Former Marist College pitcher Kevin McCarthy, seen here in a 2013 Marist photo, made his major league debut on Friday night.
Kevin McCarthy, already a trailblazer of sorts for the Marist College baseball program, ventured farther into uncharted territory on Friday, becoming the first former Red Fox to appear in a Major League Baseball game.
The pitcher, who was called up last week by the Kansas City Royals, entered in relief in the eighth inning and recorded an out against the one batter he faced.
“He said it was all a blur and it wasn’t until after it was over that he realized how awesome it was,” said Marist baseball coach Chris Tracz, who spoke to McCarthy on Saturday. “It’s a surreal feeling for him, and me.”
McCarthy, 24, was promoted from the minor leagues on Tuesday. He left Marist after his junior year when he was selected by the Royals in the 16th round of the 2013 draft.
The righthander made his debut on Friday in a 7-2 road loss to the Chicago White Sox. McCarthy entered with two outs in the eighth inning and induced a groundout to third by Tim Anderson. The shortstop, a .285 hitter this season, worked a 2-and-1 count against McCarthy, but eventually rolled a grounder to third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert.
McCarthy, whom Tracz said “always possessed a power arm,” topped out at 95 mph on his four-seam fastball during the at-bat.
A native of Malverne, Nassau County, McCarthy was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Co-Relief Pitcher of the Year with Marist in 2013. He was one of three former Red Foxes competing in the minor leagues, along with Zach Shank in the Seattle Mariners organization, and Jonathan Schwind with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“I think about all the times he ran onto the field for us, now he’s doing it in the big leagues,” said Tracz, who watched the game at home. “I had a huge grin on my face and I was gonna be proud of him no matter what happened.”
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4826, Twitter: @StephenHaynes4