Aaron Slegers #36

Aaron Allan Slegers (SLEH-gurs)...On Twitter: @aslegers...Originally signed by Twins scout Jeff Pohl...Pitched collegiately at Indiana University...Aaron and fiancée, Courtney, were engaged in Nov. 2020 and plan to be married this December in Arizona…They met at a pilates class, one of Aaron’s preferred wellness activities...Pitched just two varsity innings in high school career at Notre Dame Prep HS (Scottsdale, AZ) due to injury…As a result, he didn’t qualify as a varsity letterman in baseball...Rapid growth between junior and senior year of high school resulted in about eight inches over the course of a calendar year…Suffered tremendous discomfort in his joints and back as his body worked to adjust...Also played basketball in high school and made his only three-point shot attempt...Was last Rays pitcher to appear in a game prior to official announcement of 2020 shutdown of Spring Training… While in Rays clubhouse, saw a report on ESPN that Spring Training would be halted just prior to entering game...Spent 2020 quarantine at home in Arizona…Worked out with fellow Hoosier Caleb Baragar of the Giants to stay ready for a return to full baseball activities...Capitalized on time surrounding the delayed 2020 season to finish work on business management degree from Indiana…Began year just 15 credits shy and was able to complete nearly all of them prior to the 2020 regular season…Fit final three credits into mornings once the season began; toughest class was corporate finance...Played club baseball for Arizona Diamondbacks Scout Team in 2009 and 2010...Favorite player growing up was Randy Johnson.

2020

Made 11 appearances (one start) across three stints with Rays...Worked 2+ innings in nine of 11 outings, including each of last eight appearances from Aug. 22 through end of regular season...Also spent time at Rays Alternate Training Site in Port Charlotte, Fla...After allowing five runs in two innings pitched in season debut, Aug. 12 at Boston, pitched to a 1.88 ERA (24 IP - 5 ER) with two saves and allowed just one extra-base hit (a double, Sept. 5 vs. MIA) across his final 10 appearances...Start on Aug. 22 vs. Toronto, was his first since July 10, 2018 vs. Kansas City (with MIN)...Retired 12 of his 13 batters faced; only baserunner came on a E4 (fielding) to start 3rd inning…Marked longest outing since July 5, 2018, vs. Baltimore (6 IP)...Had streak of 9.2 consecutive hitless innings (with zero walks) from Aug. 16-Sept. 2, spanning parts of five outings...Recorded third career save, pitching final three innings of a 4-3 win vs. Phillies, Sept. 26…Became second reliever in Club history to record a save and induce two GDP in a game, joining J.P. Howell, April 17, 2008, at MIN.

2019

Claimed off waivers by the Pirates on Jan 11 and traded to the Rays for cash considerations on March 30…spent the entire season in the minors, aside from a three-day stint with the Rays…designated for assignment on May 16 to make room for Erik Kratz on the 40-man roster, but outrighted to the minors on May 21…made his only app for the Rays on Aug 23 at BAL, yielding a solo homer in a 3-inning save…became the tallest player in franchise history, passing Jeff Niemann (6'9") and Mark Hendrickson (6'9")…became the sixth pitcher to record a save in his Rays debut, first since Dale Thayer on May 22, 2009 at FLA.

2018

Began season with Rochester (Twins' AAA) and was the Red Wings' Opening Day starter on 4/9 vs. Syracuse (6.0ip/1er)...Pitched 6.0 scoreless frames in his second start for his first win...Was recalled by Minnesota on 4/26, but did not appear in a game and was optioned back post-game...Went 5-1 with a 1.97 ERA (50.1ip/11er) in his first eight starts with Rochester thru 5/20...Was recalled by Minnesota again on 5/30 and pitched a career-high 5.1 innings of relief that night at Kansas City... Was optioned back to Rochester the next day...Lost five straight Triple-A decisions between 5/25 and 6/30...Was recalled a final time by Minnesota on 7/5...Won his first Major League game after giving up one run in 6.0ip in his start on 7/5 vs. Baltimore...Suffered loss on 7/10 vs. Kansas City (1.1ip/5er)...Was placed on the 10-day disabled list on 7/14 with right shoulder inflammation...Made one rehab start with Rochester on 8/4, but re-aggravated his shoulder injury and was sent back to Minneapolis to continue rehab at Target Field...Was reinstated from D.L. on 9/25...Made final appearance on 9/28 (1.0ip/0r).

2017

Was invite to Twins spring training, reassigned to minor league camp March 13 and began season with Triple-A Rochester ... Named International League Pitcher of the Week July 24, going 2-0, 0.64 (14.0 IP, 1 ER) with two walks and 12 strikeouts in two starts ... Went 9-0, 2.10 ERA (64.1 IP, 15 ER) with 13 walks and 49 strikeouts in a 10-start stretch from June 15-August 12 ... Named Twins minor league Pitcher of the Month for July, going 5-0, 0.99 ERA (36.1 IP, 4 ER) in five starts ... Contract selected as 26th man for doubleheader with Cleveland August 17 ... Made major league debut in a start August 17 vs. Cleveland (Game 2), allowing two runs on two hits in 6.1 innings pitched; did not factor into decision and was returned to Rochester following game ... Set season high with 10 strikeouts for Rochester August 27 vs. Buffalo (8.0 IP) ... Recalled September 4 and spent rest of season with Twins. ALed Twins minor league system in wins (15), innings pitched (148.1), starts (23), and second in strikeouts (119) ... Led all Triple-A in wins and tied with Bowie's (Baltimore) Yefry Ramirez for most in all of Minor League Baseball...ranked fifth in all of Triple-A in innings pitched ... Given 2017 Jim Rantz Award as Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

2016

Spent entire season with Double-A Chattanooga...placed on disabled list July 10 with right biceps tendinitis; reinstated July 26...named Twins minor league Player of the Week September 3, going 1-0, 1.29 ERA (14.0 IP, 2 ER) with three walks and 13 strikeouts in two starts for the Lookouts...led Lookouts in wins (10), starts (25), innings pitched (145.1) and strikeouts (104)...ranked ninth in Southern League in ERA (3.41) among starters and tied for fourth in innings pitched (145.1).

2015

Began season with Single-A Ft. Myers...named Twins minor league Player of the Week after pitching a complete game shutout May 24 vs. Brevard County, allowing three hits and nine strikeouts...pitched back-to-back complete games July 27 (7.0 IP) and August 2 (6.0 IP)...promoted to Double-A Chattanooga August 7...named Twins Minor League Pitcher for the Week for September 3, striking out 13 in 14.0 innings, allowing two earned runs in two starts...finished the season with the second lowest WHIP (1.04) and opponent average (.227) in the Florida State League, as well as the fourth lowest ERA (2.87).

2014

Began season with Single-A Cedar Rapids as one of the team's primary starters...pitched 6.0 innings or more in 11 of his 20 starts, recording a quality start in eight of those outings...promoted to Single-A Ft. Myers August 1 and made three starts for the Miracle to finish the year...ranked third in the Midwest League in walks-per-9.0 innings pitched (1.5).

2013

Spent first professional season with Rookie Elizabethton...allowed just one earned run in nine appearances...walked two and struckout 18 in his 19.0 innings...earned a save in three of his final four appearances, all of which were at least 2.0 inning outings.