| Joe Jiménez | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Jiménez with Detroit Tigers in 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Atlanta Braves – No. 77 | |||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1995-01-17)January 17, 1995 (age 30) San Juan, Puerto Rico | |||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| April 13, 2017, for the Detroit Tigers | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 20–27 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 4.47 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 488 | ||||||||||||||
| Saves | 23 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Joe Alexander Jiménez (born January 17, 1995) is a Puerto Rican professionalbaseballpitcher for theAtlanta Braves ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with theDetroit Tigers in 2017 and was anAll-Star in 2018.
Jiménez signed with theDetroit Tigers as anundrafted free agent out of thePuerto Rico Baseball Academy in June 2013. He made his professional debut that year with theGulf Coast Tigers. He spent 2014 with theConnecticut Tigers and started 2015 with theWest Michigan Whitecaps.[1][2] During the 2015 season, Jiménez went 5–1 with a 1.47 ERA, a 0.791 WHIP and 17 saves in 40 appearances for West Michigan, and was named the Tigers Minor League Pitcher of the Year.[3]
During the 2016 season, Jiménez pitched for theLakeland Flying Tigers,Erie SeaWolves and theToledo Mud Hens.[4][5] In July, he pitched in theAll-Star Futures Game.[6] He had a 3–3win–loss record with 30saves, a 1.51earned run average (ERA), 0.80walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP), and a .144batting average against with 78strikeouts over53+2⁄3innings pitched. Jiménez was named the Tigers Minor League Pitcher of the Year.[7][8][9] Jiménez began the 2017 season with the Mud Hens.[10]
Jiménez played for thePuerto Rican national team in the2017 World Baseball Classic prior to the 2017 season, where he won a silver medal.[11]
On April 10, 2017, theDetroit Tigers purchased Jiménez's contract, promoting him to the major league roster.[10] He made his Major League debut for the Tigers on April 13 in a game against theMinnesota Twins, pitching a scoreless ninth inning, while recording one strikeout. He was optioned back to the Mud Hens after the game.[12] Jiménez was called up again on July 31, 2017, afterJustin Wilson was traded.[13] In 24 games, he had an ERA of 12.32 in 19 innings.
Jiménez began the 2018 season in the Tigers bullpen, primarily filling a setup role. He earned his first major leaguesave on June 2, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning against theToronto Blue Jays.[14] On July 8, 2018, Jiménez was selected to play in the2018 All-Star Game, his first All-Star appearance. Through the All-Star break, Jiménez had a 2.72 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 13 holds, 3 saves, and 48 strikeouts in 43 innings.[15] Following the All-Star break, Jiménez had some struggles, posting a 7.78 ERA over the remainder of the season. He finished the season with a 5–4 record, 4.31 ERA, and 78 strikeouts in62+2⁄3 innings, while appearing in a team-high 68 games.
Jiménez began the 2019 season in a setup role, but assumed the closer role for the Tigers following the July 31, 2019, trade ofShane Greene to the Atlanta Braves.[16] He saved 9 games and posted a 4.37 ERA. Jiménez also struck out 82 batters in59+2⁄3 innings for a career-high 12.4/9 IP strikeout rate. With the2020 Detroit Tigers, Jiménez appeared in 25 games, compiling a 1–3 record with 7.15 ERA and 22 strikeouts in22+2⁄3 innings pitched.[17]
On January 15, 2021, the Tigers and Jiménez agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, avoiding arbitration.[18] On March 27, 2021, the Tigers optioned Jiménez to the team's alternate training site in Toledo.[19] Before the Toledo Mud Hens season began, Jiménez was recalled to the Tigers on April 15. He was optioned back to Toledo on April 21, then recalled again on May 8.[20] Jiménez made 52 relief appearances for the 2021 Tigers, posting a 6–1 record with a 5.96 ERA while striking out 57 batters in45+1⁄3 innings.
On March 22, 2022, the Tigers and Jiménez agreed on a one-year contract worth $1.79 million, avoiding arbitration.[21] He responded with one of his best seasons as a Tiger. Appearing mostly in middle relief, he made 62 appearances, posting a 3–2 record with a 3.49 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, while striking out 77 batters in56+2⁄3 innings.
On December 7, 2022, the Tigers traded Jiménez to theAtlanta Braves in exchange forJustyn-Henry Malloy and Jake Higginbotham.[22][23] On January 13, 2023, Jiménez signed a one-year, $2.765 million contract with the Braves, avoiding salary arbitration.[24]
On November 2, 2023, Jiménez signed a three-year contract with the Braves worth $26 million.[25][26] After a career high in innings pitched (68+2⁄3), alongside a 2.62 ERA and three saves during the 2024 season, Jiménez underwent surgery on his left knee, and was expected to miss at least eight months of the 2025 season.[27][28]
On August 14, 2025, the Braves shut down Jiménez for the remainder of the 2025 season, ending his campaign without an appearance for the team.[29]
Jiménez mixes three primary pitches. He throws afour-seam fastball that averages 94 to 96 miles per hour (151 to 154 km/h), topping out at 99 miles per hour (159 km/h). His offspeed pitches include aslider that averages 84 to 86 miles per hour (135 to 138 km/h) and achangeup averaging 88 to 90 miles per hour (142 to 145 km/h).[30]
Joe is the younger brother of formerTexas Rangers catcherA. J. Jiménez.[31]
