We never really met you.
- Rating: 2.21
- 2024 stats: 1 G, 1.1 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs (1 homerun), 1 walk, 0 strikeouts.
- Date of birth: March 11, 1995 (29 years old)
- 2024 earnings: $77,599 (via Spotrac)
- 2025 status: Pre-Arb. 1 option remaining. Outrighted to Reno on July 30.
Introduction
Joe Jacques does not need any introduction. I wrote a very interesting article on him (lol) on May 3, when the Diamondbacks had claimed him off waivers and added him to the 40-man roster. As you might expect of an article from me, lots of background information on Joe Jacques was given, so if you like that kind of stuff: read the article.
Born and raised on the opposite bank of New York, in New Jersey, Joe was a good baseball player, but didn’t receive any scholarships. He decided to enrol at Florida State, but then has a change of mind and commits to Manhattan College to pitch. He becomes a side-arm pitcher. A change in the coaching staff and a lat injury hamper his rise, but he has done enough to get some attention from major league teams. He eventually gets picked in the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft in round 33 by the Pittsburgh Pirates, at 23 years of age.
Joe Jacques is your typical LOOGY and he is one of those pitchers that is affected by the 3-batter rule, having troubles against right-handed batters. His minor league career from 2018 to 2023 is up and down performance wise, not helped by long lay-offs in 2020 (COVID) and 2023 (injury).
He switches teams in the 2023 Rule 5 draft: the Red Sox see some potential. He enjoys a fine run in Triple A with a huge groundball rate and is called up to the majors mid June. He sticks around until August and ends the season in the minors.
In 2024 he is called up to the big leagues on April 18, but allows 3 runs to cross home plate and is designated for assignment the following day. The Diamondbacks decide to claim Jacques and immediately option him to Reno.
2024 review
Jacques had a rough start in Reno after getting claimed from waivers. He pitched in just 5 games and gave up 7 runs in 2 of them, before hitting the injured list. Once back, at the end of May, he is added to the major league squad, but doesn’t get any action and is optioned again. He eventually pitches in 10 more games at AAA, before being called up a second time to the Diamondbacks. He was on a good run at that moment, with a 1.35 ERA in 13.1 innings, though helped by a .233 BABIP.
At the moment of his call-up the Diamondbacks were desperately in need of some fresh bullpen arms. Montgomery had just been demolished by the Padres in a 4th of July two-inning outing, forcing Lovullo to deplete his bullpen in 7 long innings. Logan Allen was unavailable after that game and Kyle Nelson still injured, leaving Joe Mantiply as the only available lefty in the bullpen.
The Diamondbacks looked like they would get knocked out of the game early on July 5. Slade Cecconi made one of his final starts of the season, struggled through 4 innings, and gave up 5 runs, leaving the Diamondbacks trailing by 3 despite striking first in the top of the first inning. After 81 pitches in the 5th inning, Cecconi was relieved by Joe Jacques, who would face a lefty. Jacques needed just one pitch to get the final out in the inning, with Jackson Merrill hitting a sinker very hard, but straight at Ketel Marte.
For the 5th inning the first matchup was favourable as well, with old lefty friend David Peralta leading off the inning. Peralta is lucky with a soft groundball hit on a sweeper and reaches first, before being replaced by a pinch runner. Ha-Seong Kim flies out but after that Kyle Higashioka homers on a sinker that comes sailing over the plate. Jacques is clearly a bit off after that, allowing a hard hit to Luis Arraez and then walking Profar on 4 pitches, but he finally achieves that final out when lefty Cronenworth flies out.
With 7-2 the game seems out of reach, but the Diamondbacks incredibly take the lead in the top of the 9th after a 6 run inning, but eventually see Paul Sewald blow his second save of the season when Manny Machado hits a walk-off home run, scoring 3 runs.
A couple of days later Jacques is optioned to Reno. By the end of July he is designated for assignment, because the Diamondbacks make a couple of moves to reinforce their bullpen. His spot on the 40-man roster is taken by A.J. Puk. With the Diamondbacks in pursuit of a play-off spot it seems almost certain that Jacques won’t get a second chance in the majors in 2024 and indeed he ends the season in Reno.
2025 outlook
It seems that Joe Jacques will remain in the organization for now and will serve as major league depth in Reno. Though Jacques’ 4.30 ERA certainly isn’t bad for Reno standards, hitters achieved a .286 batting average against him, lefties even an unhealthy .315. There are some hopeful signs, such as the very high BABIP (.366 overall and .411 against lefties). What stands out most, though, is the sole homerun he gave up in 220 plate appearances, and that one wasn’t even in Reno. That certainly leaves him with some appeal to keep him in the organization. You never know what might blossom.