Tyler Jay - 2015

[formerly33]

Introducing this year's 1st round pick, Tyler Jay

 

Image courtesy of Twins Pics

 

Tyler Jay is a left-handed pitcher from the University of Illinois and was taken with the 6th overall pick of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft by the Minnesota Twins. Born on April 19th, 1994, Jay is currently 6'1" and 180 lbs. He was lightly recruited in 2012 when he pitched for Lemont High School in suburban Illinois, but he was not drafted and went on to pitch for the University of Illinois, who he committed to because they were the only school willing to let him continue to pitch; most other schools wanted him to switch to the outfield as he hit .484 with 11 doubles and 35 RBI in his senior year, but he wanted to stay on the mound.

 

As a freshman at Illinois, Jay was thrown into the bullpen mix where he made 18 appearances and went 1-3 with a 3.10 ERA while striking out 20 in 20.1 innings pitched. The following year he emerged as the team's closer, earning a perfect 10 saves out of as many opportunities and posting a 1.94 ERA with 47 strikeouts over 41.2 innings to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors.

 

Playing for the U.S. Collegiate National Team last summer, Jay was teammates with Vanderbilt's Dansby Swanson and Carson Fulmer, UC-Santa Barbara's Dillon Tate, and Louisiana State's Alex Bregman, among others. He made a team-high 15 appearances, picking up 2 wins and 1 save while striking out 21 in 16.2 scoreless innings. His performance threw him into the limelight for draft prospects and made him a potential first-round pick for 2015.

 

http://theblogdaysofsummer.weebly.com/uploads/5/3/9/7/53971721/338680879.jpg

Jay pitching for the Fighting Illini | Image courtesy of Rant Sports

 

This season Jay went 5-2 with 14 saves and 76 strikeouts in 66.2 innings pitched, allowing only 8 earned runs for a 1.08 ERA. He made one start in the first week of the season, throwing five shutout innings against Lamar, but then moved to the bullpen and helped lead the Fighting Illini to a 27-game winning streak at one point in the season. He was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and was a Louisville Slugger First-Team All-American.

 

Though Tyler Jay has been touted as a closer, it's important to not shut out the possibility of him moving back into a rotation at some point in his near future. In college he pitched 3-4 innings to close out games on several occasions, and the tools he needs to be a starter at the next level are definitely there.

 

Here is Jay's scouting report from MLB's 2015 Prospect Watch:

 

"Jay drew little attention from scouts as an Illinois high schooler in 2012, when he was a slight southpaw who topped out at 90 mph. His fastball and profile have taken off since he went to college, and he helped the Fighting Illini win 27 straight games this spring after starring with the U.S. collegiate national team last summer. Now he's a lock to become the second first-round pick ever produced by Illinois, following John Ericks in 1988, and he's the consensus best left-hander in the 2015 Draft.

 

"He is still not very physical at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, but Jay now works at 93-95 mph and peaks at 98 mph with his fastball, even when he works on consecutive days. He generates that heat with athleticism and a quick arm rather than an excessive amount of effort in his delivery.

 

"Jay has a deeper repertoire than most relievers. His plus slider is his second-best pitch, and he also has a curveball with power and depth and shows signs of interesting changeup. He has enough pitches and control to lead a pro team to consider trying him as a starter, though he lacks size and could speed to the Majors if he remains a reliever."

 

Twins scouting director Deron Johnson believes that Jay can be converted to a starter. In an article on Fox Sports North, author Tyler Mason included part of an interview with Johnson:

 

"We definitely believe he's got a legitimate chance to start," Johnson said. "The kid's really strong....He's got really good makeup. I'm really excited."

 

Jay has a plus-fastball that sits around 92-95 mph and a plus-slider reaching 87-89 mph, as well as a changeup at 85-88 mph. While his fastball might not have wicked speed, Tyler's curveball was arguably the best pitch in the entire draft and has been compared to Clayton Kershaw's. The continued development of his changeup will likely wind up being the determining factor in whether he ends up starting long term.

