Juan Minaya #18

Juan Gustavo Minaya...Instagram: @jminaya37...attended Anacaona Maimón High School in Maimón, Dominican Republic...favorite type of music is bachata...has a farm and owns horses; if he wasn't a baseball player, he would have been a farmer.

2021

Was an invite to Twins spring training and reassigned to minor league camp on March 25. A Began season with Triple-A St. Paul and appeared in eight games for the Saints from May 5-27... Had contract selected by Minnesota on May 29 (Cody Stashak optioned)... Appeared in four games for the Twins from May 30-June 4, posting a 4.26 ERA (6.1 IP, 3 ER) and was designated for release or assignment on June 5 (Griffin Jax contract selected)...accepted assignment back to St. Paul... Appeared in 10 more games for the Saints from June 11-July 13, going 1-1, 2.16 ERA (16.2 IP, 4 ER) and had contract selected for second time on season July 17; spent the rest of season with Minnesota... Recorded first win as a Twin on July 23 vs. Los Angeles-AL, pitching 1.0 scoreless inning of relief...marked his first major league win since Sept.12, 2018 at Kansas City (with Chicago-AL)... Tied single-game career-high with five strikeouts on Aug. 4 at Cincinnati (2.0 IP)...matched it again on Sept. 19 at Toronto (2.0 IP)... 19 of final 22 appearances with Twins were scoreless from July 31-end of season, posting a 1.26 ERA (28.2 IP, 4 ER) and .178 (18-for-101) opponent batting average in that span...struck out 34 against 15 walks in that span, while stranding all eight inherited runners. A Held left-handed batters to a .250 (12-for-48) average, while righties hit just .158 (15-for-95) against him...his opponent's batting average vs. right-handed batters ranked sixth in the majors (min. 90 opp. AB)...His 2.48 ERA ranked 12th among American League relievers (min. 40.0 IP), while his 6.08 hits-per-9.0 IP rate ranked 11th... Signed a minor league contract with an invite to Twins spring training on March 11, 2022.

2020

Signed minor league contract with Minnesota on Jan. 23...Began season on minor league side of Twins spring training at CenturyLink Sports Complex, traveling to major league side for several games but making only one appearance March 1 at Tampa Bay (0.1 IP)…Added to Twins Player Pool Aug. 3, reporting to alternate training site in St. Paul, MN...Had contract purchased by Minnesota Aug. 28 but did not appear over the Twins' next four games and designated for release or assignment Sept. 1...outrighted back to alternate training site.

2019

Split season between Chicago-AL (22 games) and Triple-A Charlotte (24 games)...began the year in Charlotte, posting a 5.51 ERA (16.1 IP, 10 ER) in 10 games...recalled to the White Sox on June 13 and posted a 3.90 ERA (27.2 IP, 12 ER) with 12 walks and 27 strikeouts in 22 relief appearances...returned to Charlotte for the rest of the season on July 17.

2018

Spent most of the season with Chicago-AL; recorded career bests in ERA (3.28), appearances (52), innings pitched (46.2), opponent batting average (.220), strikeouts (58), strikeouts-per-9.0 (11.19) and holds (8)...made his first career Opening Day roster...walked all four batters faced on April 7 vs. Detroit and was optioned to Charlotte following the appearance...overall, made 19 appearances over three stints with Charlotte, holding opponents to a .217 batting average...for the White Sox, made nine-straight scoreless appearances from July 2-24...also did not allow a run in 12 of 13 outings from July 28-Aug. 27, going 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA (12.2 IP, 3 ER), .196 opponents average, 1.03 WHIP, two holds and 15 strikeouts...struck out a career-high five batters on August 20 at Minnesota (2.0 IP)...struck out his 100th career batter (Xander Bogaerts) in the eighth inning on August 31 vs. Boston

2017

Led all American League rookies and ranked second on the White Sox with nine saves … converted nine of 10 save opportunities and averaged 10.51 SO/9.0 IP (51 SO/43.2 IP) ... Opened the season on the disabled list with a right abdominal strain … was sent to Class AAA Charlotte on a rehab assigment on 4/25, returned and optioned on 4/26 and recalled on 5/26 ... Made his season debut on 5/27-2 vs. Detroit (1 ER/1.0 IP) … earned his first win of the season on 5/29 vs. Boston (3 SO) … worked a career-high 2.1 perfect IP on 6/8 at Tampa Bay ... Was optioned to Charlotte on 6/14, recalled again on 6/26, optioned back to the Knights on 6/27 and recalled on 6/29 ... Earned his first save on 8/18 at Texas to preserve Gregory Infante's first win … they became the first teammates to record their first MLB win and save in the same game since Washington's Blake Treinen (W) and Ross Detwiler (SV) on 6/28/14 at the Cubs … the last Sox teammates were Mike Porzio (W) and Matt Ginter (SV) on 5/7/02 at Texas (STATS LLC) ... Was charged with his second loss and only blown save on 8/31 at Minnesota … surrendered a game-tying, single to Eddie Rosario and hit Max Kepler with the bases loaded ... Converted his last six save opportunities from 9/2-30, posting a 1.50 ERA (1 ER/6.0 IP) and ended the season with a streak of eight straight scoreless appearances (7.1 IP) ... Earned his fifth save on 9/21 at Houston, inducing a gameending groundout by Carlos Beltrán with the tying runs on base ... Made 13 relief appearances with Charlotte … 11 of his 13 outings were scoreless … worked 11.2 scoreless IP with seven strikeouts over eight road appearances ... Made five straight scoreless appearances from 5/9-23, allowing nine hits with nine strikeouts in 9.2 IP.

