McGARITY NOT READY TO GIVE UP ... 'NO SIR ... NOT YET'

 

Nothing, it seems, can keep AARON McGARITY

 down … not for very long, anyway. He’s one of those 

lucky people who always sees the glass half full. None 

of that half-empty stuff for the lanky right-hander from 

Richmond, once-again in limbo but upbeat, as usual, 

that his baseball career hasn’t reached the walk-off 

stage … and he’ll actually have to go to work to make a 

living.

“I’m not giving up … no sir, not yet,” McGarity said 

Saturday. 

For every JUAN SOTO, baseball’s current mega-star, 

there are thousands of Aaron McGaritys out there ... 

who, despite numerous setbacks, just know things are 

going to get better. In other words, McGarity is a poster 

child for the American dream … determined to carry on 

for as long as it takes … even if, deep down, he knows

the odds are stacked (very high) against him.

“I just had a ‘pro day,’ which is like a tryout in front of 

scouts. I averaged 92 [miles per hour] with the fast ball 

… and topped at 94,” McGarity said. “By next week I 

should have a video … and I’ll send that to the scouts 

who weren’t in attendance. I averaged about 89 last 

year … so jumping to 92 … that’s a big thing for me to 

sell this year.”

If it were that easy, McGarity would have been in the 

major leagues shortly after signing with the New York 

Yankees in 2017 out of Virginia Tech … where he 

threw in the high 90s and once was so confident in his 

ability that he told the Yankees what they could do with 

a bonus of $400,000. 

A consummate salesman (in the best possible way), the 

friendly, likable 6-3, 185 pounder with a gift of gab 

could sell an ice box to an Eskimo. Come to think of it, 

perhaps McGarity missed his calling after all

Despite having his best season in 2024, his first in 

AAA, when he appeared in 55 games, all in short relief, 

for Charlotte of the International League (W8-L5, 2.77 

ERA), McGarity became a free agent Nov. 4 after being 

released by the woeful Chicago White Sox.

If that stung, given the fact the American League’s 

worst – by far – team couldn’t find room for him in its 

farm system much less on the 40-man roster, McGarity 

doesn’t let on. Besides, for all the ups and (mostly) 

downs he’s experienced to date, the only finger he 

points is at himself. His DNA seldom, if ever, allows 

McGarity to make excuses and/or badmouth anyone.

“My strikeout numbers have gone down over the past 

couple of years. That’s another reason why the White 

Sox hesitated. I didn’t punch out as many guys as other 

relievers in the organization. Yeah, I was surprised they 

didn’t want to re-sign me [but] they didn’t owe me 

anything,” he said.

Twice his career has been interrupted. We first met 

McGarity in the winter of 2021. There had been no 

minor-league baseball the previous summer because of 

the COVID 19 pandemic, and he was working at 

Sycamore Creek Golf Course in Goochland County … 

making $10 an hour doing menial tasks like clearing the 

range of balls and cleaning carts … and never (as far as 

we could tell) feeling sorry for himself.

“I’m chasing a dream,” McGarity said, “and if I fail, I 

fail, but I’ll be able to rest my head on the pillow, 

knowing I gave it my best … and had a great time 

doing it.”

Born in Allentown, Pa., moving to the Short Pump area 

at age four when his father changed jobs, McGarity 

was, and probably always will be, on the cocky side … 

but with certain, unmistakable humbleness thrown in, 

which makes him unique regardless of occupation.

“If I can stay healthy, I’m the most capable pitcher 

know. I think I’m as gifted as anyone in the major 

leagues,” McGarity told us three years ago, explaining 

why he held out for $600,000 from the Yankees who 

passed … and later signed him for $125,000. Talk about 

learning the hard way. A lesson learned.

Then, McGarity missed all of 2022 to have Tommy 

John surgery … he hoped would result in regaining his 

fast ball. It didn’t but the Mills Godwin High School 

product turned to guile and an assortment of off-speed 

and breaking pitches to get hitters out.

Released by the Yankees following the 2023 campaign, 

McGarity went to Puerto Rico for a while. He joined 

the the Chisox organization the result of a three-day 

tryout camp in Charlotte … “where they signed five 

more pitchers to minor-league contracts this year … 

and I was like, ‘darn, what about Aaron McGarity, who 

played for you last year?’” he said.

In all, for his career, McGarity is 27-17, 3.00 in 175 

games, 257.2 innings, striking out 10.06 for nine 

innings while averaging 2.45 walks. Not great … but 

not bad … certainly good enough to get a look in The 

Show which has been his goal, naturally … but how 

many players do you know have set their cutoff age at 

50?

McGarity turns 30 Jan. 31 … and, when we first met 

him, told us he planned to keep on keeping on, if at all 

possible, at least until he reached the big 5-0.

Of course, ABBY ERLEMEIER might have – make 

that will have – something to say about that. A four-

year soccer player at the University of Richmond, she 

and McGarity are scheduled to be married Feb. 7. Does 

she know what she’s letting herself in for? … we asked 

the groom-to-be?

He laughed. “Well, she has only 13 more days to think 

hard about it,” McGarity said.

What, him worry? Not hardly. Things have a way of 

working out for the best, don’t they? McGarity still has 

life by the tail.

“I think I’ve put myself in good position with the 

velocity increase … to tempt some team to sign me 

before spring training,” he said.

Until next time ...