Jalen and his family are heavily involved with their local church…he hopes to one day travel on mission trips to places such as Malawi—a landlocked country in eastern Africa...Jalen grew up a diehard Razorback fan and still watches as many of their games as he can…his all-time favorite Razorbacks are Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, Ronnie Brewer and Joe Johnson… Arkansas men’s basketball won a national title in 1993, the year he was born, and he often re-watched the game on tape with his dad...He and his wife, Brie, have three children: Breckly, Jack and Brody.
2022
Made 42 apps (seven starts) in his first major league action since 2020, returning from Tommy John surgery…was on the 15-day IL due to right lower leg tightness from July 15-29 and Sep 18 through season’s end…made 27 pitches in a two IP simulated game on Oct. 4 and made the postseason roster...Went one IP (or fewer) in eight of his last nine apps and 13 of 17 apps beginning on Aug 3…to compare, recorded four outs (or more) in 20 of his first 25 apps...Made his third Opening Day roster (2019-20)...On April 10 vs. BAL, made his season debut and pitched 1.2 scoreless innings…marked his first app since Aug 25, 2020 vs. BAL, returning from Tommy John surgery...On May 9 at LAA, had a perfect fifth inning before snapping a scoreless streak at 11.2 IP to start the season in the sixth…allowed back-toback homers to Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, his first multi-HR app since Aug.25, 2019 at BAL...On June 4 vs. CHW, suffered his first loss since Aug. 2, 2020 at BAL…inherited one-on, one-out in the eight inning and surrendered a go-ahead, two-run homer to pinch-hitter Jake Burger, his first batter faced…snapped a scoreless streak of 10 IP and marked the first time in his career he allowed a homer in the eighth inning (or later)...On July 4 at BOS, pitched a perfect first inning and got out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the 2nd with a Bobby Dalbec strikeout…marked his second career start at Fenway Park, joining his major league debut on June 7, 2018 vs. DET...On July 14 vs. BOS, yielded a RBI double off the right field wall to Alex Verdugo with 0 outs in the ninth inning…stranded him at second base for the third save of his career, following Aug 19, 2020 at NYY and April 10, 2019 at CHW...On Aug 17 at NYY, allowed all three BF to reach base in the 10th inning, including a walk-off grand slam by Josh Donaldson, the first walk-off hit and first grand slam allowed in his career… marked the 12th time in franchise history the Rays lost on a walk-off grand slam, first since Diego Castillo allowed one on June 20, 2021 at SEA…became the first pitcher in club history to allow a walk-off grand slam to erase a three-run lead. Was on the roster for the AL Wild Card Series at CLE but did not pitch.
2021
Missed the entire season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
2020
Underwent Tommy John surgery on Sept. 2, performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas…returned home to Arkansas to begin his initial phases of rehab...Placed on the 45-day IL on Aug 26…at the time of the injury, his 19.1 IP led major league relievers and his 26 SO ranked 2nd among relievers behind CLE James Karinchak (31)...Recorded 4 outs (or more) in nine of his 12 apps and went 2 IP (or more) four times...In his last 10 apps, from July 30–Aug. 25, went 1-1 with a 2.51 ERA (14.1-IP, 4-ER)...Made his second straight Opening Day roster...On Opening Day vs. TOR, struck out Cavan Biggio and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 7th inning and struck out the side in the 8th…his 5 SO tied his own Opening Day club record among relievers, after doing it in 2019 vs. HOU...On July 27 vs. ATL, his 7 SO tied for the 2nd-most of his career and were one shy of matching his career high…recorded 3 SO in the 6th inning, 2 SO in the 7th and 2 SO in the 8th...On Aug. 19 at NYY, inherited 2-on, 1-out in the 9th inning and struck out Miguel Andújar and Thairo Estrada for his second career save.
2019
Made 33 apps (3 starts) over two stints with the Rays: Opening Day-June 27 and July 16 through season's end…totaled 104.1 IP including 92 IP out of the bullpen, 2nd-most among major league relievers behind TOR Sam Gaviglio (95.2)...Went 5-0 with a 2.78 ERA (64.2-IP, 20-ER) in his first 20 apps, from March 28-July 16…this stretch gave him a 10-game winning streak spanning two seasons with the Rays, the longest streak of winning decisions in club history...Went 1-3 with a 6.81 ERA (39.2-IP, 30-ER) over his last 13 apps (3 starts) beginning on July 22...Went 3 IP (or more) in 19 consecutive relief apps from April 18-Aug 31…was also used as a starter three times over that stretch, but went 0-2 with a 10.95 ERA (12.1-IP, 15-ER) in those 3 starts....Allowed 11 HR over his last 16 apps (3 starts) spanning 48.1 IP, compared to 1 HR in his first 17 apps, all in relief, spanning 56 IP...Optioned to Triple-A Durham on June 28, the day after an 18-inning win at MIN…in his last 12 apps before the option, was 5-0 with a 2.30 ERA (47-IP, 12-ER), including 8 apps of 1 run (or fewer)...Made his first career Opening Day roster and pitched in the 5-1 loss vs. HOU, the only reliever used by the club…his 5 SO were the most by a Rays reliever on Opening Day, passing Steve Geltz (4) on April 6, 2015 vs. BAL...On April 10 at CWS, went 3 IP for his first career save…his only run allowed came on a groundout off the bat of Yonder Alonso in the 9th inning...On May 1 at KC (G1), did not allow a run in 6.2 IP, the longest scoreless relief app in the majors since SF Ty Blach (6.2 IP) on June 14, 2018 at MIA, longest in the AL since SEA Blake Beavan (6.2 IP) on June 6, 2013 vs. NYY and tied for the 2nd-longest in club history behind Rob Bell (7 IP) on June 19, 2004 at ARI…entered to start the 2nd inning, and retired 12 straight following a hit batter and walk in the 3rd…his only hit allowed was a 7th-inning double to Martín Maldonado...On July 22 vs. BOS, made his second career start, first since June 7, 2018 vs. DET (with BOS) and suffered his first loss with the Rays…his 8 runs allowed tied his Rays debut on July 28, 2018 at BAL for a career high…yielded 7 runs in a 40-pitch 3rd inning, including 3 HR...On Aug 3 vs. MIA, his 3 HBP were the most by a Rays pitcher in over 13 years, since Casey Fossum (3) on April 7, 2006 at TOR...On Aug 25 at BAL, yielded 7 runs on a careerhigh 11 hits, the most hits allowed by a reliever in franchise history…it was the fourth time in club history a reliever allowed double-digit hits and the second time he did it, both at Oriole Park at Camden Yards (July 28, 2018)…allowed 5 runs, all with 2 outs, on 7 hits over his first 2 IP, then 2 runs on 4 hits over his next 3 IP.
