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Jon Jay

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Not to be confused withJohn Jay.

Jon Jay
Jay with the Kansas City Royals in 2018
Miami Marlins – No. 11
Outfielder/First base coach
Born:(1985-03-15)March 15, 1985(age 39)
Miami, Florida,U.S.
Batted:Left
Threw:Left
MLB debut
April 26, 2010, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
May 12, 2021, for the Los Angeles Angels
MLB statistics
Batting average.283
Home runs37
Runs batted in341
Teams
As player

As coach

Career highlights and awards

Jonathan Henry Jay(born March 15, 1985) is an Americanprofessional baseballcoachand formeroutfielderwho is thefirst base coachfor theMiami MarlinsofMajor League Baseball(MLB). He played in MLB for theSt. Louis Cardinals,San Diego Padres,Chicago Cubs,Kansas City Royals,Arizona Diamondbacks,Chicago White Sox,andLos Angeles Angels.

A product of theUniversity of Miami,Jay playedcollege baseballfor theMiami Hurricanes.He was the Cardinals’ second (of three) second-round selection(s) (74th overall), in the2006 MLB draft.[1]Through the end of the 2020 season, Jon Jay has the third highest modern-day career fielding percentage for a center fielder at.996, behind onlyDarin ErstadandShane Victorino.[2]

Jay made his big league debut for the Cardinals in 2010,[1]afterbatting.301, with 4home runs(HR), a.780on-base plus slugging percentage(OBP), and 2stolen bases(SB), in 105 majorleaguegames.The starting center fielder for four consecutiveNational League Championship Series(NLCS)-qualifying clubs as a Cardinal (2011−14), he was aWorld Serieschampion in2011,as the Cardinals defeated theTexas Rangers.Between 2011 and 2013, Jay established anerrorlessrecord streak forNational League(NL) center fielders at 245 games. In 2012, he finished tenth in the NL in both batting average andon-base percentage(OBP).

After wrist injuries limited Jay's effectiveness in 2015, he was traded to the Padres.[1]Always active in the community, Jay has hosted celebrity bowling tournaments for charity. He signed a one-year US$4M contract to play the 2019 season with the Chicago White Sox.[1]

Early life

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Jay was born inMiami,Florida,and spent his youth there. His parentsimmigrated to the United States from Cuba—his mother fromMatanzasand his father fromSantiagoin the 1960s.[3]He is of distant Spanish descent.[4]His father, Justo Jay, spent 19 years in prison for his role in the cocaine trafficking organization ofSal MaglutaandWilly Falcon.[5]Jay attendedGeorge Washington Carver Middle SchoolandChristopher Columbus High School.[6]

College career

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Showing exceptional baseball skill in high school, Jay played on the state championship-winning team during his senior year in 2003. He received a scholarship at theUniversity of Miamiand played for theMiami Hurricanes baseballteam. During his three years at UM, Jay had a combined.387batting average(BA), with 31doubles(2B), fourtriples(3B), sevenhome runs(HR), and 108runs batted in(RBI), in 120games played(G).[7]In 2005, he playedcollegiate summer baseballwith theBrewster Whitecapsof theCape Cod Baseball League.[8]The Cardinals selected him in the second round (74th overall) of the2006 MLB draft.[9][1]

Professional career

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St. Louis Cardinals

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After signing with St. Louis, Jay made his professional debut that year with theSwing of the Quad Citiesand spent the whole season there, slashing.342/.416/.462, with three HR, and 45 RBI, in 60 games. In 2007, he played with thePalm Beach Cardinals,where he batted.286, with two homers, and ten RBI, in 32 games, and theSpringfield Cardinals,posting a.235 average, two HR, and 11 RBI, in 26 games. Jay began 2008 with Springfield, and after batting.306/.379/.457, with 11 HR, and 47 RBI, in 96 games, he was promoted to Memphis where he ended the season with a.345 batting average, one HR, and ten RBI, in 16 games. Jay spent 2009 with Memphis, where he compiled a.281 batting average, with ten HR, 54 RBI, and 20 stolen bases, in 136 games. He began 2010 with Memphis.[10]

Jay made his Major League debut on April 26,2010with the St. Louis Cardinals,[1]after having begun his second consecutive season with theMemphis Redbirds.During his rookie season, he played in 105 games and made 323plate appearances(PA), batting.300, with 19 doubles, and a.359on-base percentage(OBP). In the outfield, Jay played all three positions. Stationed mainly in right field, he collected fiveassists.