2016

Started the season in the Houston Astros organization before being claimed off waivers by the White Sox on 6/22.  Finished the season in the White Sox bullpen, making 11 appearances in his major-league debut.  Opened his career by making seven consecutive scoreless appearances from 9/1-20 (7.2 IP) … surrendered just five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts during the streak.  Became the first White Sox reliever to begin his career with seven-plus straight scoreless outings since Sergio Santos made 12 straight (11.1 IP) in 2010 (STATS LLC).  Was recalled from Charlotte on 9/1 and made his majorleague debut that night at Minnesota (1.0 scoreless IP) … worked 0.2 scoreless IP in his U.S. Cellular Field debut on 9/10 vs. Kansas City.  Allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit over 1.0 IP on 9/23 at Cleveland, snapping his scoreless streak at seven games.  Combined to go 5-6 with a 4.50 ERA (21 ER/52.0 IP), one save and 47 strikeouts over 34 relief appearances between Charlotte and Class AAA Fresno in the Astros system.  Opened the 2016 season with Fresno and made 17 appearances (seven scoreless) … struck out four on 4/22 vs. Salt Lake City and 5/20 at Memphis.  Was designated for assignment by the Astros on 6/20 and claimed off waivers by the Sox on 6/22 … was assigned to the Knights, where he limited right-handers to a .159 average (10-63) over 17 appearances.  Won three consecutive decisions over a five-game span from 7/9-31 … earned his only save on 8/6 vs. Norfolk.  Worked at least 2.0 IP in each of his final three outings with Charlotte … earned his final win on 8/24 vs. Durham (2.0 IP).  Appeared in 12 games with Cibao in the Dominican Winter League, posting a 2.16 ERA (2 ER/8.1 IP) and 10 strikeouts.

2015

Combined to go 1-0 with a 2.80 ERA (17ER/54.2IP) and 59 strikeouts in 35 games between Triple A Fresno (6g) and Double A Corpus Christi (29g)...began the year with Corpus Christi, going 1-0 with a 3.25 ERA (16ER/44.1IP) and 48 strikeouts...made his Triple A debut on Aug. 22 with Fresno...ended up tossing 10.1 innings at Triple A, allowing just one run (0.87 ERA) with 11 strikeouts and a .188 opponent batting average at the level...following a rough May (6.00 ERA), posted a 2.17 ERA (11ER/45.2IP) with 51 strikeouts over his last 26 games of the season...was added to the Astros 40-man roster on Nov. 20...pitched for Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League during the offseason

2014

Made 35 appearances between two levels in the Astros system, going 2-3 with a 4.22 ERA (25ER/53.1IP) and 64 strikeouts...began the year at Class A Advanced Lancaster where he posted a 4.40 ERA (22ER/45IP) and 53 strikeouts in 29 games (1 start)...was named the JetHawks Pitcher of the Month for June after posting a 0.96 ERA (1ER/9.1IP) with 10 strikeouts and a .176 opponent batting average in six June outings...moved up to Double A Corpus Christi on Aug. 13...pitched to a 3.12 ERA (3ER/8.2IP) and 11 punchouts in six games with the Hooks.

2013

Spent the entire year at Class A Quad Cities, going 3-6 with eight saves, a 4.77 ERA (29ER/54.2IP) and 57 strikeouts in 24 games (5 starts).

2012

Made 17 appearances for Class A Short Season Tri-City, going 2-2 with a 4.66 ERA (19ER/36.2IP) and 31 strikeouts.

2011

Pitched at Class A Lexington for the second straight season, going 1-5 with a 6.90 ERA (59ER/77IP) and 76 strikeouts in 28 games (9 starts).

2010

Made his full-season debut, starting 26 games at Class A Lexington...posted a 4-12 record with a 4.79 ERA (68ER/127.2IP) and 96 strikeouts.

2009

 In his professional debut, made 12 starts for the Rookie Level GCL Astros, going 3-3 with a 4.27 ERA (25ER/52.2IP).