 

On June 17th, the Twins and Jay agreed to a deal that included a $3.8 million signing bonus, and he will start his professional career at High A Fort Myers. It is possible that the Twins end up rushing him into the majors to pitch from the bullpen this year and then send him back to the minors to stretch out as a starter. The Royals did this successfully last year with Brandon Finnegan, and with their surprise run in May, the Twins have placed themselves in a similar situation. While I wouldn't say I am completely in favor of this idea, if it worked out as well as it did for the Royals, that would be nothing to complain about. He has the stuff to compete at a high level, and it's going to be a lot of fun seeing what comes of it.

 

Whatever role he settles into, though, I'm looking forward to seeing him as a regular at Target Field!

 

Image courtesy of Twins Pics

 

Jay and Ryan at the press conference on June 17th:

 

Image courtesy of Twins Pics

 

Jay shakes hands with Twins' skipper Paul Molitor:

 

Image courtesy of Twins Pics

 

Photographed with other Twins 1st round picks:

 

Image courtesy of Twins Pics

 

Twitter: @TyJay_11

[jimbo92107]

I like how Molitor is shaking Jay's hand while staring at his left arm.

[twinssouth]

Couldn't be happier with the pick. Look forward to seeing him in ST and Chattanooga

[h2oface]

Watching Carson Fulmer in the CWS, I really wonder if this will be the right choice. It is the choice, though, and time will tell. The Twins will see first hand as Fulmer was taken by the White Sox two picks later at #8. Jay is a lefty. The Twins need a starting lefty. Was Jay the best player available at the time?  I don't buy that he was, so the pick sings more of need than best available. History is not kind with similar attempts to change a college reliever into a starter, but Jay is our man now, and here's to much success.

[jimmer]

 

Watching Carson Fulmer in the CWS, I really wonder if this will be the right choice. It is the choice, though, and time will tell. The Twins will see first hand as Fulmer was taken by the White Sox two picks later at #8. Jay is a lefty. The Twins need a starting lefty. Was Jay the best player available at the time?  I don't buy that he was, so the pick sings more of need than best available. History is not kind with similar attempts to change a college reliever into a starter, but Jay is our man now, and here's to much success.

Yeah, I wanted Fulmer at #6.  Seems odd we'd take a guy with the 6th pick who were are HOPING can be converted to a starter.

[Thegrin]

"This season Jay went 5-2 with 14 saves and 76 strikeouts in 66.2 innings pitched,"

 

That is a lot of innings for a reliever.  I hope the Twins give him a very light pitching load this summer.

[Willihammer]

Fulmer 7.2 IP, 2 H, 0R 2BB 8K against Virginia in CWS yesterday...

[Mike Sixel]

Has he pitched yet?

 

If he was clean shaven, he'd look sooooooooo young......damn I'm old.

[Steve Lein]

Loved the pick, and it was fun to write his draft preview here. It was a very interesting case at Illinois.

 

It's not that he couldn't be a starter there, it was that his team already had a bunch of good starters who held seniority over him.

 

So they basically used him as a "firestopper" or bullpen-ace, in addition to being the closer.

 

I think starting is going to work with him, and if it doesn't, we probably have another Glen Perkins. That's fine with me.

 

And I'll just say Jay has just as many questions about converting to a starter, as guys like Tate and Fulmer have about remaining as one, so I don't buy that argument that they should have taken him over Jay for that reason.

 

And Jay has the one plus-skill those guys currently don't, and that's control.

[jimmer]

 

Loved the pick, and it was fun to write his draft preview here. It was a very interesting case at Illinois.

 

It's not that he couldn't be a starter there, it was that his team already had a bunch of good starters who held seniority over him.

 

So they basically used him as a "firestopper" or bullpen-ace, in addition to being the closer.

 

I think starting is going to work with him, and if it doesn't, we probably have another Glen Perkins. That's fine with me.

 

And I'll just say Jay has just as many questions about converting to a starter, as guys like Tate and Fulmer have about remaining as one, so I don't buy that argument that they should have taken him over Jay for that reason.

 

And Jay has the one plus-skill those guys currently don't, and that's control.

We DO love our control pitchers.

[d-mac]

 

Yeah, I wanted Fulmer at #6.  Seems odd we'd take a guy with the 6th pick who were are HOPING can be converted to a starter.

