Jake McGee is a former professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on August 6, 1986, in San Jose, California, and attended Reed High School in Sparks, Nevada. McGee was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth round of the 2004 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the team in 2010.
McGee spent the majority of his career with the Rays, where he established himself as a reliable relief pitcher. He was known for his fastball, which consistently reached the upper 90s, and his ability to strike out batters. In 2014, he had a breakout season, recording 19 saves and a 1.89 ERA in 73 appearances. He was named to the American League All-Star team that year and helped lead the Rays to the playoffs.
After spending seven seasons with the Rays, McGee was traded to the Colorado Rockies in 2016. He continued to pitch well, recording a 3.61 ERA in 57 appearances that season. In 2017, he struggled with injuries and saw his ERA rise to 4.73 in 62 appearances. However, he bounced back in 2018, recording a 2.64 ERA in 66 appearances.
In 2019, McGee struggled again, posting a 4.35 ERA in 45 appearances. He was used primarily as a left-handed specialist, facing left-handed batters in 80% of his plate appearances. In 2020, he had a solid season, recording a 2.66 ERA in 24 appearances. He became a free agent after the season and signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants.
McGee had a strong start to the 2021 season, recording nine saves and a 2.72 ERA in 31 appearances. He was named to the National League All-Star team for the second time in his career. However, he struggled in the second half of the season, posting a 6.48 ERA in 20 appearances. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in July and pitched well for the team down the stretch, recording a 1.93 ERA in 21 appearances. He appeared in three playoff games for the Dodgers, allowing one run in 2.2 innings pitched.
Overall, McGee had a successful career as a relief pitcher in MLB. He recorded 45 saves, a 3.95 ERA, and 550 strikeouts in 542.2 innings pitched. He was known for his fastball and his ability to strike out batters, particularly left-handed hitters. He was also a two-time All-Star and helped lead the Rays to the playoffs in 2014.
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