Drafted by the Devil Rays in 2004, southpaw Jake McGee spent a staggering 12 years evolving within the organizational pipeline, transitioning from a highly touted starting prospect into an indispensable late-inning weapon.
When he finally made it onto the major league roster for a brief, eight-game appearance in September 2010, his raw, electrifying talent was immediately evident. Although McGee took on a bigger role in 2011, it wasn’t until 2012 that he secured his spot permanently at the back end of the bullpen. Over the following three seasons, he became an indispensable workhorse for managers Kevin Cash and Joe Maddon, appearing in at least 69 games each summer. His lethal four-seam fastball, which regularly overwhelmed even the top hitters in the American League, propelled him to his peak performance during a remarkable 2014 season. That summer, he assumed the closer role for the final three months, recording 19 saves, a minuscule 1.89 ERA, and striking out 90 batters in just 71.1 innings.
He followed that outstanding stretch with another impressive season in 2015, posting a sub-3.00 ERA and using his deceptive fastball to hold opponents to a.197 batting average. Sensing that his trade value was at its peak ahead of free agency, the front office took advantage of his market desirability that winter, trading McGee to the Colorado Rockies in a major deal that brought outfielder Corey Dickerson to the team.
McGee made 297 appearances (all in relief). He compiled a stellar 21–11 record with 26 saves, a 2.77 ERA, and a premium 1.02 WHIP, striking out 319 batters over 259.2 innings pitched.
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