Joel Payamps #31

Name is pronounced “yo-EHL PIE-omps”...He and his wife, Darvelis, have two daughters, Shanel and Alice...Used his first Major League paycheck to completely make over his mother’s house in the Dominican Republic...his mom, María García, was moved to tears...His grandfather, Julio “Guayabita” Payamps, was one of the best pitchers in Santiago, but never signed with a Major League team...Joel is still known as Julio’s grandson in his hometown...His favorite player growing up was Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez.

2023

 Went 7-5 with a 2.55 ERA and three saves in 69 relief appearances with Milwaukee...His 69 appearances were a career high and tied for 10th in the National League...Also set career highs in wins (seven), innings pitched (70.2) and strikeouts (77)...Tied for second in the National League in holds (28)...Held opponents to a .219 batting average...Retired 52 of 69 first batters faced (75.4%)...stranded 12 of 13 inherited runners (92.3%)...Notched his first Major League save on 4/13 at San Diego...also had saves on 7/1 at Pittsburgh and 7/6 vs. Chicago-NL...Signed a one-year contract on 1/11/24, avoiding arbitration.

2022

Went 3-6 with a 3.23 ERA in 41 relief appearances between Kansas City (29g) and Oakland (12g)...claimed off waivers by the A’s from the Royals on 8/20... Set career highs in games (41), innings (55.2) and strikeouts (41)... Retired 28 of 41 first batters faced (68.3%)... Stranded 18 of 26 inherited runners (69.2%)... Was on the injured list (COVID-19) from 6/13-7/1... Was on the 15-day injured list from 9/23, retroactive to 9/21, through the rest of the season with a lumbar muscle strain... Was traded to Milwaukee in a three-team deal that included Atlanta on 12/12

2021

Pitched in 22 games for Toronto from April 1-June 30 before being acquired by the Royals on July 21 for cash considerations...After pitching for Triple-A Omaha after the trade, he appeared in three stints with the Royals from Aug. 10 11, Aug. 16-Sept. 11 and Sept. 13-the end of the year, and had one stop on the Injured List from Sept. 11-12 with a non-disclosed injury or ailment, missing two games...In 15 games (1 start) for the Royals, he went 1-1 with a 4.43 ERA (10 ER in 20.1 IP), 16 strikeouts to just three walks and a 1.28 WHIP...Earned his first big league win on Aug. 28 at Seattle after pitching a season-high-tying 2.2 scoreless innings of relief in a 4-2 win over the Mariners...Made his first career start in the second game of a doubleheader on Sept. 20 in Cleveland, covering 2.1 innings and allowing one run on two hits (1 HR)...Over his first eight games with Kansas City, he put together a 2.08 ERA (2 ER in 8.2 IP), but allowed nine runs (8 earned) over his last 11.2 IP (6.17 ERA)...Made 22 appearances with Toronto over three Major League stints...went 0-2 with a 2.70 ERA (9 ER in 30.0 IP) and a 1.07 WHIP...Made the team’s Opening Day roster and his first appearance with the Jays on April 3, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings at Yankee Stadium with a walk and a strikeout...Pitched in four games with Triple-A Buffalo after being optioned a fourth time on June 30...designated for assignment on July 16...Between Feb. 10-March 6, he was acquired off waivers three times, going from Boston to Toronto (Feb. 10), back to Boston (Feb. 22) and back to Toronto (March 6).

2020

Pitched in two games with the Diamondbacks, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits, with three walks and two strikeouts...Spent a majority of the Major League season at Arizona’s alternate site…had three stints with the big league club, making his appearances on Sept. 1 at Dodger Stadium (2.0 IP) and Sept. 12 vs. Seattle (1.0 IP)…Made eight appearances for Estrellas de Oriente in the Dominican Winter League, where he allowed two runs over 13.0 innings, with two walks and 14 strikeouts, for a 1.08 WHIP and a 1.38 ERA...Designated for assignment by Arizona on Nov. 20 and claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox.

2019

Made his Major League debut for the D-backs, posting a 4.50 ERA (2 ER in 4.0 IP) with 3 strikeouts in 2 relief appearances...Made his Major League debut on Aug. 21 vs. Rockies (2 ER in 3.0 IP)…was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Aug. 17...Split the season between Double-A Jackson and Reno, combining to go 5-6 with a 3.89 ERA (34 ER in 78.2 IP), .266 opponent average, 69 strikeouts and 18 walks in 15 starts... Appeared in 12 games with Estrellas in the Dominican Winter League and posted a 3.54 ERA (8 ER in 20.1 IP).

2018

Combined to go 9-8 with a 3.87 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 31 games (15 starts) with Double-A Jackson and Triple-A Reno…averaged 9.4 strikeouts per 9.0 innings...Posted a 3.48 ERA (32 ER in 82.2 IP) with a .222 opponent average as a starter...Named the organizational Pitcher of the Month for July after going 3-2 with a 3.06 ERA (12 ER in 35.1 IP) with 40 strikeouts and just 6 walks...Struck out 14 batters on July 3 @ Birmingham (0 ER in 5.2 IP).