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A. J. Minter

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A. J. Minter
Minter with the Braves in 2022
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1993-09-02) September 2, 1993 (age 31)
Tyler, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 23, 2017, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record24–29
Earned run average3.28
Strikeouts422
Saves36
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Alex Jordan Minter (born September 2, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves. He played college baseball at Texas A&M University. Minter was drafted by the Braves in the second round of the 2015 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2017.

High school and college

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Minter attended Brook Hill School in Bullard, Texas, and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 38th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. He did not sign and attended Texas A&M University, where he played college baseball. After the 2014 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[1] After spending his first two years pitching out of the bullpen, Minter was converted into a starting pitcher his junior year.[2] Early in his junior season he suffered an injury which required Tommy John surgery, ending his season.[3]

Professional career

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Atlanta Braves

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Minter on the mound for the Braves in 2021

Minter was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of the 2015 MLB draft.[4][5] He made his professional debut in 2016 for the Rome Braves. He spent two stints with the Carolina Mudcats and was promoted to the Mississippi Braves in July, where he finished the season.[6][7][8] Minter finished 2016 with a 1.30 ERA in 34+2⁄3 innings.[9] Minter began 2017 with the Florida Fire Frogs and was reassigned to Rome, the Mississippi Braves, and the Gwinnett Braves during the season.

Minter was called up to the major leagues for the first time on August 23, 2017.[10][11] In 26 relief appearances for Florida, Rome, Mississippi, and Gwinnett prior to his call up he was 1–2 with a 3.33 ERA. He made his major league debut that night, in the eighth inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners.[12] Minter spent the remainder of the 2017 season with Atlanta, pitching to a 0–1 record and 3.00 ERA in 15 innings in which he struck out 26 batters.[13]

In 2018, Minter pitched 61+1⁄3 innings over 65 games, saving 15, while recording a 3.23 ERA and 69 strikeouts.[14]

Following a fender-bender motor vehicle incident in March, the start of Minter's 2019 season was delayed.[15][16][17] Minter replaced fellow reliever Arodys Vizcaíno as closer due to injury, but lost the role to teammate Luke Jackson by late April. Minter was optioned to the Gwinnett Braves on May 10.[18] He returned to Atlanta in June, then was optioned to Gwinnett for a second time in August as the Braves traded for Shane Greene, Chris Martin, and Mark Melancon.[19][20] Minter ended the season as a September call-up when rosters expanded, but shortly thereafter was placed on the 60-day disabled list.[21][22]

For the 2019 season with the Braves, he was 3–4 with five saves and a 7.06 ERA in 36 relief appearances, in which he struck out 35 batters in 29.1 innings.[23]

Minter started the 2020 season at spring training with the major league team, and was optioned to Gwinnett in March.[24][25] In Game 5 of the 2020 NLCS, Minter made history by becoming the first MLB player ever to make their starting debut in the postseason. He pitched three innings, surrendering only one hit while striking out seven batters, also a record.[26]

In 2020 he was 1–1 with an 0.83 ERA, with 24 strikeouts in 21.2 innings over 22 relief appearances.[23]

On July 18, 2021, Minter was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett following the Braves 7-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.[27]

In 2021 with Atlanta he was 3–6 with a 3.78 ERA in 61 games.[23] The Braves finished with an 88–73 record, clinching the NL East, and eventually won the 2021 World Series, giving the Braves their first title since 1995.[28]

On January 13, 2023, Minter signed a one-year, $4.2875 million contract with the Braves, avoiding salary arbitration.[29]

On January 11, 2024, Minter again avoided the salary arbitration process, agreeing to a one-year, $6.22 million deal.[30][31] Minter was placed on the injured list in late May, and revealed that he had left hip impingement the following month.[32] Although he was activated in early July,[33] Minter returned to the injured list in mid-August with the same issue,[34][35] and planned to undergo surgery.[36] He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on August 20, effectively ending his season.[37] Overall, Minter finished with a 5–4 record and 2.62 ERA with 35 strikeouts across 39 games.

