Brandon McCarthy is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on July 7, 1983, in Glendale, California, and attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played college baseball.

McCarthy was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 17th round of the 2002 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2005 and played for them until 2006. He then played for the Texas Rangers from 2007 to 2009, the Oakland Athletics from 2011 to 2012, the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013, the New York Yankees in 2014, the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2015 to 2016, and the Atlanta Braves from 2017 to 2018.

Throughout his career, McCarthy was known for his ability to throw strikes and his control on the mound. He had a career record of 69-75 with an ERA of 4.20. He also recorded 1,065 strikeouts in 1,223 innings pitched.

McCarthy's career was not without its challenges. In 2012, he suffered a skull fracture and brain contusion after being hit in the head by a line drive during a game. He underwent emergency surgery and missed the rest of the season. He also suffered various injuries throughout his career, including shoulder and elbow injuries.

Despite the challenges, McCarthy was a respected player in the league and was known for his intelligence and sense of humor. He was also an advocate for mental health awareness and spoke openly about his struggles with depression and anxiety.

In 2018, McCarthy announced his retirement from baseball after 13 seasons in the league. He has since become a broadcaster for MLB Network and has continued to advocate for mental health awareness.

Overall, Brandon McCarthy had a successful career as a pitcher in MLB. He was known for his control on the mound and his ability to throw strikes. Despite facing challenges and injuries throughout his career, he remained a respected player in the league and has continued to make an impact off the field.