Jay with theSt. Louis Cardinals,2011

On July 27,2011,the Cardinals traded startingcenter fielderColby Rasmusto theToronto Blue Jays,clearing the way for Jay to take over as the regular center fielder. That season, he led the team in games played (159), batted.297, with a career-high 10 HR.

In Game 6 of the2011 World Series,Jay had a key hit in the 10th inning and later scored the tying run on a line drive into centerfield byLance Berkman.

On May 15,2012,Jay was moved to the 15-day disabled list due to lingering shoulder soreness after running into the outfield wall the month before, but he returned shortly thereafter.[11]For the year, he finished with career-bests in batting average (.305) and OBP (.373), both of which placed tenth in theNational League(NL). His 19stolen bases(SB) were another career best. He hit four HR, collected 40 RBI, 22 doubles, and scored 70runs.

Between August 24, 2011, and July 30,2013,Jay established a new NL all-time errorless streak record for center fielders at 245 games against thePittsburgh Pirates.It is also the longest streak for all Cardinals outfielders.[12]Curt Flood,a former Cardinal, owned the previous center field record of 226 games spanning from Sep 3,1965to Jun 2,1967.[13]

With increased playing time in2013,Jay established career-highs in PA (628), doubles (27), runs (75), BB (52), and RBI (67). However, his batting average (.276) and SLG (.370) slumped to career lows. Jay was third among NL center fielders in games played (153), fourth in putouts (335), first in double plays (three), and second in fielding percentage (.997). Conversely, advanced defensive metrics showed he was ten runs below average for center fielders fordefensive runs saved(DRS), ranking 32nd in MLB. From 2011 to 2013,Fangraphsrated his arm at 21st out of 21 centerfielders who played at least 2,000innings.Runners advanced for extra bases on Jay in 60 percent of plays.[14]

Jay with theSt. Louis Cardinals,2014

The Cardinals agreed with Jay on a one-year $3.25 million contract on January 17, 2014, to avoid arbitration. Through 2013, Jay had a career batting average of.300 with a.356 OBP and a.400 SLG.[15]

After the Cardinals acquired outfielderPeter Bourjosin a trade with theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheimduring the offseason of 2013, Jay's role on the club was expected to be reduced during 2014. Bourjos's impressive defensive ability was one of the main reasons for the trade, as Jay's 2013 defensive campaign was probably the worst of his career. But after a poor offensive April for Bourjos, Jay's playing time started to increase throughout the season, as Bourjos found himself on the bench more and more. By the end of the season, Jay finished batting.303, with three home runs while driving in 46 runs. Although appearing in only 17 fewer games in 2014 than in 2013, Jay had 135 fewer at-bats, and could not contend for thebatting title,where at one point in September he was batting well over.320, which was higher than the final.319 batting average ofJustin Morneau,who won the batting title. He led the major leagues inhit by pitch,with 20.[16]During thepostseason,where Jay had historically struggled throughout his career, he batted.478, going 14-29 throughout theNLDSandNLCS.[1]

In the off-season preceding the2015 season,Jay had surgery on the leftwrist,which did not heal completely.[17]He struggled through other injuries on the same wrist, such as a bone bruise andtendinitis,hampering his ability to hit effectively.[18]Jay missed a number of games in the month of May, and another 57 from July 1 to September 4.[19]

San Diego Padres

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On December 8, 2015, Jay was traded to theSan Diego Padresin exchange forJedd Gyorko.[20][21]After a productive first couple of months of the season for the Padres, Jay suffered a broken forearm on June 19 and was placed on theDLon June 28. He was reactivated on September 6 and finished the season with a.291 batting average in 90 games played.[22]

Chicago Cubs

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Jay hit.287 in seven seasons with the Cardinals and Padres. As a free agent, Jay signed a one-year, $8 million contract with theChicago Cubson November 29, 2016.[23]On July 6, 2017, Jay pitched a scoreless 9th inning in an 11–2 defeat by the Milwaukee Brewers. Jay had a batting average of.296 in 379 at-bats for the Cubs in 2017.