References

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  1. ^ "A.J. Minter - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  2. ^ "Aggie baseball team learns ace out for year on cusp of SEC play". Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  3. ^ "Minter to have Tommy John surgery". Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  4. ^ "Braves thrilled to get lefty A.J. Minter at No. 75". Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  5. ^ "East Texans Minter, Walters heading to big leagues". ETFinalScore.com. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  6. ^ "Minter sent to Carolina; O'Neal to Danville". MILB.com. May 19, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  7. ^ "Obregon & Minter return; Gebhardt to DL". MILB.com. June 9, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  8. ^ "Beckham joins Mudcats, Minter to Miss". MILB.com. July 2, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  9. ^ Bowman, Mark (February 18, 2017). "Minter makes good first impression on Snitker". MLB.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  10. ^ O'Brien, David (August 23, 2017). "Braves call up hard-throwing relief prospect Minter". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  11. ^ Bowman, Mark (August 23, 2017). "Braves call up Minter, option Fried to Triple-A". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  12. ^ Bowman, Mark (August 24, 2017). "Minter cherishes debut, pitches perfect frame". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  13. ^ "A.J. Minter Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  14. ^ Burns, Gabriel (April 4, 2019). "A.J. Minter rejoins Braves bullpen". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  15. ^ Hummer, Steve (March 2, 2019). "Braves' Minter traces shoulder issue to bad driving, not pitching". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  16. ^ Burns, Gabriel. "A.J. Minter to resume throwing Saturday". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  17. ^ Bowman, Mark (March 22, 2019). "Minter tests shoulder by throwing live BP". MLB.com. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  18. ^ "Braves activate reliever Venters, send Minter to minors". Associated Press. May 10, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  19. ^ Henry, George (June 11, 2019). "Braves recall Minter, put him back in closer's mix". Associated Press. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  20. ^ Newberry, Paul (August 1, 2019). "Shane Greene gets a chance to finish games that matter in Atlanta". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  21. ^ Tucker, Tim (September 3, 2019). "Braves recall two pitchers, roster now at 31". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  22. ^ Burns, Gabriel (September 12, 2019). "Grant Dayton rejoins Braves, A.J. Minter's season ends". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  23. ^ a b c "A.J. Minter Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  24. ^ Bowman, Mark (March 9, 2020). "Notes: King Félix deals again; Minter sent down". MLB.com. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  25. ^ Burns, Gabriel (March 9, 2020). "Braves option A.J. Minter, Chad Sobotka to Triple-A". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  26. ^ Passan, Jeff (October 16, 2020). "Atlanta Braves' A.J. Minter strikes out 7 in 3 innings in starting debut". ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  27. ^ "Transactions". MLB.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  28. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (November 3, 2021). "Atlanta Braves win 2021 World Series". MLB.com. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  29. ^ Bowman, Mark (January 13, 2023). "Fried, Braves likely heading to arb hearing". MLB.com. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  30. ^ Bowman, Mark (January 11, 2024). "Fried avoids hearing, Minter gets raise at arbitration deadline". MLB.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  31. ^ Toscano, Justin (January 11, 2024). "Braves avoid arbitration with Max Fried and A.J. Minter". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  32. ^ Toscano, Justin (June 18, 2024). "Braves reliever A.J. Minter readies for rehab appearance in coming days". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  33. ^ Toscano, Justin (July 1, 2024). "Braves reinstate A.J. Minter from injured list". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  34. ^ "Braves unsure if A.J. Minter will pitch again this season". Atlanta Journal Constitution. August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  35. ^ Bowman, Mark (August 14, 2024). "Minter (left hip) to undergo surgery, putting season in doubt". MLB.com. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  36. ^ Toscano, Justin (August 14, 2024). "Braves reliever A.J. Minter to undergo hip surgery". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  37. ^ Bowman, Mark (August 20, 2024). "Urshela signs MLB deal with Atlanta as Riley hits IL". MLB.com. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
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