Jason Tyner

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Jason Tyner
Minnesota Twins — No. 12
Outfielder
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Major League Baseball debut
June 5, 2000 for the New York Mets
Selected MLB statistics
(through August 2005)
Batting Average     .270
Hits     265
Stolen Bases     50
Teams

    Jason Renyt Tyner (born April 23, 1977, Beaumont, Texas) is a Major League Baseball outfielder who plays for the Minnesota Twins. Tyner stands at 6'1" tall and weights 175 pounds. He bats and throws left-handed.

    Tyner was the New York Mets' first round draft pick, and twenty-first overall pick in the June 1998 free agent draft. The outfielder rose quickly through the Mets' minor league system, making his major league debut June 5, 2000. His stint in New York ended quickly though, as he was dealt to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays along with pitcher Paul Wilson for pitcher Rick White and outfielder Bubba Trammell (July 28, 2000).

    2001 saw the light hitting Devil Ray outfielder establish himself as menace on the basepaths, collecting a then club record and personal career best, 31 stolen bases. His bat, however, was not nearly quick as his feet. Tyner hit .280 with 111 hits, only 13 of which went for extra bases. These numbers along with 105 games, 396 at-bats and 21 RBI's are all career highs.

    In a crowded Tampa Bay outfield, Tyner's lack of power and lack of plate discipline cost him playing time in 2002 and cost him a job in the majors for 2003. December 8, 2003 he was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers. The Rangers released him in April 2004 and he signed with the Atlanta Braves as free agent. The Braves too released him in July 2004 but he again found a home, this time with the Cleveland Indians. Tyner failed to make the majors with either Texas, Atlanta or Cleveland. He resurfaced with Minnesota in late 2004.

    After a solid 2005 season with the Twins AAA affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings, Tyner made it back to the big leagues as a September call-up collecting 18 hits in 56 at-bats. He signed another minor league deal with Minnesota on October 14.

    Tyner returned to the Twins during the summer of 2006, as a replacement to injured All-Star center fielder Torii Hunter. His scrappy play, swift speed, and small ball mentality fit well with much of Twins mantra.

    Tyner is one of four current Twins players known for their scrappy play, speed and small ball mentality. Nicknamed "The Piranhas" by Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, the Twins have come to embrace the term. The other "Piranhas" are Jason Bartlett, Luis Castillo, and Nick Punto.

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    [edit] College & High School Years

    Before making the big leagues, Tyner was a standout outfielder at baseball powerhouse Texas A&M. The former Aggie holds the school record for stolen bases and hits. Making the feat even more remarkable was he set the records in only three seasons. He was also named Big 12 Player of the Year with current Colorado Rockies pitcher Jason Jennings in 1998, and was also second-team All-American that year as well.

    He graduated West Brook (TX) High School in 1995 and was named Texas High School Athlete of the Year. He also made the United States National Team in 1997.

    [edit] The Home Run Drought

    Tyner holds one more record he'd rather not have. The outfielder had a severe home run drought, a "home run-less" streak that dated back to Little League. Throughout 2,631 high school, college, minor and major league at-bats, Tyner went without a roundtripper until a dinger in a minor league game in Richmond back in 2004. At the major league level, his streak continues with 1052 at-bats without a home run.

    [edit] The Tyner Shift

    Because of his seeming lack of ability to hit for power while with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, opposing teams would often stack the right side of the field with position players to make sure that Tyner was a sure out. This defensive maneuver was first called the "Tyner Shift" by ESPN.com columnist Bill Simmons. As he wrote during a game in 2002, "The Sox had the Tyner Shift going there -- all nine defensive players were standing between the first base side and the on-deck circle." [1]

    [edit] Trivia and Other Facts

    His middle name Renyt is his last name spelled backwards.

    In 1997, tied the National Team record for hits in a game with 5.

    He hit a single in his first major league at-bat, off then Baltimore Orioles starter Mike Mussina.

    For a short time, Major League Baseball's website had Tyner's official position listed as pinch runner. A rare distinction.

    He operates the Southeast Texas Baseball Academy with former Pittsburgh Pirates minor leaguer Morgan Walker. The academy runs baseball programs for 8-12 year olds.

    Tyner awards $1,000 scholarships to southeast Texas scholar-athletes under the Juliet Tyner Memorial Scholarship Foundation. The foundation was created in honor of his mother who died from breast cancer in 1998.

    [edit] References

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