Kansas City Royals

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On March 6, 2018, Jay signed a one-year, $3 million, contract with theKansas City Royals.[24]

Arizona Diamondbacks

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On June 6, 2018, the Royals traded Jay to theArizona Diamondbacksin exchange forElvis LucianoandGabe Speier.[25]For the season, he had the lowestfly ballpercentage of all major league hitters (16.5%).[26]

Chicago White Sox

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Jay signed a one-year contract with theChicago White Soxon January 10, 2019.[27]He began the season on the 60-day disabled list and was activated on June 24, 2019.[28]He underwent hip surgery on August 30, ending his season after playing only 47 games.[29]He had the slowest sprint speed of all major league right fielders, at 24.8 feet/second.[30]

Arizona Diamondbacks (second stint)

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On February 3, 2020, Jay signed a minor league deal with theArizona Diamondbacks.Jay had his contract selected to the 40-man roster on July 18, 2020. In 2020, Jay slashed.160/.211/.240 with 1 home run and 4 RBI in 18 games.[31]

Los Angeles Angels

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On February 11, 2021, Jay signed a minor league deal with theLos Angeles Angelsthat included an invitation to Spring Training.[32]On March 26, 2021, Jay was released by the Angels.[33]On March 27, Jay re-signed with the Angels on a new minor league contract.[33]On April 13, 2021, Jay was selected to the active roster.[34]He was designated for assignment by the Angels on April 16 after going 1-for-8 with a single and two strikeouts in eight at-bats.[35]He was outrighted to the alternate training site on April 23.[36]On May 6, Jay was re-selected to the active roster.[37]On May 14, Jay was again designated for assignment.[38]On May 17, he was outrighted to Triple-A.[39]

In late May 2021, Jay was named to the roster of theUnited States national baseball teamfor theAmericas Qualifying Event.[40]Jay hit.362/.384/.464 with 1 home run and 5 RBI in 18 games with Salt Lake before he was released on July 13.[41]

On April 27, 2022, Jay announced his retirement from baseball.[42][43]

Coaching career

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On November 10, 2022, theMiami Marlinshired Jay as their first base coach for the 2023 season.[44]

Personal life

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At various times, he has beennicknamed"The Federalist", "The Founding Father", and "The Chief Justice" in honor of theU.S. Founding FatherJohn Jayand his contributions toThe Federalist Papers.[45][46]Shortly into the 2016 season, NBC 7 San Diego lead sports reporter Derek Togerson popularized "The Federalist", which quickly became popular with Padres fans. Razzball.com originally started calling him The Federalist back in 2011.[47]Jay choose "305-J" as his nickname for the Players Weekend during the 2017 season with the Cubs.[48]

Jay during the2011 World Seriesparade

On January 28, 2011, Jay hosted acharitybowlingevent at Lucky Strikes Lanes inMiami Beach, Florida.[49]Called Jon Jay's Celebrity Bowling Challenge, an estimated $25,000 were accumulated throughout the almost four-hour event and went to Chapman Partnership, involved inhomelesscenters throughout the Miami-area. Jon and his family had been involved in charities just like Chapman Partnership throughout his childhood. Among the twentyMajor League Baseballattendees wereYonder Alonso,J. P. Arencibia,Gio González,Drew Storen,Chris Marrero,Tyler Greene,Allen Craig,Lance Lynn,John Mayberry,Gaby Sánchez,Manny Machado,andMike Lowell.Chris Boshwas also present.[50]

Jay married Nikki Stecich in November 2013 and they had twin girls on December 1, 2016.[51]They reside inSt. Louis.[52]

