James McArthur (baseball)

James L. McArthur (born December 11, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Amateur career
McArthur attended the University of Mississippi and played college baseball for the Ole Miss Rebels. In 2017, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies selected McArthur in the 12th round, with the 347th overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft. He spent his first professional season split between the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Phillies, Low-A Williamsport Crosscutters, and Single-A Lakewood BlueClaws. In 10 total appearances, he registered an 0.54 ERA with 35 strikeouts across $33 1⁄3$ innings pitched.

McArthur split the 2019 season between Lakewood and the Class-A Advanced Clearwater Threshers. He appeared in 25 contests (13 starts) and logged a 3–7 record and 4.95 ERA with 91 strikeouts in $83 2⁄3$ innings of work. McArthur did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned to action in 2021 for the Double–A Reading Fightin Phils. In 19 games for Reading, and one start for the High–A Jersey Shore BlueClaws, McArthur posted a 4.25 ERA with 83 strikeouts and 1 save in $78 1⁄3$ innings pitched.

On November 19, 2021, the Phillies added McArthur to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He was assigned to Double-A Reading to begin the 2022 season. In 13 starts, he went 2–6 with a 5.05 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 57.0 innings of work. On June 29, 2022, McArthur was placed on the 60-day injured list after suffering a stress fracture in his right elbow, and missed the remainder of the season.

McArthur was optioned to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs to begin the 2023 season. He made 5 appearances (4 starts) for Lehigh Valley, posting an 0–2 record and 7.31 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 16.0 innings pitched. On May 4, 2023, McArthur was designated for assignment following the promotion of Jeff Hoffman.

Kansas City Royals
On May 8, 2023, McArthur was traded to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Junior Marin and cash considerations. In 12 games for the Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers, McArthur registered a 4.87 ERA with 31 strikeouts in $20 1⁄3$ innings pitched. On June 24, he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his major league debut against the Cleveland Guardians on June 28, but surrendered 7 runs on 6 hits and 1 walk in an inning of work; he was optioned back to Omaha the following day. McArthur was recalled three further times during the season, recording 4 saves and 2 holds in the last few weeks of the season as the Royals were eliminated from postseason contention. A starter throughout his career, McArthur was used primarily out of the bullpen by the Royals. He made 18 appearances for the Royals in 2023, including 2 appearances as an opener, with a 4.63 ERA, 23 strikeouts, and 2 walks in 23.1 innings.

McArthur began the 2024 season in the major leagues, and recorded his first save on April 5, when he entered in the middle of the 9th inning to replace incumbent closer Will Smith. From that point, McArthur was used by the Royals as their closer, recording 7 saves in the month of April.