Griffin Jax has been a Godsend to the Minnesota Twins in 2024. From the win streaks to the extended downturns, he has been a steady force in a sometimes-unsteady bullpen. He has done everything that has been asked of him and more.
He has been the most consistent player on the Twins’ roster this season. Because of this, he should be an All-Star.
Jax’s Curious Path to Big League Success
Griffin Jax, the pride of Cedar Creek High School, has taken a less-than-direct route to baseball stardom. After his very successful senior year, he was named the 2013 Gatorade Player of the Year in Colorado and also selected as a Louisville Slugger High School First-Team All-American.
Originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 12th round of the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft, Jax passed up this opportunity to enroll at the United States Air Force Academy. He had a phenomenal final season at the Academy. He was named Mountain West Co-Pitcher of the Year after leading the conference in ERA, innings, complete games, and shutouts.
Amateur Draft and Early Pro Career
In the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft, the Minnesota Twins took Jax in the third round with the 93rd pick overall. At the time, he was the sixth player ever drafted out of the Air Force Academy. That number has now risen to nine. He started his professional career with Rookie-League Elizabethton. In his inaugural season, he pitched four games in relief, striking out eight in eight two-thirds innings.
In 2017, Jax made five starts between Elizabethton and Single-A Cedar Rapids, going 2-2 with 20 strikeouts and seven walks in 31 innings. As part of his lingering commitment to the Air Force Reserves, he was placed on the Military List on July 26 and missed the remainder of the season.
Rise Through the Twins Organization
Jax did not return from Military Leave until June 1 of the following year. Playing the entire season for the Single-A Fort Myers Miracle, he went 3-4 with 66 strikeouts in 87 2/3 innings. He compiled a 3.70 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.
Jax’s promotion to Double-A Pensacola in 2019 made Air Force Academy and professional baseball history again. This time, he became the first and only Air Force Academy graduate to play above Single-A ball. With Pensacola, he was named Southern League Pitcher of the Week twice with Blue Wahoos. He also was selected as a Southern League Midseason All-Star that season.
Jax was promoted to Triple-A Rochester for three starts in early August but returned to Pensacola for two additional starts to end the season. His combined total for the season included a 5-7 record and 94 strikeouts in 127 innings. Following the season, Baseball America named him the best control pitcher in the Twins’ minor league system.
Pandemic Season and Jax Finally Makes the Show
You know the story: the entire 2020 Minor League season was wiped out due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. All Jax could do was participate in the Twins Fall Instructional League that October. He was promoted to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints to start the 2021 season. After five starts for the Saints, the Twins picked up his contract in early June, about the same time the Air Force notified him that he had been promoted to Captain.
Jax was hammered in his Minnesota debut, giving up three runs in one inning of relief work. His first start for the team was also inglorious. In a game on July 3 against Kansas City, he allowed six runs and eight hits over five innings and was handed the loss. He jockeyed back and forth between the Saints and the Twins until he became a part of the Twins rotation at the end of July.
He ended the season 4-5 with the Twins and rang up 65 strikeouts in 82 innings pitched. Lost in this activity was that he was once again a historic trailblazer. When Jax stepped to the mound for the first time as a Twin, he became the first Air Force Academy graduate to ever play in the show.
In the Show to Stay
When Minnesota broke camp the following spring, Jax was disappointed that he was optioned back to the Saints. But his disappointment was fleeting, as he was recalled after one appearance in St. Paul. He replaced the injured Jorge Alcala on the roster and never looked back. He finished the season strong, as he was ranked 14th among all AL relievers in strikeouts with 78. He also led all Twins’ relievers in innings pitched, 72 1/3, and he tied for the most holds with 18.
Jax finally broke camp with the Twins at the start of the 2023 season and remained in their bullpen the entire season. He became the Twins’ setup man for closer Jhoan Duran, and he went on to lead the team in holds with 23. And in four playoff appearances with the team, he pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless ball.
Making the Case for an All-Star Appearance
And Jax has been even better this season. Forced into the closer’s role when Duran started the year on the injured list, he quickly racked up five saves to help bolster the team through their injury-riddled start. His ERA stands at 2.22 and sports an eye-popping WHIP of 0.88. He has recorded 39 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings pitched, and he once again leads the team in holds with 12.
The Twins have struggled to find consistency and an identity all season long. Jax has been one of the team’s bright lights through all of the ups and downs. And because of this and his glittering stats, Griffin Jax deserves to be an All-Star in 2024.
About the Author
Greg Simbeck is an experienced writer, editor, and content manager who covers a variety of sports for Total Apex Sports. He specializes in MLB coverage. Greg has covered various sports for numerous other publications over the years.
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