In May 2014, Jay hosted another bowling event, this time with Allen Craig. They named it the Jay-Craig Celebrity Bowl and held it at the Flamingo Bowl indowntown St. Louis.The proceeds benefited Great Circle, anonprofit organizationthat provides behavioral health servicesautism,educational challenges,emotional health,in-homecrisis intervention,foster careandadoption,adventure therapyandpsychological traumarecovery.[53]

In December 2015, Jay accompanied joined former Cardinals player andmanagerJoe Torreand then-CardinalscatcherBrayan Peñaon an expedition toCuba.It was MLB's first visit there since 1999, and one anticipated as an important step to help normalizerelationswith the United States that had begun to ease earlier in the year.[54][55]

References

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  1. ^abcdefg"Jon Jay Stats".Baseball-Reference.com.Sports Reference LLC. 2019.RetrievedSeptember 5,2019.
  2. ^"Career Leaders & Records for Fielding % as CF (s.1908)".Baseball-Reference.com.Sports Reference LLC. 2019.RetrievedApril 25,2019.
  3. ^"Jon Jay's Journey from Miami to Havana".La Vida Baseball.September 7, 2017.RetrievedOctober 24,2021.
  4. ^"What Spain Lacks: Spaniards".Archived fromthe originalon March 6, 2013.
  5. ^Mehrotra, Kriti (August 5, 2021)."Where is Justo Jay Now?".The Cinemaholic.RetrievedDecember 31,2021.
  6. ^Cox-Henry, Joanie."Miami-born baseball player hits a home run for local children's charities".sun-sentinel.com.
  7. ^"Jon Jay - Baseball - University of Miami Athletics".hurricanesports.com.University of Miami Athletics.Archived fromthe originalon March 7, 2016.RetrievedJune 7,2014.
  8. ^"Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League"(PDF).Capecodbaseball.org.RetrievedJanuary 9,2020.
  9. ^"Jon Jay Stats, Highlights, Bio".MiLB.com.Minor League Baseball. 2019.RetrievedSeptember 5,2019.
  10. ^"Jon Jay Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball".MiLB.com.RetrievedJune 2,2018.
  11. ^"Jon Jay placed on disabled list".ESPN.com.ESPN.Associated Press.May 15, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 5,2019.
  12. ^"GAME INFORMATION"(PDF).St. Louis Cardinals. July 5, 2013. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on February 12, 2019.
  13. ^"GAME INFORMATION"(PDF).St. Louis Cardinals. July 31, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^Miklasz, Bernie(March 3, 2014)."Season preview: Jon Jay".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.RetrievedJune 8,2014.
  15. ^Schwarz, Joe (January 17, 2014)."Cardinals avoid arbitration hearings with Jon Jay, Peter Bourjos".Viva El Birdos.RetrievedJune 7,2014.
  16. ^"2021 MLB Player Batting Stats".ESPN.
  17. ^Palacios, Ruben (July 12, 2015)."Cardinals OF Jon Jay sees wrist specialist".CBSSports.com.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
  18. ^"Cardinals place Jon Jay on 15-day disabled list".USA Today.Associated Press. July 2, 2015.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
  19. ^"Add another OF to the fold: Cardinals activate Jon Jay".FOX Sports Midwest. September 4, 2015.RetrievedSeptember 4,2015.
  20. ^Gleeman, Aaron (December 8, 2015)."Padres trade Gyorko for Jon Jay".NBCSports.RetrievedDecember 8,2015.
  21. ^Brock, Corey (December 8, 2015)."Padres acquire Jay, send Gyorko to Cards".MLB.com.Archived fromthe originalon October 4, 2017.RetrievedDecember 11,2015.
  22. ^"Jon Jay has a broken right forearm".Mlb.nbcsports.com.June 28, 2016.
  23. ^Gonzales, Mark (November 29, 2016)."Cubs prepare for Dexter Fowler's departure, sign center fielder Jon Jay".Chicago Tribune.
