| Jason Adam | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Adam with theSan Diego Padres in 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| San Diego Padres – No. 40 | |||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1991-08-04)August 4, 1991 (age 34) Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| May 5, 2018, for the Kansas City Royals | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 27–15 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 2.69 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 390 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Jason Kendall Adam (born August 4, 1991) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theSan Diego Padres ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theKansas City Royals,Toronto Blue Jays,Chicago Cubs, andTampa Bay Rays. In 2025, Adam was named to his firstAll-Star game.
Adam attendedBlue Valley Northwest High School inOverland Park, Kansas, and played for the school's baseball team. In his senior season, Adam pitched41+2⁄3 innings with a 2.16earned run average. His 79strikeouts to just 7walks impressed scouts.[citation needed]
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TheKansas City Royals drafted Adam in the fifth round of the2010 MLB draft and he signed with the Royals, forgoing his college commitment to theUniversity of Missouri.[1] He made his professional debut in 2011 for the Single-AKane County Cougars, recording a 6–9 record and 4.23 ERA in 21 appearances. The next year, Adam spent the season with the High-AWilmington Blue Rocks, pitching to a 7–12 record and 3.53 ERA in 158.0 innings pitched. In 2013, Adam played for the Double-ANorthwest Arkansas Naturals, registering a 8–11 record and 5.19 ERA in 26 games. He appeared in 26 games between the Naturals and the Triple-AOmaha Storm Chasers in 2014.
On August 11, 2014, Adam was traded to theMinnesota Twins in exchange forJosh Willingham.[2] Adam did not play in a game in 2015 or 2016 due to injury and elected free agency on November 7, 2016.[3]
On July 20, 2017, Adam signed a minor league deal with theSan Diego Padres organization. Adam pitched 2.0 scoreless innings for the Double-ASan Antonio Missions, and appeared in seven games for the rookie-levelArizona League Padres before he was released on August 14.
On August 18, 2017, Adam signed a minor league contract with theKansas City Royals. He finished the year with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, posting a 7.11 ERA in 5 appearances. The Royals called up Adam on May 4, 2018, and he made his major league debut the next day.[4] In 2018, Adam appeared in 31 games, registering an ERA of 6.12 in32+1⁄3 innings.[5] On November 30, he was non-tendered by the Royals, making him a free agent.[6] On December 17, the Royals re-signed Adam to a minor league contract.[7]
On March 17, 2019, Adam was traded to theToronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations.[8] He was assigned to the Triple–ABuffalo Bisons and put on the injured list to start the 2019 season. On August 1, the Blue Jays selected Adam's contract to the active roster.[9] Adam earned his first major leaguewin on August 10, pitching an inning of relief in Toronto's 5–4 victory over theNew York Yankees.[10] He finished the season with a 2.91 ERA in 23 games with the Blue Jays.[11] He gave up the lowest percentage of hard-hit balls of all major league pitchers (20.0%).[12] Adam became a free agent on December 2 after being non-tendered by the Blue Jays.[13]
On January 14, 2020, Adam signed a minor league contract with theChicago Cubs organization.[14] On August 16, Adam was selected to the active roster. On the season, he pitched to a 3.29 ERA and a 2–1 record with 21 strikeouts in13+2⁄3 innings of work.[15] Adam pitched to an 8.22 ERA in 9 appearances to begin 2021 before he was sent down to the Triple-AIowa Cubs. On May 21, 2021, Adam underwent surgery to repair a dislocated left ankle.[16] He wasdesignated for assignment by the Cubs on May 25.[17] On May 26, Adam was released by Chicago.[18] Adam re-signed with the Cubs on a minor league contract on July 12.[19] On September 26, Adam was selected to the 40-man and active rosters.[20] On November 30, Adam was non-tendered by the Cubs, making him a free agent.[21]
On March 17, 2022, Adam signed a one-year deal with theTampa Bay Rays.[22] On June 4, Adam, along with four other Rays teammates, opted out of wearing a Rays team logo and cap in support of LGBTQ+ Pride, during the team's annual Pride Night celebration atTropicana Field. Adam, as the player chosen by team officials to speak for those that opted out, said that “A lot of it comes down to faith, to like a faith-based decision…we don’t want to encourage it if we believe in Jesus, who's encouraged us to live a lifestyle that would abstain from that behavior.”[23]
In the 2022 season, Adam established himself as a quality major league reliever. After making the team out of spring training he became a useful force for the Tampa Bay bullpen. He finished the season with a 1.56 ERA in 67 appearance and recorded 8 saves. In game 2 of the 2022 American League Wild Card Series against theCleveland Indians, Adam inherited two runners and then hitAmed Rosario. Facing bases loaded and no outs, he struck outJosé Ramírez and then forced an inning ending double play off the bat ofJosh Naylor to keep the game tied 0–0 at the end of six innings. The Rays would go on to lose this game 0–1 in 15 innings. Adam ended the postseason with 2 innings pitched, 1 hit allowed, and no runs.
Adam's salary for the 2023 season was determined by the arbitration process to be $1.775 million.[24] He made 56 appearances for Tampa Bay in 2023, recording a 2.98 ERA with 69 strikeouts and 12 saves across54+1⁄3 innings of work.
Adam pitched in 47 contests for the Rays in 2024, compiling a 2.49 ERA with 50 strikeouts and 4 saves over 47 innings of work.
On July 28, 2024, Adam was traded to theSan Diego Padres in exchange forDylan Lesko,Homer Bush Jr., and J.D. Gonzalez.[25] He made 27 relief appearances for San Diego down the stretch, posting a 3-0 record and 1.01 ERA with 31 strikeouts across26+2⁄3 innings pitched.
Adam made 65 appearances for San Diego in 2025 en route to his first career All-Star selection; he compiled an 8-4 record and 1.93 ERA with 70 strikeouts over65+1⁄3 innings. On September 1, 2025, Adam left the game after falling from a quad problem while facing against theBaltimore Orioles, whom they later won the game. He was later diagnosed with tendon rupture in his left quad.[26] He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on September 30, officially ending his season ahead of San Diego'sWild Card Series matchup against theChicago Cubs.[27]
Adam was named as a relief pitcher for theUnited States national team in the2023 World Baseball Classic. Over the course of four games he pitched 4.0 innings, allowing zero runs and just one hit (a double toSalvador Pérez in Team USA's quarterfinal win againstVenezuela), while getting five strikeouts.[28][29] He pitched in thefinal againstJapan, issuing three walks but striking outMunetaka Murakami andKazuma Okamoto.
Adam is an evangelicalChristian and wears a cross around his neck when he pitches. Adam is married to Kelsey Adam. They have four daughters.[30]
