| Joe Mays | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1975-12-10)December 10, 1975 (age 49) Flint, Michigan, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 7, 1999, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 22, 2006, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 48–70 |
| Earned run average | 5.05 |
| Strikeouts | 512 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Joseph Emerson Mays (born December 10, 1975) is an American former professionalbaseball right-handedpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theMinnesota Twins,Kansas City Royals, andCincinnati Reds.
Mays is a 1994 graduate ofSoutheast High School inBradenton, Florida. He also attendedManatee Community College in Bradenton. He and his wife, Melinda (née Rogers), have two children.
Mays began his major league career with theMinnesota Twins on April 7, 1999. He began the season in thebullpen before going to the rotation, he finished the season pitching in 49 games with a record of 6-11 for the Twins.
The following season he was a member of the starting rotation, pitching poorly throughout the season, finishing with an ERA of 5.56 and a record of 7–15 in 31 games (28 starts).
He had his best season in 2001, going 17–13 with a 3.16 ERA. He led the league in ERA+ (143) and was selected to the All-Star Game. He pitched in a career high 233 innings and 4 complete games. In January 2002 he signed a four-year extension with the Twins for $20 million that would last to the end of the 2005 season.[1]
Mays missed all of the 2004 season after havingTommy John surgery performed on his pitching arm.[2] Through 2003, he posted a 42–55 record with a 4.70 ERA. Mays successfully bounced back from his surgery to rejoin the Twins' starting rotation at the beginning of the 2005 season, and recorded his first win since the 2003 season on April 27, 2005, against theKansas City Royals.
Due to his losing record and disappointing ERA, on August 26, 2005, Twins managerRon Gardenhire demoted Mays to the Twins bullpen and called upScott Baker from the Triple-ARochester Red Wings to replace Mays in the pitching rotation.
Mays never recaptured the success of his 2001 season. From 2002 through 2005 he had a 5.81 ERA and a 77 ERA+.
On October 7, 2005, the Twins chose not to renew Mays' contract for 2006, making him a free agent.
Mays signed with theKansas City Royals on December 23, 2005. Mays' Royals career was short-lived, as he was released on May 16, 2006, after posting an 0–4 record in 6 starts with a 10.27 ERA.[3]
On May 19, 2006, Mays signed a minor league contract with theCincinnati Reds organization and was assigned to the Triple-ALouisville Bats.[4] On June 6, Mays had his contract purchased by the Reds, and was added to their active roster. However, Mays wasdesignated for assignment on July 26, ending his short stint with the Reds.[5]
Mays was a free agent through the entirety of 2006. He signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers on February 7,2007.[6][7] The contract included an invitation tospring training, where Mays failed to make the big league roster. Mays requested and received his release on May 16, after pitching in eight starts.[citation needed]
Mays is a distant cousin ofsubmarine pitcherCarl Mays who threw the pitch that resulted in the death ofRay Chapman, the only Major League Baseball player to die during a game as a direct result of an on-field injury, on August 16, 1920.[8]
· Baseball Almanac