  24. ^"Royals sign free-agent OF Jay to 1-year deal".ESPN.com.March 6, 2018.
  25. ^"Royals pull pitchers Elvis Luciano, Gabe Speier from Diamondbacks in trade for Jon Jay".KMBC 9 News.June 7, 2018.
  26. ^"Major League Leaderboards » 2018 » Batters » Batted Ball Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball".Fangraphs.com.
  27. ^Schouwen, Daryl Van (January 10, 2019)."White Sox announce Jon Jay deal, DFA Charlie Tilson".Chicago Sun-Times.
  28. ^"Jon Jay finally joins White Sox after months battling injury".Sports.yahoo.com.June 24, 2019.RetrievedOctober 9,2019.
  29. ^Fosler, Brad (August 30, 2019)."Jon Jay to miss the rest of the season with hip strain | NBC Sports Chicago".Nbcsports.com.RetrievedOctober 9,2019.
  30. ^"Statcast Sprint Speed Leaderboard".Baseballsavant.mlb.com.RetrievedOctober 9,2019.
  31. ^Sommers, Jack (November 25, 2020)."2020 Arizona Diamondbacks Reviews #42: Jon Jay".AZ Snake Pit.
  32. ^"Angels' Jon Jay: Signs with Halos".CBS Sports.February 11, 2021.
  33. ^ab"Angels Re-Sign Jon Jay, Release Jesse Chavez".MLB Trade Rumors.March 27, 2021.
  34. ^"Angels Make Handful Of Roster Moves".MLB Trade Rumors.April 13, 2021.
  35. ^"Angels Select Scott Schebler, Designate Jon Jay".MLB Trade Rumors.April 16, 2021.
  36. ^"Major League Baseball Transactions".Major League Baseball.
  37. ^"Angels Make Several Roster Moves".MLB Trade Rumors.May 6, 2021.
  38. ^"Angels Activate Anthony Rendon, Designate Jon Jay".MLB Trade Rumors.May 14, 2021.
  39. ^"Angels Moves: Ramirez, Jay".MLB Trade Rumors.May 18, 2021.
  40. ^"Team USA Announces Olympic Qualifying Roster".usabaseball.com.May 30, 2021.RetrievedJune 1,2021.
  41. ^@tombaseball29 (July 14, 2021)."#Angels have released OF Jon Jay"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  42. ^@jonjayU(April 27, 2022)."It is still surreal to me that I played Major League Baseball. As I officially retire from the game that changed my life, I want to thank..."(Tweet).Archivedfrom the original on April 27, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 1,2022– viaTwitter.
  43. ^The Athletic Staff (April 27, 2022)."Jon Jay, former Cardinals outfielder, retires from MLB after 12 seasons".The Athletic.Archivedfrom the original on September 1, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 1,2022.
  44. ^"Jon Jay Joins Marlins Coaching Staff".obblegend.com.RetrievedJune 30,2023.
  45. ^"Baseball and the law - The University of Chicago Library News".news.lib.uchicago.edu.
  46. ^"The Baseball Diaspora".Archived fromthe originalon January 3, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 9,2012.
  47. ^"Evan Longoria, Injury".Razzball.com.April 4, 2011.
  48. ^"MLB Players Weekend to showcase unique nicknames, colorful uniforms".Chicago Sun-Times.August 10, 2017.
  49. ^"Jon Jay's Celebrity Bowling Challenge",Eventbrite
  50. ^David Villavicencio,"Jay and friends roll strikes for charity",MLB.com,January 29, 2012
  51. ^"Jon Jay: The Cubs' 'almost-everyday player'".Chicago Tribune.
  52. ^"Ex Cardinals Outfielder Jon Jay's New West St Louis Home".Bizjournals.com.RetrievedApril 7,2022.
  53. ^"Jon Jay and Allen Craig team up for bowling challenge benefit for Great Circle".Cardinalsconclave.com.May 3, 2014.RetrievedJune 7,2014.
  54. ^Quiñones, Ronal (December 18, 2015)."Joe Torre: Baseball can unite Cuba and the USA".Havana Times.RetrievedDecember 19,2015.
  55. ^Goold, Derrick (December 18, 2015)."Torre exhilarated by reception in Cuba".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.RetrievedDecember 19,2015.
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