GRIFFIN JAX NEWS

Strikes deal for 2025 Jax and the Twins avoided arbitration Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.365 million contract, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Impact Jax was arbitration-eligible for the first time, coming off a 2024 campaign in which he turned in a tidy 2.03 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 95:15 K:BB while collecting five wins, 10 saves and 24 holds in 71 innings out of the bullpen. Though reports earlier in the offseason suggested that Jax could be a candidate to move into the rotation in 2025, general manager Jeremy Zoll confirmed Wednesday that the right-hander will remain a key part of the late-inning ranks during the upcoming season. Jhoan Duran will presumably head into spring training as the Twins' preferred closer, but Jax will likely be first in line for save chances if Duran misses time or is removed from the role for performance-related reasons.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Will remain in bullpen Jax will remain in the Twins' bullpen rather than move into the rotation, general manager Jeremy Zoll confirmed Wednesday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports...

Impact The Twins' coaching staff indicated earlier in the offseason that a shift to the rotation for Jax was a possibility, but it appears it's no longer being considered. Jax was a starting pitcher in the minors and made 14 starts for the Twins in 2021, but he's since blossomed as a reliever, most recently posting a 2.03 ERA and 95:15 K:BB over 71 innings in 2024. The 30-year-old will enter the upcoming season as Minnesota's top setup man, but he picked up 10 saves last season and, with manager Rocco Baldelli not committed to traditional bullpen roles, Jax should see some save chances in 2025.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire wins team's Herb Carneal Award Twins will have to replace two minor league coordinators, and five players get pre-arbitration bonuses.

DECEMBER 17, 2024 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Move to rotation not ruled out Twins bench coach Jayce Tingler indicated in a recent interview that the team is open to the possibility of moving Jax into the rotation, Mike Ferrin of MLB Network Radio reports.

Impact Jax came up through the minors as a starting pitcher and made 14 starts for the Twins in 2021, posting a 6.10 ERA. He's since turned into a lockdown reliever, most recently collecting a 2.03 ERA and 95:15 K:BB over 71 innings this season. With a five-pitch mix and past starting experience, Jax would seem more equipped for a shift to the rotation than most relievers. The question, of course, is whether the uptick in stuff since his move to relief would translate back to a starting role.

NOVEMBER 13, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Willi Castro, Griffin Jax among Twins to be honored at 2024 Diamond Awards Castro was named the Most Valuable Twin while Jax was named the Twins’ Pitcher of the Year.

OCTOBER 19, 2024 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Should top Twins reliever Griffin Jax be a starter? Air Force captain Griffin Jax had one of the top seasons in Twins history pitching out of the bullpen.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Notches 10th save Jax yielded an unearned run and struck out one batter in one inning Friday. He earned a save in the extra-innings win over Boston.

Impact Jax allowed the automatic runner to score after a pair of groundouts in the 12th inning but had no trouble finishing off the 4-2 victory. It was his second save over his last three appearances after not converting one since Aug. 5. Jhoan Duran threw a scoreless eighth inning while the game was tied 1-1. Jax has converted 10 of 16 save chances while posting an impressive 91:15 K:BB and 2.10 ERA through 68.2 innings this season.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Secures ninth save Jax earned the save in Tuesday's 3-1 win at Cleveland, pitching a scoreless two-thirds of an inning with one strikeout while allowing one hit.

Impact r suffering the loss Monday night, Jax relieved Jhoan Duran with runners on first and second with one out in the ninth. Jax had struggled of late, as he entered this contest with a 6.14 ERA across 7.1 innings this month, so this performance was a welcome sight. Although he has been better than Duran -- pitching to a 2.16 ERA across 66.2 innings compared to Duran's 3.99 ERA across 49.2 innings -- Jax collected his first save since Aug. 5. The 29-year-old has been a stalwart in the Minnesota bullpen, pitching to a 2.08 FIP, 0.91 WHIP and 88:15 K:BB with nine saves and 24 holds this season.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

On mound and in air, Jax family reunites in special 9/11 ceremony This story was excerpted from Do-Hyoung Park’s Twins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regul...

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 • MLB.COM

On land, in the air, it's a family reunion for Twins pitcher Griffin Jax at Target Field As his younger brother and sister-in-law streaked across the sky in fighter jets in memory of 9/11, other relatives packed stands.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Twins' bullpen likely to get extra dose of Jax This story was excerpted from Do-Hyoung Park’s Twins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regul...

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 • MLB.COM

Twins reliever Griffin Jax at his best when throwing his best pitch less often Griffin Jax is throwing his best pitch, his sweepy slider, less than ever, throwing his fastball and changeup more often and bringing back a...

SEPTEMBER 7, 2024 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Twins aren't eager to overextend Griffin Jax in bullpen The righthander has been one of the most effective relievers in the majors this season, but Rocco Baldelli does not want to wear him down.

