, and made his debut three days later.
This is the first time in McCarthy's career that he has been on Kansas City's opening day roster. Last year, he began the season with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate in Omaha, but was recalled on April 13 and spent the remainder of the 2018 campaign in Kansas City. Last season, he went 5-4 with a 3.25 earned run average in 72 innings pitched. His 65 appearances ranked second on the team.
McCarthy pitched for the Marist baseball team from 2011-13. He was named MAAC Co-Relief Pitcher of the Year and Second Team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 2013, and was a MAAC All-Academic Team selection in both 2012 and 2013.
In his three seasons with the Red Foxes, McCarthy appeared in 49 games. He went 5-4 with 12 saves and a 4.38 ERA, and struck out 98 in 113.1 innings. His save total still ranks fourth in program history.
- 108 – career appearances
- 125.1 – career innings pitched
- 80 – career strikeouts
- 7-4 – career record
Kansas City will make the following trips to the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions this season:
- April 18-21: New York (Yankees)
- July 5-7: Washington
- August 5-7: Boston
- August 19-21: Baltimore
Ricky Pacione, who starred for the Marist baseball team from 2008-11, is entering his sixth season as a bullpen catcher for the Cleveland Indians. Pacione has been a member of the coaching staff of manager Terry Francona in this time, and was a member of Cleveland's 2016 American League championship team. As a result, the Cleveland staff represented the American League in the 2017 All-Star Game, during which Pacione served as a catcher during Home Run Derby.
Pacione still ranks in Marist's all-time top 10 in nine statistical categories. He was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2011, and was a key part of Marist's 2009 MAAC championship team.
