Carson McCusker Bio
Carson Michael McCusker (born May 22, 1998) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball. He previously appeared in Major League Baseball with the Minnesota Twins after advancing from independent and minor league baseball in the United States.
Early Life and Background
Carson Michael McCusker attended Spanish Springs High School in Sparks, Nevada, where he played high school baseball and developed as an outfielder. He began his collegiate playing career at Folsom Lake College before transferring to Oklahoma State University to continue his development at the NCAA level.
McCusker entered the professional conversation after the 2017 Major League Baseball draft when he was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers but did not sign, electing instead to continue his college career. After four years at Oklahoma State, he went unselected in the 2021 MLB draft and chose the independent route to begin his professional career.
Path to Baseball
Following the 2021 draft, McCusker signed with the Tri-City Valley Cats of the Frontier League and made an immediate offensive impact. In 31 games during his initial professional season he hit .324 with six home runs and 23 runs batted in, showing power and run production in a short sample.
McCusker remained with Tri-City into 2022 and established himself as a key contributor across a longer season. He made 77 appearances in 2022 and slashed .265/.320/.502 with 13 home runs, 46 RBI, and five stolen bases, performances that put him on the radar of affiliated organizations.
Carson McCusker Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
McCusker built his professional foundation in the Frontier League with the Tri-City Valley Cats after going undrafted in 2021. His initial run of production—highlighted by a .324 average in 31 games in 2021 and a return of 13 home runs with a .502 slugging percentage in 2022—demonstrated the raw power and run-producing ability that drew interest from major league scouts.
The independent league experience allowed McCusker to face a variety of pitching and to refine his approach against professional arms. Those seasons served as his primary showcase and prepared him for entry into affiliated minor league baseball with a focus on increasing contact rates and situational hitting.
Minnesota Twins Breakthrough (2023–2025)
McCusker signed with the Minnesota Twins organization on June 29, 2023, moving from independent ball into affiliated baseball. He spent time in 2023 with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels and Cedar Rapids Kernels as he acclimated to the Twins system and adjusted to the rigors of full-season minor league play.
He opened 2024 with the Wichita Wind Surge and earned a promotion to the St. Paul Saints later that season, advancing to Triple-A competition. McCusker began 2025 with St. Paul and in April 2025 was recognized as the Twins minor league player of the month, a designation reflecting a strong run of form at the upper levels of the minors.
On May 18, 2025, McCusker was promoted to the major leagues for the first time by the Minnesota Twins, marking his MLB debut at the age of 27. He returned to St. Paul shortly thereafter and received a second promotion on August 9, 2025, to provide roster depth while Matt Wallner was on paternity leave; that stint concluded with a return to the Saints on August 11, 2025.
Across his rookie major league appearances in 2025, McCusker recorded five hits in 29 at bats for a .172 batting average, with one run batted in and one walk in 16 games. Following the 2025 season, the Twins released McCusker on December 10, 2025, to allow him to pursue a playing opportunity in Asia.
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Era (2026–Present)
On December 13, 2025, Carson McCusker signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball, beginning the next stage of his professional career in Japan. The move followed his release from the Twins organization and represents his first contract with an overseas professional team.
Through May 18, 2026, McCusker has appeared for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles with early NPB statistics showing a .143 batting average, zero home runs, and five runs batted in. His time with the Eagles provides a new environment for development against high-level international pitching and an opportunity to establish himself as a consistent contributor in NPB.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in McCusker’s career include his selection in the 2017 draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, his decision to continue at Oklahoma State University, his independent-league breakout with the Tri-City Valley Cats, and his signing with the Minnesota Twins in 2023. His MLB debut on May 18, 2025, and subsequent signings and promotions through 2025 mark the major-league milestones of his professional timeline.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented McCusker’s first extended interplay between Triple-A and the major leagues. He began the year at Triple-A St. Paul, earned midseason promotions to the Minnesota Twins, and recorded 16 major league appearances, compiling a 5-for-29 line at the plate. The season also included recognition at the Triple-A level when he was named the Twins minor league player of the month in April 2025.
McCusker’s 2025 MLB line reflected limited opportunities at the plate but provided him with his initial experience against big-league pitching and the daily routines of a major league clubhouse. The December release to pursue an opportunity in Asia brought the season to a close while opening a new chapter on an international roster.
Looking forward from the 2025 season, McCusker’s immediate focus with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles is to translate his power and run-producing track record from independent and minor league play into sustained success in Nippon Professional Baseball. The move to Japan gives him regular at-bats at a high level and a platform to refine his approach against diverse pitching styles.