AUGUST 22, 2024 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Collects eighth save Jax picked up the save in Monday's 3-0 win over the Cubs, pitching a scoreless inning with one strikeout. He allowed one hit.

Impact Jax secured his first save since June 23, working around a Cody Bellinger single to wrap up the Twins' 63rd win of the season. Jhoan Duran worked the eighth inning, retiring the eight and nine hitters before allowing a double to Ian Happ then striking out Michael Busch. Perhaps manager Rocco Baldelli will start using Jax in more save situations amid a tight AL Wild Card race as the 29-year-old has been better than Duran this season, pitching to a 2.01 ERA and 2.11 FIP -- versus Duran's 3.47 ERA and 3.91 FIP -- across 49.1 innings with an 11.9 K/9.

AUGUST 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up save No. 2 Jax pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts against the Tigers on Saturday en route to his second save of the season.

Impact Called upon to protect a one-run lead, Jax was nails, retiring the side in order on 12 pitches. He reached as high as 96.9 mph on his fastball and earned his first save since Opening Day. While Jax appears to be first in line for save chances right now, he doesn't seem to have much of a window with Jhoan Duran (oblique) closing in on a rehab assignment. Duran threw 21 pitches in live batting practice Friday.

APRIL 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Griffin Jax survived then thrived with help from Twins' mental skills coaching Jax credits his team's focus on mental skills coaching with helping him emerge from a particularly rough stretch last season.

MARCH 8, 2024 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Secures fourth save Jax picked up a save against the Athletics on Wednesday by striking out the only batter he faced.

Impact Jhoan Duran worked the seventh inning Wednesday, giving Dallas Keuchel and Jax an opportunity to cover the final two frames. Keuchel pitched a scoreless eighth but put two runners on base in the ninth to bring the winning run to the plate, prompting Jax's entrance. Jax answered the call, striking out rookie phenom Zack Gelof to end the threat and notch his fourth save of the season. Two of those saves have come over his past three outings, but Duran's closer role is secure, so Jax should work primarily as a high-leverage setup option in the playoffs.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Records third save Jax picked up the save in Wednesday's 5-3 win over Cincinnati. He allowed zero hits and one walk while striking out one over a scoreless inning.

Impact Jax issued a leadoff walk to Nick Martini after entering the game with a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth but, but the right-handed reliever was able to retire the next three batters to record his third save of the season and his first since Aug. 24. Jax has allowed just one hit over his last three appearances and now carries a 3.12 ERA in September after holding a 9.00 ERA through all of August.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches second save Jax earned a save over the Rangers on Thursday, allowing one walk and striking out one batter over one inning.

Impact Twins closer Jhoan Duran threw 33 pitches over 1.2 innings in a loss Wednesday, so Jax was summoned Thursday with the team up by two heading into the ninth inning. Jax issued a one-out walk but erased it by inducing a game-ending double-play groundout. The right-hander notched his second save of the campaign, but his other came over two months ago, and he's not expected to see many more opportunities as long as Duran is healthy.

AUGUST 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up first save Jax picked up the save Wednesday against the Brewers, striking out one over one scoreless inning.

Impact Jax entered the game in the ninth inning and went 1-2-3 through the Brewers' lineup to nail down his first save of the season. The right-hander, who'd blown all four of his save opportunities this season coming in, threw a sweeper on seven of his 11 pitches to end the game. He has not allowed a run since May 19 against the Angels, registering 12 strikeouts with no walks over that stretch (9.2 innings).

JUNE 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

After enduring rough patch, Twins reliever Griffin Jax bounces back He entered Sunday’s game in Toronto having thrown eight straight scoreless outings.

JUNE 11, 2023 • TWINCITIES.COM

Continues recent turnaround Jax (3-6) earned the win in Thursday's 7-6 win over the Guardians. He didn't allow a hit or walk while striking out one over a scoreless inning.

Impact Jax struggled with an 8.18 ERA and three blown saves between April 21 to May 19. He's since thrown five scoreless innings in his last five appearances with an 8:0 K:BB ratio, so it looks like he's back to being a reliable setup man.

JUNE 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gleeman: Twins have no one to blame but themselves for bullpen struggles Emilio Pagán and Griffin Jax are struggling, and the Twins' cheaply built bullpen is a weakness again despite Jhoan Duran's brilliance.

MAY 22, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

'Hasn't gone smoothly': Jax's tough stretch continues vs. Angels ANAHEIM -- The Twins have remained steadfast in their confidence in Griffin Jax through an extended stretch of poor luck and struggles -- bu...

MAY 20, 2023 • MLB.COM

Twins lose lead and game to Angels as Griffin Jax falters in relief Reid Detmers held the Twins without a hit until Byron Buxton lined a two-out single in the sixth inning.

MAY 20, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM