Article: Twins Sign, Introduce Tyler Jay

[John Bonnes]

Tyler Jay signed with the Minnesota Twins prior to Wednesday's game. At a press conference introducing him to the local media, he talked a lot about how thrilled he was to start his professional career, get throwing again and -- I presume -- be very wealthy, as he signed for close to $4 million.Terry Ryan talked a little about the past process, including how Jay climbed up their draft board and how difficult it was to scout a college reliever since they can pitch in any game the team has. And Jay did a lot of pitching as a reliever, racking up more than 66 innings as he was often deployed as a traditional 'fireman,' used for several innings until he finished out the game.

 

Two big questions surround the pick. The first regards the wisdom of drafting a college reliever with a top ten pick in the hopes of turning him into a starter. Ryan talked about what they liked, referring to the same traits we have heard before: He has good velocity, four good pitches, control and he's left-handed. But Jay gave some hints as to why he remained a reliever as he made his way through his college career. It sounds like it was mostly seniority.

 

"Our Friday guy was a three-year starter," explained Jay. "We had Drasen [Johnson] who was a three-year starter. Then [John] Kravetz, who started all four years and then a midweek guy who ended up being drafted. All four-five of our starters ended up signing to play pro baseball. So you can't complain."

 

That willingness to accept his role for the good of the team is something that Ryan clearly admired. "I think you call that unselfish and teamwork. And that’s one of the reasons -- probably more than just one of the reasons. We talk about makeup all the time. Usually the guys with makeup are the guys that that excel. And he seems to have that as part of his DNA."

 

The second question is what his future role will be. Ryan made it clear that Jay will start the season in High-A and that he'll pitch out of the bullpen, mostly in one-inning stints. But given the chance to limit expectations for Jay helping the Twins later this year, Ryan chose not to.

 

"Every guy that goes out you expect and you give them that little carrot there: 'Why don't you pitch your way out of that affiliate?' " said Ryan. "The next stop would be Chattanooga. But it's up to the player. We can't dictate a guy's progression. Ultimately, you've got to go down and produce and perform. Let's see what he does when he gets down there. But I've talked to him about that: 'If you want to prove that we have you at too low of a level, go out and show us on the mound.' We're not trying to hold people back, here."

 

OK, but with 66 innings already on Jay's arm, how realistic is that? Is there an inning limit in mind?

 

"We don't want to get too carried away with innings," replied Ryan. "I'm not going to give you a number. We're certainly going to monitor it. Because I know that I'm going to hear from you guys if I give you a number and he goes 1/3 over it. I'm going to keep it at that. We'll monitor his innings."

 

Given the shortage of quality left-handed relievers in the upper levels of the Twins organization, so will we, Terry. So will we.

 

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[DocBauer]

Not a coach or scout, but with roughly 10 weeks available, and plans to make him a starter, I'd like to see him ramped up as a starter to build his arm, work on his arsenal, and then ramp him back down again to finish in the bullpen. Of course, I suppose he could pitch multiple innings per appearance as well.

 

I have to say, I have little to no angst against in regard to Jay's "bust" potential. While it would be great to see him evolve in to a high quality starter, if you told me we were picking a hard throwing, SO capable LHSU man who would be a big factor in the Twins bullpen and might even have eventual closer potential, I'd say "way to go!"

 

A contributor of that quality would be well worth the #6 pick in the draft. If you doubt that, look again at the current list of former #1 picks in the various posts here on TD that washed out in the crapshoot that is the baseball draft.

[tobi0040]

 

 

 

Not a coach or scout, but with roughly 10 weeks available, and plans to make him a starter, I'd like to see him ramped up as a starter to build his arm, work on his arsenal, and then ramp him back down again to finish in the bullpen. Of course, I suppose he could pitch multiple innings per appearance as well.

I have to say, I have little to no angst against in regard to Jay's "bust" potential. While it would be great to see him evolve in to a high quality starter, if you told me we were picking a hard throwing, SO capable LHSU man who would be a big factor in the Twins bullpen and might even have eventual closer potential, I'd say "way to go!"

A contributor of that quality would be well worth the #6 pick in the draft. If you doubt that, look again at the current list of former #1 picks in the various posts here on TD that washed out in the crapshoot that is the baseball draft.

 

Evidently in his one start and other five inning game, he was sitting 93-95 with his fastball. He has really good control and four pitches.  Of course he is a lefty.

 

Sounds like good logic going into the pick.  I will take that all day.

 

 

 

Edited June 18, 2015 by tobi0040

[Bob Sacamento]

Exactly, worse case scenario, it looks like you have a shutdown lefty power arm in the pen.  Best case, you have a #2 LHSP.  I'd take that anyday.  I'm hoping to catch up to him this weekend in Ft. Myers, I've heard he should be around as the HighA All-Star game is 6/19 in Port St. Lucie, and the Miracle don't play again til Monday 6/22 which is at home.

[Mike Sixel]

No way I stretch him to starter this year. Let him pitch in many games against better hitters.....I like that plan much more.

[Bob Sacamento]

Anyone have any specific questions they'd like to have Tyler Jay respond to?  I'll try to get him to answer on video/audio when I see him, I do have a "little-in" from former Coach Hartleb as well as being an Illini alum

[by jiminy]

 

re: Anyone have any specific questions they'd like to have Tyler Jay respond to?  I'll try to get him to answer on video/audio when I see him...

 

Thanks!

 

I'm curious how he'd compare rrelieving to starting, which I assume he did in high school. Did he ramp up his velocity since he knew he didn't have to save his strength? Does his strategy change when he knows he'll see the same hitters four times, for instance, not showing everything he has, or working different parts of the plate, or changing pitch sequences?  Or did he just feel like, pitching is pitching, what you saw in college is exactly the same as what he'd do starting?