 

I think passing on both Benintendi and Fulmer are going to be mistakes. And I feel the same way about drafting a reliever and hoping he can start in the 1st round.

[jimmer]

 

I think passing on both Benintendi and Fulmer are going to be mistakes. And I feel the same way about drafting a reliever and hoping he can start in the 1st round.

Yeah, in the same way I was hoping for Trea Turner over Gordon in 2014 draft.  

[d-mac]

 

Has he pitched yet?

 

If he was clean shaven, he'd look sooooooooo young......damn I'm old.

 

I'm 25 and I think he looks like a kid.

[d-mac]

 

Yeah, in the same way I was hoping for Trea Turner over Gordon in 2014 draft.  

 

Benintendi won the Golden Spikes Award this year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Spikes_Award Just look at the previous winners going back to 2001. How would you like that kind of certainty in your first round draft pick?

[jimmer]

 

Benintendi won the Golden Spikes Award this year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Spikes_Award Just look at the previous winners going back to 2001. How would you like that kind of certainty in your first round draft pick?

We passed on one of the Golden Spike finalists in 2004 six times before he was drafted by a team who drafted him with their first pick of that draft.  BIG score for them.

[d-mac]

 

We passed on one of the Golden Spike finalists in 2004 six times before he was drafted by a team who drafted him with their first pick of that draft.  BIG score for them.

 

Just goes to show... don't pass on the Golden Spikes winners!

[formerly33]

Here is your first update on Tyler Jay!

 

Fort Myers hosted the Charlotte Stone Crabs for the final game and potential sweep of a 2 game series. The Miracle took an early lead on a bases clearing double in the 1st by Mitch Garver, but that was all they were able to get until they tied up the game in the 9th inning and went on to walk it off in the 15th with a bases loaded walk. The win extended the Miracle's winning streak to 9.

 

Tyler Jay came on in the 8th inning when the Miracle were down 4-3. The first batter he faced hit the ball to left field for a double, but he sent the next 3 batters down in order, picking up his first professional strikeout. He was replaced in the 9th inning by Todd Van Steensel.

[Shane Wahl]

It's been a bit of a mess for Jay in Fort Myers. He has given up 13 hits and 5 walks in 8.1 IP. I would expect him to start 2016 in Fort Myers in the starting rotation.

[Mike Sixel]

 

It's been a bit of a mess for Jay in Fort Myers. He has given up 13 hits and 5 walks in 8.1 IP. I would expect him to start 2016 in Fort Myers in the starting rotation.

 

that's disappointing. But next year is what matters ......

[nytwinsfan]

I'm not too worried. The BB are likely attributable to nerves, and even with those BBs, his BABIP is .433 and his FIP is 2.82.  The strikeouts are there. No need to worry at all.

[formerly33]

Tyler Jay pitched the 6th inning against the Palm Beach Cardinals yesterday and struck out the side. As of right now, his ERA is 6.10 and dropping. Nothing to worry about this fellow yet. I think he has a bright future, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do for us.

[Tibs]

When Jay goes to starting next year, is he going to be put in Fort Myers?

[formerly33]

Since my last update, Tyler Jay has pitched 7 more innings in as many appearances, allowing only 1 run on 4 hits, striking out 8, and walking 1. Since ERA was such a huge concern for some when he first started pitching for the Miracle, his ERA now stands at 4.15 over 17.1 innings pitched.

[formerly33]

Jay's season stats:

 

W: 0

L: 1

ERA: 3.93

SV: 1

SVO: 1

IP: 18.1

H: 18

ER: 8

BB: 8

SO: 22

AVG: .247

WHIP: 1.42

 

And once and for all: Do. Not. Worry. About. Tyler. Jay's. Future. It's too early for that. This is a very small sample size we're looking at here, and in my opinion he has done nothing to justify the groundless fears of some Twins fans. Now, of course it's fine to worry; there's a time and place for worrying just as there is for anything and everything else (within reason), but this is neither the time nor the place. A few (and less important, especially since the minors are all about promoting guys, not winning the WS) stats don't look the way some expected them to, but other stats, particularly those that involve his Ks, are looking great. So ... relax ... take it easy.