Griffin Jax

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105+1⁄3 innings. [5] He was named the Mountain West Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year alongside Jimmy Lambert. [6]

Professional career

Minnesota Twins

After his junior year, Jax was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the third round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. [7] He signed for $645,000 and made his professional debut with the Elizabethton Twins of the Rookie-level Appalachian League, pitching 8+2⁄3 innings. [8] [9] In 2017, he pitched in only five games before he was required to report Cape Canaveral, Florida for active duty. [10] [11] [12] In those five starts, he went 2–2 with a 2.61 ERA between Elizabethton and the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Single-A Midwest League. [13] In 2018, he was granted membership into the United States military's World Class Athlete Program, allowing him to make Olympic training his full-time responsibility (which counts towards his five years of required active duty) which in turn allowed him to play in the minor leagues full-time. [14] [15] During the season, he pitched for the Fort Myers Miracle of the High-A Florida State League, going 3–4 with a 3.70 ERA in 15 games (14 starts). [16] [15] [17] After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League. [18]

Jax began 2019 with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos of the Double-A Southern League with whom he was named an All-Star. [19] [20] While with Pensacola, he missed nearly three weeks due to fatigue. [21] In August, Jax was promoted to the Rochester Red Wings of the Triple-A International League, with whom he finished the season. [22] Over 23 starts between the two clubs, Jax pitched to a 5–7 record with a 2.90 ERA, striking out 94 over 127+1⁄3 innings. [23] Jax did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. [24] To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to the St. Paul Saints of the Triple-A East. [25]

On June 5, 2021, Jax was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. [26] Jax made his MLB debut three days later on June 8 in relief at home against the New York Yankees, becoming the first Air Force Academy graduate in MLB history (he is still a captain in the Air Force Reserve). [27] He pitched one inning, giving up three earned runs on two home runs while also registering his first strikeout versus Tyler Wade. [28] Jax finished the 2021 season with a 6.37 ERA over fourteen starts and four relief appearances. [29]

Jax became a full-time relief pitcher for the Twins in 2022. In 65 appearances out of the bullpen, he compiled a 7-4 record and 3.36 ERA with 78 strikeouts across 72+1⁄3 innings pitched. [30] Jax made 71 relief outings for the Twins during the 2023 season, registering a 6-10 record and 3.86 ERA with 68 strikeouts across 65+1⁄3 innings of work. [31]

Jax had a career year in 2024, when he set career-highs with 10 saves, 95 strikeouts, a 2.03 ERA, and a 0.87 WHIP across 72 appearances. [32] He pitched in 50 games for the Twins in 2025, logging a 1-5 record and 4.50 ERA with 72 strikeouts over 46 innings of work. [33]

Tampa Bay Rays

On July 31, 2025, the Twins traded Jax to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Taj Bradley. [34]

Personal life

Jax's father, Garth Jax played for 10 seasons in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals in the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. [35]

Jax is currently pursuing a graduate degree in business administration from Colorado State University. [36]

Jax and his wife, Savannah, married in January 2021 in Gilbert, Arizona. [37] Savannah holds the rank of captain in the Air Force. [38] In March 2023, the couple had their first child, a daughter. [39]