2018
Earned his first major league opportunity and was acquired by the Rays from the Red Sox on July 25 for Nathan Eovaldi…made 12 apps for the Rays serving as a long reliever, primarily following an opener…went at least 2 IP in all 12 apps, including 9 apps of at least 3 IP, 5 apps of at least 4 IP and 4 apps of at least 5 IP...Went 5-0, matching Juan Cruz (2011) for most wins by a Rays pitcher in a season without recording a loss…it was also the longest winning streak by a pitcher to begin his Rays career since Cruz in 2011...Started for the Red Sox in his major league debut on June 7 vs. DET, exactly four years after he was selected in the 12th round of the 2014 June Draft…yielded 6 runs in 4 IP and suffered a 7-2 loss to Matthew Boyd…struck out his first batter faced, JaCoby Jones, but yielded 5 runs in the 1st inning…made a relief appearance for the Red Sox on July 10 vs. TEX, yielding 3 runs in 2.1 IP...Made his Rays debut on July 28 at BAL, totaling 3.1 IP, 10 H and 8 R/ER…threw 82 pitches and allowed 13 of 21 BF to reach base safely…the 10 hits tied for most in franchise history among relievers, joining Ryan Yarbrough on June 6, 2018 at WAS and Geremi Gonzalez on Aug 11, 2004 at BOS…became the third pitcher to allow at least 8 runs in his Rays debut, following Luis de los Santos (9) on July 20, 2002 at TOR and Juan Guzmán (8) on April 7, 2000 vs. CLE...Earned his first career victory in his second app for the Rays, Aug 2 vs. LAA…from that point forward, he went 5-0 with a 3.07 ERA (41-IP, 14-ER) and a .211 opp avg. (31-for-147) over 11 apps...From Aug 2-14, became the third pitcher in club history to go at least 5 IP and allow 2 hits or fewer in three consecutive apps, following Jake Odorizzi (2016) and Matt Moore (2012-13)...From Aug 2-19, became the first pitcher since Baseball Reference data is available (1908) to go at least 4 IP and allow 2 hits or fewer in four consecutive relief apps, without a start in between...On Aug 14 at NYY, recorded a career-high 8 SO over 5 IP…struck out all 6 BF in the 3rd and 4th innings, one shy of tying the club record for consecutive strikeouts in a game…he also became the first reliever with at least 8 SO against the Yankees since MIN Johan Santana on April 10, 2003 at NYY…he was only the fourth reliever since Baseball Reference data is available (1908) to allow 2 hits or fewer with 8 SO (or more) against the Yankees, joining BOS Tom Burgmeier on June 25, 1980 at NYY, DET Hank Aguirre on June 24, 1962 vs. NYY and CLE Herb Score on June 26, 1955 at NYY (G2)...Became the third Rays rookie to defeat the Red Sox twice in a season, following Jeremy Hellickson (2) in 2011 and Tim Corcoran (2) in 2006…the wins came just five days apart, on Aug 19 at Fenway Park and Aug 24 at home...Between the Red Sox and Rays, held left-handed hitters to a .196 avg. (9-for-46) with only 1 HR… opposing righties hit .291 (43-for-148) with 5 HR...Opened the season with Triple-A Pawtucket and made 16 starts there…at the time of the trade, ranked among International League leaders in ERA (2.89, 5th), strikeouts (117, tied for 2nd), WHIP (1.09, 2nd) and opp avg. (.215, 3rd), and led Red Sox minor leaguers in strikeouts...Named to the IL midseason All-Star Team.
2017
Named Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year...Went 11-8 with a 3.29 ERA (53 ER/145.0 IP) and 155 SO between Double-A Portland (9 GS) and Triple-A Pawtucket (17 GS)...Finished 5th among qualifying Red Sox farmhands in ERA and 2nd in strikeouts. Named Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month in both April (3-1, 1.99 ERA) and July (2-1, 1.96 ERA). In 9 starts with Portland, went 5-1 with a 2.19 ERA (12 ER/49.1 IP) and a .199 opponent AVG...Held opponents scoreless in 5 of his first 6 Double-A starts. Threw a 7.0-inning shutout in Game 1 of a 4/22 doubleheader vs. Trenton (5 H, 2 BB, 7 SO). Did not allow a run over 25.0 IP from 4/22-5/18, the 2nd-longest scoreless streak in Portland history. Joined Pawtucket on 6/3 and finished 2nd on the team with 97 SO in 95.2 IP (9.13 SO/9.0 IP). Allowed 3 or fewer ER in 9 straight starts from 6/9-7/26, going 4-3 with a 2.52 ERA (14 ER/50.0 IP). Added to the Red Sox' 40-man roster on 11/20.
