MLB NewsWire: April 20

Field gravel is seen on an MLB logo. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

World Baseball Network has confined Major League Baseball news from the minors and big league clubs for the fourth weekend of the 2024 regular season.

 

Colorado Rockies Sign RHP Peyton Battenfield To Minor League Contract On April 20 

Battenfield’s MLB player profile stated that he signed a minor league contract with Colorado on April 20. The Rockies have assigned him to their Arizona Complex League.

Battenfield, 26, was born in Tulsa, Okla. and played one season in the majors with the Cleveland Guardians last season.

Battenfield has played four seasons in the minors with the Houston Astros in 2019, the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021, the Cleveland Guardians from 2021-23, and the New York Mets in 2023.

Houston drafted him in the ninth round of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft and signed after his junior season at Oklahoma State University.

He made his big league debut with Cleveland on April 12, 2023, against the New York Yankees.

During spring training with the New York Mets, Battenfield threw two innings in one bullpen appearance and posted a 1-0 record, not allowing an earned run and just one hit before he was released on March 24.

Last season with Cleveland, he posted a 0-5 record, throwing 34.2 innings in seven appearances and six starts with a 5.19 ERA, allowing 34 hits, 20 earned runs, seven home runs, 12 walks, 27 strikeouts, and a 1.327 WHIP.

Battenfield landed on the 15-day injured list on May 19, 2023, with right shoulder inflammation and was later transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 3, 2023, before starting a rehab assignment with Double-A Akron on July 4, 2023.

He started in two games with Double-A Akron, and both outcomes were no decisions. He pitched 7.2 innings with a 1.17 ERA, allowing four hits, one earned run, four walks, and five strikeouts before he was sent to Triple-A Columbus on July 18, 2023.

Battenfield threw 47.2 innings in nine starts with Triple-A Columbus and posted a 0-5 record with a 5.66 ERA. He allowed 45 hits, 30 earned runs, 13 home runs, 21 walks, 24 strikeouts, and a 1.385 WHiP before he was designated for assignment on August 31, 2023.

Battenfield was claimed off waivers by the Mets on September 2, 2023, and optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on the same day. He made two starts for Syracuse and posted a 1-1 record, throwing nine innings with a 6.00 ERA, allowing 10 hits, six earned runs, six walks, and four strikeouts to end the season.

In his four seasons in the minors, Battenfield has thrown 360.1 innings, with a lifetime record of 18-14 and a 3.37 ERA in 76 appearances and 65 starts. He has allowed 286 hits, 135 earned runs, 41 home runs, 122 walks, 319 strikeouts, and a 1.788 WHIP.

 

New York Mets Outright LHP Tyler Jay To Triple-A Syracuse Keeps 40-Man Roster Spot. 

 

Jay, 30, was born in Lemont, Ill., and was designated for assignment and cleared from waivers by the Mets on April 17.

According to his MLB profile, Jay was sent outright to Triple-A Syracuse on April 19.

Anthony DiComo, Mets beat writer for MLB.com, reported on April 19  that Jay cleared waivers, and the Mets outrighted him to Triple-A Syracuse, so he remains in the organization.

The Mets selected his contract on April 10 and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse on April 14. Jay made his Major League Baseball debut on April 11 on the road against the Atlanta Braves.

In his two big league games, Jay has posted a 2.25 ERA, pitching four innings and allowing five hits, one earned run, one walk, and one strikeout.

He has appeared in two games out of the bullpen for Triple-A Syracuse in 2024 and has not allowed an earned run. He has pitched 5.2 innings, allowing five hits and striking out four batters.

During spring training, Jay appeared in four games out of the bullpen and threw five innings, posting a 1-0 record, allowing one walk and striking out seven before being assigned to Syracuse on April 5.

Last season, Jay played with the Joliet Slammers during his second season in the Frontier League and went 4-3 with 20 appearances and seven starts, posting a 4.26 ERA. He pitched 57 innings, allowing 48 hits, 27 earned runs, six home runs, 19 walks, 64 strikeouts, and a 1.175 WHIP before the Mets signed him to a minor league contract on August 29, 2023.

He was assigned to Triple-A Syracuse on August 31, 2023, and came out of the bullpen in six games, posting a 0-1 record with a 6.00 ERA. He pitched six innings, allowing nine hits, four earned runs, one home run, eight strikeouts, and a 1.500 WHIP.

Jay played in seven seasons in the minors with the Minnesota Twins from 2015-19 and the Cincinnati Reds in 2019 and has a lifetime record of 13-14 with a 3.74 ERA in 128 appearances and 19 starts, recording four saves, throwing 247.2 innings, allowing 267 hits, 103 earned runs, 19 home runs, 89 walks, 244 strikeouts, and a 1.437 WHIP.