Jay Jackson Is An MLBbro Pitcher That Could Provide Bullpen Help Down The Stretch For Toronto Blue Jays

Jay Jackson Is An MLBbro Pitcher That Could Provide Bullpen Help Down The Stretch For Toronto Blue Jays

by | May 10, 2023 | THE LEAD OFF

When you get an opportunity that you can’t pass up on, you have to make the most of it. And that is what Jay Jackson is doing. For those who don’t know, Jackson was recently called up by the Toronto Blue Jays and made his 2023 debut on May 6 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

 

He threw one inning, walking one batter and did not allow a run.

 

 

The 35-year-old has spent time in the big leagues before and now he’s looking to make an impact for Toronto and become an everyday pitcher out of the bullpen. Toronto has needed some help in the bullpen and Jackson is someone who has MLB experience and can add some much-needed help.

 

When he found out he would be joining the Blue Jays, Jackson was excited to get back to the big leagues.

 

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Jackson told reporters Friday in an article from www.si.com. “So it’s just an amazing feeling.”

 

A big reason why Jackson was called up by Toronto was because of his impressive performance during Spring Training.

 

 

Jackson is looking for a permanent home.  

 

“Slider execution, striking guys out — he was really good,” manager John Schneider said of Jackson’s spring performance.

 

Before being called up, Jackson spent time with Toronto’s triple-A affiliate team in Buffalo. He appeared in nine games and had an 0-1 record with a 5.91 ERA with 15 strikeouts. Even though Jackson did not make the Opening Day roster, he continued to have respect for the organization and knew the decision wasn’t anything personal.

 

“The amount of love and respect and honesty [the Blue Jays] showed me, I wanted to be here just as much as they wanted me here,” he said.

 

Making a major league team can be an impossible task for some. There are players who have been in the minor leagues their whole career and are still waiting for that opportunity. So, for Jackson, he understands how difficult it is to make it on an MLB team. This is the MLBbro journeyman’s fifth team and he’s going to do everything he can to help Toronto become a team to beat in the AL East.

 

Jackson is no stranger to the Big Leagues.

 

Jackson first made his MLB debut back in 2015 with the San Diego Padres. It was toward the end of the season, so a lot of players were being called up to teams across the league. He appeared in six games and pitched in 4.1 innings striking out four batters and finished with a 6.23 ERA.

 

Four years later, Jackson had the opportunity to pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers. His time in Milwaukee was the most action he had seen in his career.

 

During the 2019 season, he made 28 appearances on the mound, throwing 30.1 innings and also finished with a 1-0 record with two holds. He also had a 4.45 ERA and struck out a career high 47 batters.

 

 

In 2021 he made his first start of his career with the San Francisco Giants. That start came on September 4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a quick outing for Jackson as he only went 0.1 innings giving up three earned runs. That season he did finish with a 2-1 record with a 3.74 ERA in 23 games. He proved that he could get MLB hitters out on a consistent basis. 

Before this season, his last appearance in the league was in 2022, appearing in two games with the Atlanta Braves. So it’s safe to say that Jackson has bounced around the league a few times. And he also spent some time playing in Mexico and Japan.

 

But now, he’s focused on securing a permanent role with Toronto, who desperately needs to sure up the bullpen if they plan to contend with the Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and dangerous Red Sox all season. He certainly has the arm to do so. Now he has another opportunity to write another chapter in his MLB career. 

 

MLBbros Bringing the Arm Support | Pitchers Mychal Givens & Jay Jackson Are Moving With a Purpose

MLBbros Bringing the Arm Support | Pitchers Mychal Givens & Jay Jackson Are Moving With a Purpose

by | Aug 7, 2022 | THE LEAD OFF

This year’s MLB trade deadline was one to remember, with several stars finding new homes. While it is easy to think that positional players and big bats are what you need in October, the real unsung heroes are the elite pitching with not just the starters, but in the bullpen. Whenever your team gets in a jam, it’s critical for the bullpen to try and get out of it and keep the team in the game.

Two moves that could be really crucial for the upcoming playoffs, but not as discussed compared to the bigger names, is Mychal Givens getting dealt to the first-place Mets, and Jay Jackson getting promoted to the team nipping at the Mets’ heels. Jackson’s promotion to the defending World Champion Atlanta Braves bullpen came with the departure of both Will Smith and Jesse Chavez.

Givens started this season in Chicago with the Cubs. He spent the first six seasons of his career in Baltimore, getting traded to the Rockies back in 2020, and had brief stints with them and in Cincinnati with the Reds, before ending up on the north side of Chicago.

 

 

During his tenure in Chicago, he earned a 6-2 record, with a 2.66 ERA. The Cubs are currently 15.5 games back from the final wild card slot, so it makes sense that they would be willing to relinquish one of their best relievers. 

His debut in Queens could not have gone any worse. He made his first appearance on August 3rd in D.C. and got in the game in the ninth inning with the Mets having a comfortable 9-0 lead. He gave up five runs in two-thirds of the inning and couldn’t finish the game. 

He ended up pitching again on Friday against the Braves and did significantly better. He pitched one inning, giving up no runs, no hits, with just one walk in the 9-6 loss. A much-needed bounce back performance and huge confidence booster for the eight-year vet, who was obviously a bit nervous in his first outing for a contending team. 

The Braves are 4.5 games behind the Mets and five games up in the wild card race, so they are still making adjustments to the roster as they chase NY.

Going down south within the division, Jackson got promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett as the trade deadline came to a close. This is the 34-year-old’s fourth run in the majors, as he played with the Padres back in 2015, then made his return in 2019 with the Brewers, once again in 2021 with the Giants, and finally now with the Braves. 

 

 

With Jackson posting a 1.80 ERA in 10 appearances with the Stripers, the Braves clearly felt that they could trust him to help carry the load for one of the best bullpens in baseball. However, as he turns 35 in late October, this could very much be Jackson’s last shot to have a permanent place on an MLB roster. He has been an underdog throughout his entire career, bouncing throughout the minors, spending brief time in the majors, and part of his career in the Japanese league. It’s time for him to finally overcome that obstacle and stay up in the majors.

The NL East is going to be an absolute force in the playoffs, as it looks like both the Braves and Mets will be playing in the postseason, and the Phillies are looking like they may sneak in as well. All three teams have reasons to believe they can be in the Fall Classic, but it will be the elite bullpens that will separate the contenders from the pretenders.