Jeremy Jeffress

Jeremy Jeffress

Jeffress with the Kansas City Royals
Texas Rangers – No. 21
Pitcher
Born: (1987-09-21) September 21, 1987
South Boston, Virginia
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 2010, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
(through August 4, 2016)
Win–loss record 11–4
Earned run average 2.91
Strikeouts 177
WHIP 1.39
Saves 28
Teams

Jeremy Ross Jeffress (born September 21, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Jeffress has also pitched in MLB for the Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, and Milwaukee Brewers. He is one of the hardest throwers in the majors, with a career average fastball velocity of nearly 96 miles per hour.[1]

Career

Milwaukee Brewers

Jeffress pitching in Arizona Fall League, 2008

Jeffress was the selected by the Milwaukee Brewers as the 16th overall pick in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed a contract with a $1.55 million signing bonus in 2006.

In 2008, he started on the Brevard County Manatees' roster on the restricted list. On August 6, the Milwaukee Brewers organization announced that Jeffress was promoted to their Double-A team, the Huntsville Stars. He began the 2009 season with Huntsville, but struggled and was sent back to Brevard County in May 2009. At the beginning of the 2010 campaign, Jeffress was sent down to the Class A affiliate, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

On July 1, 2010, Jeffress was called up to Class A-Advanced Brevard County, where he continued to throw out of the bullpen. He was later promoted to Huntsville. Jeffress was called up to the majors for the first time on September 1, 2010.[2] He made his major league debut that evening, pitching one scoreless inning.

Kansas City Royals

On December 18, 2010 Jeffress was traded to the Kansas City Royals with Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, and Jake Odorizzi for Zack Greinke and Yuniesky Betancourt.[3] In spring training in 2011, Jeffress led the major leagues in wild pitches, with 5 in 11 innings.[4] He got his first win as a Royal on April 5 against the Chicago White Sox.

On November 2, 2012, the Royals designated Jeffress for assignment.[5]

Toronto Blue Jays

On November 8, 2012, the Toronto Blue Jays received Jeffress from the Royals in exchange for cash considerations.[6] Jeffress was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on April 6, 2013 after pitching in one game.[7] Jeffress cleared waivers, and was assigned outright to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on April 16. Jeffress was sent to the Class A Dunedin Blue Jays on April 25 without having pitched for the Bisons. He was brought up to the Bisons on May 3.[8] His contract was selected by the Blue Jays on September 3 after the Bisons season ended, and the major league rosters expanded.[9]

Jeffress was designated for assignment after the game on April 4, 2014.[10] On April 15, after clearing waivers, Jeffress was assigned to Buffalo;[11] however, he chose free agency rather than report to Buffalo.[12]

Return to the Milwaukee Brewers

Jeffress signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on April 18, 2014.[13] He was assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. The Brewers selected the contract of Jeffress from Nashville on July 21, 2014. Jeffress thrived in his return to Milwaukee, emerging as a stellar setup-man to closer Francisco Rodriguez and posting a 1-1 record with a 1.88 ERA in 29 games. In 2015, after struggles from setup man Jonathan Broxton, Jeffress took over as the eight-inning man for Milwaukee. In 2016, Jeffress was slated to be Milwaukee's setup man to closer Will Smith but before spring training could begin, Jeffress was named closer when Smith suffered a knee injury.

Texas Rangers

On August 1, 2016, the Brewers traded Jeffress and Jonathan Lucroy to the Texas Rangers for Lewis Brinson, Luis Ortiz, and a player to be named later.[14]

Personal life

On August 30, 2007, Jeffress was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for "a drug of abuse," which was reportedly marijuana.[15] This was not his first positive test; he was given a warning for his first offense.[16] In June 2009, he tested positive a third time and was suspended for 100 games.[16] One more positive test will result in a lifetime ban for Jeffress.[17]

In late June 2013 while with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, Jeffress was diagnosed with juvenile epilepsy, which gave an explanation to the high anxiety and seizures that he had experienced through most of his adult life. Before receiving a proper diagnosis, he self-medicated with marijuana.[18][19]

On August 26, 2016, Jeffress was arrested for driving while intoxicated.[20]

References

  1. ↑ Jeremy Jeffress: Statistics. Fangraphs. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  2. ↑ McCalvy, Adam. Cain has stiff neck from highlight catch." Major League Baseball. September 1, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  3. ↑ McCalvy, Adam (December 19, 2010). "Brewers add Greinke in deal with Royals". MLB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Major League Baseball Stats: Sortable Statistics". mlb.com. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Royals claim RHP Moscoso, C Hayes off waivers". Associated Press via Yahoo Sports.com. November 2, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Blue Jays acquire Jeffress". MLB.com. November 8, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Blue Jays send Jeffress to triple-A, recall Bush". April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Reliever Jeremy Jeffress joins Herd". May 3, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  9. ↑ Lott, John (September 2, 2013). "Blue Jays call up Ricky Romero, Kyle Drabek and three others for September". National Post. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Blue Jays recall Bisons' Jenkins". Buffalo Bisons. April 4, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  11. ↑ Adams, Steve (April 15, 2014). "Blue Jays Designate Marcus Walden, Outright Jeremy Jeffress". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  12. ↑ Short, D.J. (April 17, 2014). "Jeremy Jeffress elects free agency". hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  13. ↑ Todd, Jeff (April 18, 2014). "Brewers Sign Jeremy Jeffress". mlbtradermors.com. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  14. ↑ http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/17194805/jonathan-lucroy-acquired-texas-rangers-milwaukee-brewers
  15. ↑ McCalvy, Adam (August 30, 2007). "Notes: Jeffress suspended 50 games". MLB.com. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  16. 1 2 Haudricourt, Tom (June 29, 2009). "Brewers "concerned" about Jeffress". jsonline.com. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  17. ↑ McCalvy, Adam (June 29, 2009). "Brewers prospect Jeffress suspended". MLB.com. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  18. ↑ Chisholm, Gregor (September 9, 2013). "With seizures in past, Jeffress can focus on pitching". MLB.com. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  19. ↑ MacArthur, Scott (September 5, 2013). "MacArthur: With health in check, Jeffress looking to impress". TSN.ca. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  20. ↑
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