Former Twins Prospect Completing Long Journey from First-Round Pick to MLB Debut

[Cody Christie]

Baseball fans love the story of a former top prospect who continues to grind away in the minor leagues before eventually getting a shot at the big league level. One former Twins prospect is getting called up to the big leagues after a tumultuous journey spanning the last decade.

Image courtesy of Seth Stohs, Twins Daily

Tyler Jay has faced pressure since the day the Twins drafted him with the sixth overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft. At the time, Jay was considered one of the top-rated players in the draft (MLB.com ranked him ninth), but he had spent his collegiate career as a dominant reliever. In 128 2/3 collegiate innings, he posted a 1.68 ERA with a 0.85 WHIP with a 143-to-30 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, a Louisville Slugger All-American, and a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award. Those dominant totals and awards convinced Minnesota he could transition to a starting role, so the front office was comfortable selecting him as one of the top 10 picks. 

The Twins signed Jay for $3.9 million and immediately sent him to Low-A. On June 17, 2015, The Star Tribune said, “His fastball has touched 95 miles-an-hour to go with an excellent breaking ball. His control is so good that some have wondered if he could help the Twins out this season.” The 2015 Twins finished second in the AL Central with an 83-79 record, 12 games behind the Kansas City Royals. Near the beginning of August, the Twins were double-digit games out of first place, so there was no reason to rush Jay to the big leagues. 

Entering the 2016 season, Baseball America and MLB.com ranked him among their top 100 prospects. Minnesota hadn’t used him as a starter during his pro debut since he had already made 30 appearances at the collegiate level that season. The Twins were aggressive with Jay as he split time between High- and Double-A. Across 83 2/3 innings (15 starts), he posted a 3.33 ERA with a 1.23 WHIP and a 77-to-26 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He struggled to transition to Double-A, allowing nine earned runs in 14 innings. After the promotion, his shoulder started bothering him, and he landed on the disabled list. It was a solid start to his career, but he wasn’t moving as quickly as some evaluators expected at the time of the draft. 

Injuries, including shoulder, neck, and bicep, continued to impact Jay in his early pro career. Because of those injury concerns, the Twins shifted Jay to a full-time relief role in 2017. His season never really got off the ground. By midseason, he was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and headed for season-ending surgery. He made ten appearances in the AFL that fall, but it’s a hitting-friendly environment, and Jay allowed six earned runs, including two long balls, in 9 2/3 innings. Minnesota sent him to Double-A in 2018, and he posted a 4.22 ERA with a 1.56 WHIP in 59 2/3 innings. 

Jay returned to Double-A for the start of the 2019 season, where he topped out in the Twins farm system. In June, Minnesota traded him to the Cincinnati Reds for cash considerations. He only made 20 appearances in the Reds organization before being released in the middle of the 2020 campaign. In 2022, he signed with the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League. Jay was excellent in 22 innings, posting a 1.64 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP. He continued to pitch in the independent leagues to begin the 2023 season but caught the eyes of the Mets. He signed a minor league deal and allowed four runs in six innings last year at Triple-A. New York re-signed him to a minor league deal this season, and he began this year with 3 2/3 scoreless innings. 

The Mets have room for Jay in their bullpen because they designated Michael Tonkin for assignment over the last week. Minnesota acquired Tonkin from New York, and he can provide depth to the Twins’ bullpen hierarchy. For Jay, getting any opportunity at the big league level is a feel-good story. It’s clear the Twins were mistaken to take him with that high of a draft pick, with many players taken after him already having big-league success. There were likely times when he thought about stepping away from the game. Instead, he is getting an opportunity even if no guarantees about his long-term place on an MLB roster exist.

Congrats to Jay and his family! What do you remember about Jay’s time as a Twins prospect? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

View full article

[BsuNemo]

I'm not sure the twins were mistaken in taking him. There was every reason to believe he would be very good and maybe he would've been. Injuries are nearly impossible to predict and maybe if he would've been kept in the bullpen he would've been a star. Hope he finds in in the majors. 

[terrydactyls]

All I remember was that the Twins drafted the best reliever in the draft and tried to make him a starter.  They should have left him alone.

[Eris]

Very good for Tyler Jay. I hope it works out for him.
 

A number of pitchers have had thoracic outlet surgery to relieve finger numbness from nerve impingement. Very few of these players return to their pre-injury effectiveness.