| A. J. Minter | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Minter with the Braves in 2022 | |
| New York Mets – No. 33 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1993-09-02)September 2, 1993 (age 31) Tyler, Texas, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 23, 2017, for the Atlanta Braves | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 24–29 |
| Earned run average | 3.28 |
| Strikeouts | 422 |
| Saves | 36 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Alex Jordan Minter (born September 2, 1993) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theNew York Mets ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theAtlanta Braves. Minter playedcollege baseball for theTexas A&M Aggies, and was selected by the Braves in the second round of the2015 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2017.
Minter attendedBrook Hill School inBullard, Texas, and was drafted by theDetroit Tigers in the 38th round of the2012 Major League Baseball draft. He did not sign and attendedTexas A&M University, where he playedcollege baseball. After the 2014 season, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theCotuit Kettleers of theCape Cod Baseball League.[1] After spending his first two years pitching out of the bullpen, Minter was converted into a starting pitcher his junior year.[2] Early in his junior season he suffered an injury which requiredTommy John surgery, ending his season.[3]
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TheAtlanta Braves selected Minter in the second round of the2015 MLB draft.[4][5] He made his professional debut in 2016 for theRome Braves. He spent two stints with theCarolina Mudcats and was promoted to theMississippi Braves in July, where he finished the season.[6][7][8] Minter finished 2016 with a 1.30 ERA in34+2⁄3 innings.[9] Minter began 2017 with theFlorida Fire Frogs and was reassigned to Rome, theMississippi Braves, and theGwinnett Braves during the season.
Minter was called up to the major leagues for the first time on August 23, 2017.[10][11] In 26 relief appearances for Florida, Rome, Mississippi, and Gwinnett prior to his call up he was 1–2 with a 3.33 ERA. He made his major league debut that night, in the eighth inning of a game against theSeattle Mariners.[12] Minter spent the remainder of the 2017 season with Atlanta, pitching to a 0–1 record and 3.00 ERA in 15 innings in which he struck out 26 batters.[13]
In 2018, Minter pitched61+1⁄3 innings over 65 games, saving 15, while recording a 3.23 ERA and 69 strikeouts.[14]
Following a fender-bender motor vehicle incident in March, the start of Minter's 2019 season was delayed.[15][16][17] Minter replaced fellow relieverArodys Vizcaíno as closer due to injury, but lost the role to teammateLuke Jackson by late April. Minter was optioned to the Gwinnett Braves on May 10.[18] He returned to Atlanta in June, then was optioned to Gwinnett for a second time in August as the Braves traded forShane Greene,Chris Martin, andMark Melancon.[19][20] Minter ended the season as aSeptember call-up when rosters expanded, but shortly thereafter was placed on the 60-day disabled list.[21][22]
For the 2019 season with the Braves, he was 3–4 with five saves and a 7.06 ERA in 36 relief appearances, in which he struck out 35 batters in29+1⁄3 innings.[23] Minter started the 2020 season at spring training with the major league team, and was optioned to Gwinnett in March.[24][25] In Game 5 of the 2020 NLCS, Minter made history by becoming the first MLB player ever to make their starting debut in the postseason. He pitched three innings, surrendering only one hit while striking out seven batters, also a record.[26] In 2020, Minter was 1–1 with an 0.83 ERA, and 24 strikeouts in21+2⁄3 innings over 22 relief appearances.[23]
On July 18, 2021, Minter was optioned to the Triple-AGwinnett Stripers following the Braves 7-5 loss to theTampa Bay Rays.[27] In 2021 with Atlanta, he was 3–6 with a 3.78 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 61 games.[23] The Braves finished with an 88–73 record, clinching the NL East, and eventually won the2021 World Series, giving the Braves their first title since 1995.[28] In 75 games for Atlanta in 2022, Minter posted a 2.06 ERA with a career-high 94 strikeouts across 70 innings pitched.
On January 13, 2023, Minter signed a one-year, $4.2 million contract with the Braves, avoiding salary arbitration.[29] He made 70 appearances for the team in 2023, posting a 3.76 ERA with 82 strikeouts across 642⁄3 innings pitched.
On January 11, 2024, Minter again avoided the salary arbitration process, agreeing to a one-year, $6.2 million deal.[30][31] He was placed on the injured list in late May, and revealed that he had left hip impingement the following month.[32] Although he was activated in early July,[33] Minter returned to the injured list in mid-August with the same issue,[34][35] and planned to undergo surgery.[36] He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on August 20, effectively ending his season.[37] Overall, Minter finished with a 5–4 record and a 2.62 ERA with 35 strikeouts across 39 games. He became a free agent after the season.
On January 17, 2025, Minter signed a two-year, $22 million contract with theNew York Mets including an opt-out after the 2025 season.[38]
Media related toA. J. Minter at Wikimedia Commons