Joe Jiménez #77

Signed by the Detroit Tigers as a non-drafted free agent on June 24, 2013; signed by Rolando Casanova and German Geigel...Acquired by the Atlanta Braves along with cash considerations from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for OF Justyn-Henry Malloy and LHP Jake Higginbotham on Dec. 7, 2022...Signed by Atlanta to a three-year Major League contract on Nov. 2, 2023.

2023

In 59 games for the Braves, pitched to a 3.04 ERA (19 ER/56.1 IP)...From May 20-Aug. 28, held opponents homerless over 33 games and 32.2 innings...At the time, was the sixth-longest active streak in Major League Baseball...Pitched to a 1.65 ERA in that span, with 42 strikeouts against 10 walks...From May 27-Aug. 28, logged a 1.20 ERA (4 ER/30.0 IP) in 30 games...Among National League pitchers with as many appearances in that timeframe, his ERA ranked third behind Haby Milner (MIL, 1.06) and Brusdar Graterol (LAD, 1.09)...His whiff rate (32.2%), strikeout rate (30.7%) and walk rate (5.9%) each finished in the top 15 percent of pitchers...Posted the best ERA of his career (3.04).

2022

Pitched in 62 games for the Tigers, going 3-2 with a 3.49 ERA (22 ER/56.2 IP) and two saves while striking out 77 batters and issuing just 13 walks. His 12.23 strikeouts per 9.0 innings ranked fifth in the American League among pitchers with at least 50.0 innings, and his 1.4 fWAR for the season matched his career high. Fanned 33.3% of the batters he faced, which ranked in the top five percent of the majors. Struck out 5.92 batters per walk, easily the best rate on Detroit’s pitching staff …The next closest pitcher, Jason Foley, fanned just 3.91 batters per walk. Jimenez’s mark was 17th best in baseball among pitchers with at least 50.0 innings. Was placed on Detroit’s injured list, Sept. 24, with a right lumbar spine strain, and missed the remainder of the season. Allowed two runs in each of his final two appearances of the season, spanning just 1.2 innings…Prior to those two outings, had pitched to a 2.95 ERA and a 1.77 FIP on the season. Atlanta acquired him from the Detroit Tigers along with cash considerations in exchange for OF Justyn-Henry Malloy and LHP Jake Higginbotham on Dec. 7.

2021

Established a career high with six wins in 2021 as he appeared in 52 games, all in relief... After allowing eight runs in his first three outings of the season, he gave up just four runs over his next 18 outings, posting a 2.35 ERA (15.1IP/4ER)... Did not allow an earned run in 13-of-14 appearances from July 17-Aug. 17, compiling a 2-0 record with a 1.93 ERA (14.0IP/3ER) and 17 strikeouts... Picked up his first save of the season and 18th of his career Aug. 22 at Toronto, pitching a scoreless 11th inning with two strikeouts... Placed on the COVID IL from Sept. 7-22.

2020

Appeared in 25 games out of the bullpen for the Tigers in 2020, posting a combined 1-3 record with five saves and a 7.15 ERA (22.2IP/18ER)…allowed 25 hits, six walks, seven home runs and five hit batters, while striking out 22... Entered 2020 tossing the ninth inning, and became the first Tigers closer to ever record four saves in the club’s opening six games of a season... Allowed just three earned runs over 10 outings to close the season, dating back to Sept. 7…over that span he posted a 2.61 ERA (10.1IP/3ER) on nine hits and no walks, while punching out nine...had an average fastball velocity of 94.7 MPH over that stretch, compared to 93.9 in the 15 appearances to start the season... Since initially becoming Detroit’s closer on Aug. 1, 2019, he has converted 14-of-16 save opportunities and posted a 3.68 ERA (14.2IP/6ER), allowing 16 hits and four walks, while striking out 16…has struggled in 28 non-save opportunities over that span, going 3-3 with a 6.31 ERA (25.2IP/18ER), allowing 28 hits and eight walks, while punching out 29.

2019

Established single-season career highs with nine saves and 82 strikeouts in 2019...Racked up 82 strikeouts over 59.2 innings pitched, posting a 12.37 strikeouts per nine innings rate…that figure ranked seventh among American League relievers (min. 59.0 IP) and established his single-season career high, which was previously 11.20 in 2018...Earned 15 holds this season, and now ranks tied for ninth in the American League with 38 since the beginning of 2018...Moved to the closer role following the trade of Shane Greene and successfully converted nine-of-10 save opportunities in August and September...Finished the season on a strong note, posting a 1-0 record with five saves, a 1.00 ERA (9.0IP/1ER) and 12 strikeouts in nine September outings.

2018

Named to the American League All-Star Team in 2018...Selected to participate in the Futures Game prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 2015 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati and in 2016 at PETCO Park in San Diego -- threw 0.2 scoreless innings with one strikeout in 2015, while he tossed 0.1 shutout innings in 2016...Named the Tigers Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2015 and 2016.

2017

Saw the first Major League action of his career in 2017, making 24 appearances for the Tigers...Made his Major League debut on April 13 vs. Minnesota, throwing a scoreless inning with one strikeout...struck out Byron Buxton for his first Major League strikeout... Sidelined from May 5-June 15 with a lumbar spine strain...Threw 17.0 consecutive scoreless innings with Triple A Toledo from June 25-July 28...during the streak, he struck out 20 batters, while only allowing nine hits in 16 games...Appeared in four games with Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic and had a 0.00 ERA (3.0IP/0ER) with two strikeouts.