Griffin Jax
Jax in 2018 with the Fort Myers Miracle
Minnesota Twins – No. 22
Pitcher
Born: (1994-11-22) November 22, 1994
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 8, 2021, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record17–19
Earned run average4.63
Strikeouts211
Teams

James Griffin Jax (born November 22, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021. He is also an officer in the United States Air Force Reserve.

Amateur career

Jax attended Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, Colorado. In 2013, his senior year, he went 7–1 with a 1.74 ERA and was named Colorado's Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year.[1][2] He was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 12th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign and instead enrolled at the United States Air Force Academy where he played college baseball for the Air Force Falcons.[3]

Jax struggled during his first two years at the Air Force Academy, pitching to a 5.86 ERA as a freshman and a 5.17 ERA as a sophomore. He broke out as a junior in 2016, starting 15 games and going 9–2 with a school-record 2.05 ERA, striking out ninety and walking only ten in 105+1⁄3 innings.[4] He was named the Mountain West Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year alongside Jimmy Lambert.[5]

Professional career

After his junior year, Jax was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the third round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[6] He signed for $645,000 and made his professional debut with the Elizabethton Twins of the Rookie-level Appalachian League, pitching 8+2⁄3 innings.[7][8] In 2017, he pitched in only five games before he was required to report Cape Canaveral, Florida for active duty.[9][10][11] In those five starts, he went 2–2 with a 2.61 ERA between Elizabethton and the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Class A Midwest League.[12] In 2018, he was granted membership into the United States military's World Class Athlete Program, allowing him to make Olympic training his full-time responsibility (which counts towards his five years of required active duty) which in turn allowed him to play in the minor leagues full-time.[13][14] During the season, he pitched for the Fort Myers Miracle of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, going 3–4 with a 3.70 ERA in 15 games (14 starts).[15][14][16] After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.[17]

Jax began 2019 with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos of the Class AA Southern League with whom he was named an All-Star.[18][19] While with Pensacola, he missed nearly three weeks due to fatigue.[20] In August, Jax was promoted to the Rochester Red Wings of the Class AAA International League, with whom he finished the season.[21] Over 23 starts between the two clubs, Jax pitched to a 5–7 record with a 2.90 ERA, striking out 94 over 127+1⁄3 innings.[22] Jax did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[23] To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to the St. Paul Saints of the Triple-A East.[24]

On June 5, 2021, Jax was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[25] Jax made his MLB debut three days later on June 8 in relief at home against the New York Yankees, becoming the first Air Force Academy graduate in MLB history (he is still a captain in the Air Force Reserve).[26] He pitched one inning, giving up three earned runs on two home runs while also registering his first strikeout versus Tyler Wade.[27]

Personal life

Jax's father, Garth Jax played for 10 seasons in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals in the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s.[28]

Jax is currently pursuing a graduate degree in business administration from Colorado State University.[29]

Jax and his wife, Savannah, married in January 2021 in Gilbert, Arizona.[30] Savannah holds the rank of captain in the Air Force.[31] In March 2023, the couple had their first child, a daughter.[32]

References

  1. ↑ Ryan Casey (May 28, 2013). "Griffin Jax of Cherry Creek earns Colorado's Gatorade honor for baseball". Blogs.denverpost.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Baseball: Cherry Creek's Griffin Jax named Colorado Gatorade Baseball POY | USA TODAY High School Sports". Usatodayhss.com. May 28, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  3. ↑ Yunt, Jon E. "Philadelphia Phillies draft Rye H.S. star Denton Keys in 11th round – The Denver Post". Denverpost.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  4. ↑ Bollinger, Rhett (June 10, 2016). "Twins' Griffin Jax hoping to make MLB history". MLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Mountain West Names 2016 All-Conference Baseball Team – Mountain West Conference". Themw.com. May 25, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  6. ↑ Bollinger, Rhett (June 10, 2016). "Twins draft Griffin Jax, Thomas Hackimer". MLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  7. ↑ Wiley, Matt (June 14, 2016). "Air Force junior pitcher Griffin Jax signs with Twins, military future remains unclear | Sports Coverage". gazette.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Minnesota prospect Griffin Jax wears two uniforms – Twins and Air Force". GlobalSport Matters. November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  9. ↑ Wiley, Matt (July 11, 2017). "Air Force grad Griffin Jax pitching in Single-A with firm deadline to report for active duty | Sports Coverage". gazette.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  10. ↑ Wiley, Matt (March 14, 2018). "Former Air Force pitcher Griffin Jax balancing professional baseball with responsibilities on active duty | Sports Coverage". gazette.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Griffin Jax heads to Air Force after fine pitching performance in C.R. Kernels' 12–4 win over Lansing". The Gazette. July 22, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  12. ↑ David Dorsey (July 3, 2018). "Oh say can he pitch: Griffin Jax of Air Force Academy rises as Minnesota Twins prospect". Wlna-webservice.gannettdigital.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  13. ↑ Wiley, Matt (May 2, 2018). "Air Force graduate Griffin Jax can resume pro baseball career after acceptance into World Class Athlete Program | Sports Coverage". gazette.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  14. 1 2 "Minnesota Twins' Griffin Jax uses World Class Athlete Program to compete". Cronkitenews.azpbs.org. November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Under-the-radar prospects for 2019". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  16. ↑ "4th of July: Jax juggles Air Force duties with playing pro baseball". News-press.com. July 3, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Griffin Jax brings patriotism with his pitching in Arizona Fall League". Azcentral.com. November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  18. ↑ Wiley, Matt (April 8, 2019). "Air Force graduate Griffin Jax tosses 4 2/3 shutout innings in Double-A debut | Sports Coverage". gazette.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  19. ↑ Davis Allen. "Six Blue Wahoos Named To Southern League South Division All-Star Team – ESPN Pensacola". Espnpensacola.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Jax looking good for Blue Wahoos | Wind Surge". Milb.com. June 25, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  21. ↑ Wiley, Matt (August 7, 2019). "Air Force graduate Griffin Jax promoted to Triple-A in Minnesota Twins organization, placing him one call from major leagues | Sports Coverage". gazette.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Griffin Jax close to Majors after Air Force journey". Mlb.com. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  23. ↑ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled".
  24. ↑ "Twins solidify St. Paul Saints' first Triple-A roster – Twin Cities".
  25. ↑ "Twins Designate Juan Minaya, Select Griffin Jax - MLB Trade Rumors".
  26. ↑ "Griffin Jax becomes first Air Force player in MLB - KRDO".
  27. ↑ "Same old story as Twins fold with Yankees in town - Bring Me The News".
  28. ↑ "Second Lieutenant Griffin Jax Takes Mound For Wahoos | Blue Wahoos". Milb.com. April 13, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  29. ↑ "Air Force grad Griffin Jax riding out coronavirus in Colorado, staying in shape for Minnesota Twins | Sports | gazette.com".
  30. ↑ "Savannah Banyai and Griffin Jax's Wedding Website".
  31. ↑ "Griffin Jax called up by Twins".
  32. ↑ "Jax Family Baby Registry". Babylist. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
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