Joe Biagini

Joe Biagini

Biagini with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 31
Pitcher
Born: (1990-05-29) May 29, 1990
Redwood City, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 8, 2016, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
(through August 2, 2017)
Win–loss record 7–11
Earned run average 4.21
Strikeouts 135
WHIP 1.31
Teams

Joseph Carlo Biagini (born May 29, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB).

High school and college

Biagini attended The King's Academy in Sunnyvale, California. After graduation, he attended the College of San Mateo and later the University of California, Davis.[1][2] While attending the College of San Mateo in 2010, Biagini underwent Tommy John surgery.[3]

Professional career

Minor leagues

The San Francisco Giants selected Biagini in the 26th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He made his professional debut with the Class-A Augusta GreenJackets in 2012. In nine starts with the team, he pitched to a 0–4 win–loss record, 7.41 earned run average (ERA), and 36 strikeouts in 34 innings.[2] He was demoted to the Short Season-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in June, where he made 14 appearances (12 starts) and pitched to a 2–4 record, 4.27 ERA, and 63 strikeouts in 59 innings.[2] Biagini played the entire 2013 season with the GreenJackets, pitching 96 2⁄3 total innings in 20 starts. He posted a 7–6 record, 5.03 ERA, and 79 strikeouts.[2]

In 2014, Biagini was promoted to the Advanced-A San Jose Giants, and made 23 starts for the team, finishing the year with a 10–9 record, 4.01 ERA, and 103 strikeouts in 128 innings pitched.[2] He would play the entire 2015 season with the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels and threw a career-high 130 1⁄3 innings over 23 appearances (22 starts). Biagini finished the season with a 10–7 win–loss record, 2.42 ERA, and 84 strikeouts.[2] On December 10, 2015, Biagini was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the Rule 5 draft.[4]

Major Leagues

On March 30, 2016, manager John Gibbons announced that Biagini had made the Opening Day roster, and would pitch out of the bullpen.[5] He made his Major League debut on April 8, pitching a perfect 9th inning against the Boston Red Sox, and struck out David Ortiz for his first career strikeout.[6] He earned his first win on May 3, pitching a perfect 10th inning in an eventual 3–1 walk-off victory over the Texas Rangers.[7] On May 19, Biagini earned his first save, pitching the 11th inning in a 3–2 win over the Minnesota Twins.[8] Biagini did not yield a home run until September 3, when Kevin Kiermaier of the Tampa Bay Rays hit a two-run shot in a 7–5 loss for the Blue Jays.[9] Biagini finished his first MLB season with a 4–3 record, 3.06 ERA, and 62 strikeouts in 67 2⁄3 innings pitched.[10]

Biagini began the 2017 season in the Blue Jays' bullpen. With injuries and ineffective performances in Toronto's starting rotation, Biagini made a spot start on May 7 and held Tampa Bay to a single unearned run on two hits in four innings, leading the Blue Jays to a 2–1 victory.[11][12] From May to early July, Biagini made 11 starts filling in for the injured Aaron Sanchez and Francisco Liriano. He was then moved back to the bullpen.[13] On August 4, Biagini was optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.[14]

Personal life

Biagini's father, Rob, played for the San Francisco Giants organization from 1981 to 1982.[15][16]

In November 2016, Biagini was a member of the audience at a taping of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. During the show, Fallon passed Biagini in the audience and attempted to high-five him along with other audience members, but missed Biagini's hand. During the November 18 episode, Fallon stated that he had taken criticism on Twitter for botching the high-five, and brought Biagini out on stage briefly to complete their high-five.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Joe Biagini Bio". ucdavisaggies.com. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Joe Biagini Register Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  3. ↑ Bernal, Terry (April 8, 2014). "Biagini deals in first start for San Jose Giants". smdailyjournal.com. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  4. ↑ Chisholm, Gregor (December 10, 2015). "Blue Jays take Biagini in Rule 5 Draft". MLB.com. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  5. ↑ Davidi, Shi (March 30, 2016). "Roberto Osuna named closer as Blue Jays reveal opening day roster". Sportsnet. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  6. ↑ Nicholson-Smith, Ben (April 9, 2016). "Blue Jays Rule 5 pick Biagini has a dry, different sense of humour". Sportsnet. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  7. ↑ Couto, Melissa (May 3, 2016). "Justin Smoak carries Blue Jays to extra-innings rally". The Canadian Press. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  8. ↑ Bollinger, Rhett; Myers, Dan (May 19, 2016). "Tulo's extra effort vs. Twins ends Toronto's skid". MLB.com. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  9. ↑ Scanlon, Dick (September 3, 2016). "Estrada runs into trouble in 6th, Blue Jays lose 7-5 to Rays". bigstory.ap.org. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Joe Biagini Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  11. ↑ Nicholson-Smith, Ben (May 5, 2017). "Blue Jays dip into bullpen for rotation help by calling on Biagini". Sportsnet. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  12. ↑ Nicholson-Smith, Ben (May 7, 2017). "Joe Biagini shows intriguing potential as a starter". Sportsnet. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  13. ↑ Horrobin, Jordan. "Biagini making smooth transition back to 'pen". MLB.com. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Blue Jays option Joe Biagini to Buffalo, activate Danny Barnes". Sportsnet. August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  15. ↑ Couto, Melissa (May 9, 2016). "Blue Jays’ Joe Biagini excited to pitch in favourite childhood ballpark". theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Rob Biagini Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  17. ↑ Garro, Adrian (November 19, 2016). "Jimmy Fallon invited Joe Biagini back to 'The Tonight Show' to make up a botched high five". MLB.com. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
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