| Tyler Jay | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Jay with the New York Mets in 2024 | |
| Milwaukee Brewers – No. 54 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1994-04-19)April 19, 1994 (age 30) Lemont, Illinois, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 11, 2024, for the New York Mets | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 0–0 |
| Earned run average | 4.70 |
| Strikeouts | 6 |
| Teams | |
Tyler Ryan Jay (born April 19, 1994) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher in theMilwaukee Brewers organization. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theNew York Mets. Jay playedcollege baseball at theUniversity of Illinois and was drafted by theMinnesota Twins in the first round of the2015 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2024 with the Mets.
Jay attendedLemont High School inLemont, Illinois. He played both baseball and football at Lemont. Jay committed to theUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to playcollege baseball for theFighting Illini. As a freshman, he appeared in 18 games, pitching to a 1–3win–loss record with a 3.10earned run average (ERA) and 20strikeouts. As a sophomore in 2014, he took over as thecloser and had 10saves, a 1.94 ERA and 47 strikeouts.[1][2] After the season, Jay played for theUnited States collegiate national team during the summer,[3] and also playedcollegiate summer baseball for theYarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of theCape Cod Baseball League.[4][5] As a junior in 2015, he had a 1.08 ERA, 76 strikeouts and 14 saves.
Jay was considered one of the top prospects for the2015 Major League Baseball draft.[6][7][8] TheMinnesota Twins selected him with the sixth overall pick.[9] He officially signed with the Twins on June 17 and was assigned to theFort Myers Miracle where he posted a 3.93 ERA in18+1⁄3 innings pitched. The Twins transitioned Jay into a starting pitcher with Fort Myers in 2016,[10] where he posted a 5–5 record with a 2.84 ERA in 13 starts before being promoted to theChattanooga Lookouts where he pitched to a 5.79 ERA in five games (two starts). He pitched only11+2⁄3 innings in 2017 due to injury. Jay returned in 2018 to pitch for theChattanooga Lookouts, compiling a 4–5 record with a 4.22 ERA in 38 games. Jay would begin the 2019 season with theChattanooga Lookouts where he posted a 1–2 record with a 4.82 ERA in 17 appearances.[11] In 2019, he began struggling to swallow as a result ofeosinophilic esophagitis and started to lose weight, which correlated with a decline in his on-field performance.[12]
On June 10, 2019, Jay was traded to theCincinnati Reds in exchange for cash considerations.[13] Jay would spend the rest of the 2019 season between thePensacola Blue Wahoos and theArizona League Reds where he posted a 0–0 record with a 3.03 ERA in 18 appearances and a 9.00 ERA in two appearances respectively.[14] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[15] On June 1, 2020, Jay was released by the Reds.[16]
By 2022, Jay's health problems which had correlated with his decline in performance were attributed to a diagnosis ofeosinophilic esophagitis. After spending 2021 out of baseball and focusing on his health, Jay askedJoliet Slammers managerDaniel Schlereth for a tryout[12] and signed with theFrontier League team on June 7, 2022.[17] In 22 appearances for Joliet, he registered a 1.64 ERA with 24 strikeouts and eightsaves in 22 innings of work. In 2023, Jay made 20 appearances (7 starts) for the Slammers, logging a 4–3 record and 4.26 ERA with 64 strikeouts and seven saves in 57 innings pitched.[18]
On August 24, 2023, Jay's contract was purchased by theNew York Mets organization.[19] He spent the remainder of the year with the Triple–ASyracuse Mets, posting a 6.00 ERA with 8 strikeouts across 6 appearances.[20]
Jay began the 2024 season back in Syracuse, logging a scoreless appearance for the affiliate to start the year. On April 10, 2024, the Mets selected Jay's contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.[21] He made his MLB debut the next day, pitching two innings against theAtlanta Braves.[22][23] In his second appearance, he recorded two scoreless innings against theKansas City Royals. However, on April 17, Jay wasdesignated for assignment afterMichael Tonkin was claimed off waivers.[24] He was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse two days later after going unclaimed off waivers.[25] On June 30, the Mets purchased Jay's contract, adding him back to the major league roster.[26] However, on July 2, he was optioned back to Triple–A having made just one appearance.[27] Jay was designated for assignment a second time on July 17.[28]
On July 21, 2024, Jay was traded to theMilwaukee Brewers in exchange for T.J. Shook.[29] He made 2 scoreless appearances for Milwaukee, logging 3 strikeouts across 3 innings of work. Jay was designated for assignment by the Brewers following the acquisition ofGrant Anderson on January 2, 2025.[30]
On January 9, 2025, Jay was claimed off waivers by theSeattle Mariners.[31] He was designated for assignment by the Mariners on January 21.[32] Jay elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment to the Triple-ATacoma Rainiers on January 28.[33] On February 3, Jay re-signed with the Brewers organization on a minor league contract.[34]