Jeremy Jeffress

Jeremy Ross Jeffress (born September 21, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Chicago Cubs. Jeffress was an All-Star in 2018.

After graduating from Halifax County High School in South Boston, Virginia, Jeffress was 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.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008, Jeffress started on the Brevard County Manatees' roster on the restricted list. On August 6, the Milwaukee Brewers organization announced that he was promoted to their Double-A team, the Huntsville Stars. Jeffress 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, he 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. Jeffress was later promoted to Huntsville. He was called up to the majors for the first time on September 1, 2010. Jeffress made his major league debut that evening, pitching one scoreless inning.^{[citation needed]} On the year, Jeffress made 10 appearances, finishing with a 1–0 record with a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings with 10 strikeouts and 6 walks.

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. In spring training in 2011, Jeffress led the major leagues in wild pitches, with five in 11 innings. Jeffress began the year on the Royals roster, and got his first win as a Royal on April 5 against the Chicago White Sox. He made 14 appearances with a 4.70 ERA in 15.1 innings of work, adding on 13 strikeouts, but also had 11 walks and 12 hits allowed. On May 21, Jeffress was optioned to the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Royals Triple-A affiliate, posting a 7.13 ERA in 16 games, 3 of which were starts. These struggles led him to be moved down to the Royals Double-A affiliate, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on July 20, where he appeared in 9 games, starting 8, posting a 4.26 ERA in 31.2 innings, adding on 20 strikeouts as well as 22 walks and 32 hits allowed.

In the 2012 season, Jeffress split time between the Storm Chasers and Royals, as he was unable to find his footing in the majors posting a 6.75 ERA in just 13 appearances, allowing 19 hits, 14 runs and 14 walks to just 14 strikeouts in 13.1 innings. His play in the minors showed signs of improvement as he made 37 appearances, going 5–4 with 4.97 ERA, with 61 strikeouts to just 25 walks.

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

On November 8, 2012, the Toronto Blue Jays received Jeffress from the Royals in exchange for cash considerations. Jeffress was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on April 6, 2013, after pitching in one game. 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. His contract was selected by the Blue Jays on September 3 after the Bisons season ended, and the major league rosters expanded. He appeared in 10 games for the Blue Jays posting a 0.87 ERA in 10.1 innings, while in his time with the Bison he had a 1–0 record with a 1.65 ERA in 25 appearances.