References

  1. ↑ Ryan Casey (May 28, 2013). "Griffin Jax of Cherry Creek earns Colorado's Gatorade honor for baseball". Blogs.denverpost.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Baseball: Cherry Creek's Griffin Jax named Colorado Gatorade Baseball POY | USA TODAY High School Sports". Usatodayhss.com. May 28, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  3. ↑ Yunt, Jon E. "Philadelphia Phillies draft Rye H.S. star Denton Keys in 11th round – The Denver Post". Denverpost.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Northwoods League Alumni in Major League Baseball" (PDF). northwoodsleague.com.
  5. ↑ Bollinger, Rhett (June 10, 2016). "Twins' Griffin Jax hoping to make MLB history". MLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Mountain West Names 2016 All-Conference Baseball Team – Mountain West Conference". Themw.com. May 25, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  7. ↑ Bollinger, Rhett (June 10, 2016). "Twins draft Griffin Jax, Thomas Hackimer". MLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  8. ↑ Wiley, Matt (June 14, 2016). "Air Force junior pitcher Griffin Jax signs with Twins, military future remains unclear | Sports Coverage". gazette.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Minnesota prospect Griffin Jax wears two uniforms – Twins and Air Force". GlobalSport Matters. November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  10. ↑ Wiley, Matt (July 11, 2017). "Air Force grad Griffin Jax pitching in Single-A with firm deadline to report for active duty | Sports Coverage". gazette.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  11. ↑ Wiley, Matt (March 14, 2018). "Former Air Force pitcher Griffin Jax balancing professional baseball with responsibilities on active duty | Sports Coverage". gazette.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Griffin Jax heads to Air Force after fine pitching performance in C.R. Kernels' 12–4 win over Lansing". The Gazette. July 22, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  13. ↑ David Dorsey (July 3, 2018). "Oh say can he pitch: Griffin Jax of Air Force Academy rises as Minnesota Twins prospect". Wlna-webservice.gannettdigital.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  14. ↑ Wiley, Matt (May 2, 2018). "Air Force graduate Griffin Jax can resume pro baseball career after acceptance into World Class Athlete Program | Sports Coverage". gazette.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  15. 1 2 "Minnesota Twins' Griffin Jax uses World Class Athlete Program to compete". Cronkitenews.azpbs.org. November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Under-the-radar prospects for 2019". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  17. ↑ "4th of July: Jax juggles Air Force duties with playing pro baseball". News-press.com. July 3, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Griffin Jax brings patriotism with his pitching in Arizona Fall League". Azcentral.com. November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  19. ↑ Wiley, Matt (April 8, 2019). "Air Force graduate Griffin Jax tosses 4 2/3 shutout innings in Double-A debut | Sports Coverage". gazette.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  20. ↑ Davis Allen. "Six Blue Wahoos Named To Southern League South Division All-Star Team – ESPN Pensacola". Espnpensacola.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Jax looking good for Blue Wahoos | Wind Surge". Milb.com. June 25, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  22. ↑ Wiley, Matt (August 7, 2019). "Air Force graduate Griffin Jax promoted to Triple-A in Minnesota Twins organization, placing him one call from major leagues | Sports Coverage". gazette.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  23. ↑ Park, Do-Hyoung (February 11, 2021). "Griffin Jax close to Majors after Air Force journey". MLB.com. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  24. ↑ Adler, David (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  25. ↑ Shipley, John (May 1, 2021). "Twins solidify St. Paul Saints' first Triple-A roster". Twin Cities. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  26. ↑ Polishuk, Mark (June 5, 2021). "Twins Designate Juan Minaya, Select Griffin Jax". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  27. ↑ Mata, Danny (June 6, 2021). "Griffin Jax becomes first Air Force player in MLB". KRDO. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  28. ↑ Nelson, Joe (June 9, 2021). "Same old story as Twins fold with Yankees in town". Bring Me The News. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Griffin Jax 2021 pitching Stats Per Game". espn.com. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Griffin Jax 2022 pitching Stats Per Game". espn.com. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Griffin Jax 2023 pitching Stats Per Game". espn.com. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Griffin Jax 2024 pitching Stats Per Game". espn.com. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Griffin Jax 2025 pitching Stats Per Game". espn.com. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  34. ↑ Berry, Adam (July 31, 2025). "Rays acquire reliever Jax in deal for Bradley, pick up Houser from White Sox". MLB.com. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Second Lieutenant Griffin Jax Takes Mound For Wahoos | Blue Wahoos". Milb.com. April 13, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  36. ↑ Briggeman, Brent (May 26, 2020). "Air Force grad Griffin Jax riding out coronavirus in Colorado, staying in shape for Minnesota Twins". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Savannah Banyai and Griffin Jax's Wedding Website".
  38. ↑ Park, Do-Hyoung (June 5, 2021). "Griffin Jax called up by Twins". MLB.com. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Jax Family Baby Registry". Babylist. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
Griffin Jax
Griffin Jax.jpg
Jax in 2018 with the Fort Myers Miracle
Tampa Bay Rays – No. 22
Pitcher
Born: (1994-11-22) November 22, 1994 (age 31)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 8, 2021, for the Minnesota Twins