James McArthur #66

James resides in Castle Rock, Colo., with his wife, Kate, and his two children: his daughter, Lennie, and his son, Maddox...His father, Greg, played four seasons in Baltimore’s Minor League system from 1978-82...Pitched for three seasons at Ole Miss from 2016- 18, where he earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American honors by Collegiate Baseball...Pitched to a 3.10 ERA (10 ER in 29.0 IP) in seven starts for Falmouth in the 2017 Cape Cod League, where he was teammates with Alec Bohm, Trevor Larnach and Adley Rutschman...Was teammates with Marlins C Nick Fortes (2016- 18) and former Athletics RHP Chad Smith (2016) at Ole Miss...Graduated from New Braunfels HS in New Braunfels, Texas, in 2015, where he lettered in three years and was named 2015 Honorable Mention All-American and First Team All-Region (Texas) by Perfect Game...Also lettered in basketball at NBHS.

2024

Made the Opening Day roster for the first time in 2024 and set career highs in appearances (57), saves (18), wins (5), innings (56.2) and strikeouts (49)...Allowed four runs in three innings over his first three outings before rattling off nine scoreless appearances from April 5-30 (10.2 IP)...Surrendered a home run to Jonah Heim on May 5, 2024, snapping his career-long 30.0-inning homerless streak that dated back to Sept. 2, 2023...Struggled to a 6.59 ERA (21 ER in 28.2 IP) across 28 games from May 1-July 31, allowing a .325 (38-for-117) opponents’ batting average in that span...That included 11 appearances in June, 10 of which were scoreless (10.0 IP)...From Aug. 1-Sept. 6, 12 of his 14 appearances were scoreless, posting a 1.35 ERA (2 ER in 13.1 IP)...Spun two perfect frames on Aug. 27 in Cleveland, tying a career-high with four strikeouts and earning his fifth win of 2024...Faced 61 consecutive batters without a walk from July 24-Aug. 30...Finished his season on the injured list after suffering a right elbow sprain on Sept. 16 vs. Detroit.

2023

Began the 2023 season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the Phillies organization, was traded to Kansas City on May 8 and ended the season with the Royals... Made his Majors debut on June 28 vs. Cleveland and was charged with seven runs on six hits in 1.0 inning and was optioned to Triple-A Omaha two days later... After allowing seven runs in his debut, he pitched to a 2.01 ERA (5 ER in 22.1 IP) in 17 appearances (two starts) over his final three stints with the Royals... Named Royals Pitcher of the Month for September/ October after going 1-0 with four saves in 12 outings, while holding opponents scoreless in 16.1 innings and to a 0.96 average (5-for-52)... His September was the sixth month in franchise history in which a pitcher had at least 14.0 innings and no runs allowed, following Matt Strahm (Aug. 2016), Wade Davis (Aug. 2014), Rusty Meacham (June 1994), Jeff Montgomery (June 1992) and Larry Gura (Sept. 1976)... Finished the season with 16.1 consecutive scoreless innings, the sixth-longest active scoreless streak in the Majors... His .096 opponents’ average from Sept. 1 through seasons’ end led the Majors (min. 16.0 IP)...Retired 48 of 53 batters following his Sept. 1 recall, including 23 consecutive batters from Sept. 9-22 before Jose Altuve singled to snap the streak, which fell 10 shy of the franchise record of consecutive batters retired, set by Steve Busby in 1974 (Elias)...Over his last seven outings—in which the Royals went 7-0—he recorded his first Major League win and his first four saves.

2022

Began season with Reading (AA)...Was placed on the IL on 6/22 with a right posterior elbow impingement...On 6/29, was reinstated from the IL, recalled by the Phillies and placed on the 60-day IL for the remainder of the season with a right elbow stress reaction.

2021

In eight starts between 6/20 and the end of the season, posted a 2.35 ERA (10 ER, 38.1 IP)...Spent majority of the season with Reading (AA) and pitched in one game with Jersey Shore (A)...Struck out 10 batters in a 5.0-inning start, 8/13 vs Akron...Held LHH to a .223/.287/.385 slash line with Reading...Following the season, pitched for Peoria in the Arizona Fall League...After the season, was rated by Baseball America as having the best curveball in the Phillies minor league system.

2020

Participated in Florida Instructional League.

2019

Began season with Lakewood (A)...His last seven appearances (all starts) came with Clearwater (A)...Went 3-1 with a 1.40 ERA (4 ER, 25.2 IP) in five August starts...Overall, averaged 9.79 SO/9.0 IP (91 SO, 83.2 IP)...Participated in FIL.

2018

Made professional debut with Gulf Coast League Phillies West (R)...Made professional debut with Gulf Coast League Phillies West (R)..Promoted to Williamsport (A), 6/28...Promoted to Lakewood on 8/28 to finish the season...Combined to post a 0.54 ERA (2 ER, 33.1 IP) and 0.81 WHIP, averaged 9.45 SO/9.0 IP (35 SO), held opponents to a .145 AVG and did not allow a home run...Made three scoreless relief appearances (6.1 IP) with Lakewood in the playoffs.