Jair Jurrjens NEWS

   Full Name: Jair Francoise Jurrjens
   Born: January 29, 1986 in Santa Maria, Curacao
   Height: 6' 1''
   Weight: 200
   Bats: Right
   Throws: Right
   College: N/A
   MLB Debut: August 15, 2007


Biography


Resides in Willemstad, Curacao.

...Played for the Netherlands during the 2006 World Baseball Classic, picking up a loss in his only appearance while allowing three runs in an inning of relief.

...Signed by Greg Smith (Tigers).


2003 Highlights

Made his professional debut with the GCL Tigers as a non-drafted free agent on 5/22.


2004 Highlights

Began the season with the Gulf Coast League Tigers and tied for the GCL lead with two CG.

...Fanned a season-best 11 batters in a win over the GCL Braves on 7/15 (7.0 IP, 1 H).

...Promoted to Single A Oneonta on 7/25.

...Named as 22nd-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America.


2005 Highlights

Tied for fourth in the Midwest League with 12 wins for Single-A West Michigan, while he finished 7th with a 3.41 ERA.

...Earned a spot on the Midwest League's mid-season All-Star Squad.

...Won his first four decisions of the season over a seven-start stretch 4/12-5/15.

...Won his only start during the Midwest League playoffs, fanning seven batters in six shutout innings.

...Named the 16th-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America.


2006 Highlights

Opened the season with Single A Lakeland before earning a promotion to Double A Erie on June 12.

...Finished 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA (31.0IP/6ER) in five starts during April.

...Fanned a season-best 10 batters on May 22 at Palm Beach.

...Posted a 2-0 record and 1.86 ERA (29.0IP/6ER) in five starts during May.

...Compiled a 2.00 ERA (27.0IP/6ER) over his first five starts with Erie June 16-July 10 -- won each of his first three decisions June 22-July 5.

...Sidelined July 21-29 with a neck strain...Posted a 2.61 ERA (31.0IP/9ER) in five starts during August.

...landed on the disabled list on August 26 for the remainder of the season with a right shoulder strain.

...Named the fourth-best prospect in the Tigers organization, 16th-best prospect in the Florida State League and 17th-best prospect in the Eastern League following the season by Baseball America.

...Rated as possessing the best control in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America.


2007 Highlights

Matched last season's victory total of 10 with an up-and-down season. Started 19 games with Double-A Erie before joining the Tigers after having contract purchased on 8/15 -- became the first pitcher from his native Curacao to reach the Major Leagues. Named by Baseball America as the Braves' third-best prospect following the season. Selected to the Eastern League's mid-season All-Star squad. Second in the Eastern League and fifth among Tigers minor leaguers with a 3.20 ERA. Posted a 1-1 record and 2.73 ERA (33.0 IP/10 ER) over a five-start stretch 5/3-25. Sidelined 5/31-6/15 with a right groin strain. Compiled a 5-2 record and 2.33 ERA (46.1 IP/12 ER) over his final seven starts with Erie 6/27-8/7 -- won each of his last three starts with the SeaWolves 7/26-8/7, posting a 0.78 ERA (23.0 IP2 ER) and 24 K. Fanned a season-best 10 batters on 7/26 vs. Harrisburg. Selected the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for 7/30-8/5 after firing a three-hit shutout on 8/1 at New Britain -- fanned 10 batters in the win to match a season high. Tied for the league lead with the one shutout. Made his major league debut on 8/15 at CLE and got the loss after allowing four runs in seven innings. Earned his first major league win on 8/21 vs. CLE after limiting the Indians to one run on one hit in 6.2 innings of work. Won three straight decisions over a four-start stretch 8/21-9/16. Forced to the disabled list on 8/27 with right shoulder inflammation after he left his start on 8/26 vs. NYY in the second inning. Reinstated from the disabled list on 9/11. Fanned a career-high six batters in a win at MIN on 9/16. Held right-handed batters to a .167 batting average (8-for-48) with the Tigers.

...lefties at the major league level batted .262 (16-for-61). Named the sixth-best prospect in the Eastern League following the season by Baseball America.


2008 Highlights

Pitched his first full season in the majors after coming to the Braves from Detroit and showed up as a veteran presence despite being just 22 years old.

...Led the Braves in wins (13), starts (31), innings pitched (188.1) and strikeouts (139).

...Finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting, trailing CHI's G. Soto and CIN's J. Votto.

...He ranked first among all rookie qualifying starters with a 3.68 ERA and is tied for first among all rookies with 13 wins. He was second with 138 Ks and third with 181.1 IP.

...His 11 home runs allowed were the fewest allowed among all rookies with at least 25 starts and his 0.53 home runs allowed per 9.0 IP was fifth-lowest in the majors and tops among all qualifying rookie starters.

...Was named the National League's June Rookie of the Month after going 3-0 with a 1.63 ERA in four starts and tying for the NL rookie lead in wins. He allowed just one home run in 27.2 IP and became the first Brave to win the award since its inception in 2001.

...He was the only MLB pitcher to start at least three interleague games without allowing an earned run (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 starts, 19.0 IP).

...Went 7-5 with a 4.05 in 16 starts at Turner Field and 6-5 with a 3.32 ERA in 15 road starts.

...Before the All-Star break: 9-4, 3.00 ERA; after the All-Star break: 4-6, 4.66 ERA.

...Picked up his 10th loss of the year on 9/17 vs. PHI (6-1). He went 5.0 IP, allowing four runs on five hits and walking five. JJ allowed all four runs in the first and then shut down the Phillies for four scoreless frames.

...In Jurrjens' 10 losses this season, the Braves offense scored a total of 15 runs, an average of 1.5 runs per game.

...Won his rookie-leading 13th game of the season with his first-career 10 strikeout performance in Atlanta's 8-4 win over Colorado on 9/11.

...Snapped his four-game home losing streak and earned his 12th win in the Braves' 10-5 victory on 9/5 vs. WSH (5.0 IP/1 ER).

...Posted his 16th quality start, but earned a ND in the Braves' 8-4 defeat at WSH on 8/31. Jurrjens, who allowed three earned runs on five hits, left with a 4-3 lead after the sixth inning, but the bullpen failed to hold the lead, allowing five runs in the eighth.

...Went a season-low 3.0 IP and allowed a season-high tying 6 ER on 8/26 vs. FLA, but the Braves rallied for two runs in the eighth inning and four in the ninth to pull out a 10-9 win.

...Took a 5-1 loss on 8/15 vs. SF, despite striking out a then career-high nine and recording his fifth straight QS. Allowed two runs on eight hits in 7.0 IP and did not issue a BB for just the 2nd time in his career.

...Made quite possibly the best start of his young career with 8.0 shutout IP in ATL's 8-2 win at PHI on 7/25. Scattered three hits & the only baserunner to reach 2B was S. Victorino, who stole second in first and sixth innings.

...With his win on 7/8 at LAD (1 R, 5 H, 6 IP), improved to 9-4 on the year and tied the Braves' 71-year-old record for wins before the All-Star break by a rookie, a mark originally set by Boston's Lou Fette in 1937.

...Was outdueled by C. Hamels in a 4-1 loss to PHI on 7/3, going 7.0 IP and allowing four runs. He allowed a career-high three solo HR. Had his 22.1 IP streak without an ER snapped on C. Utley's first-inning HR.

...Did not allow an earned run in three starts from 6/16-6/27, spanning 21.2 innings. It marked the first time in his career he had more than one consecutive start without allowing an earned run. According to Elias, only one other rookie pitcher in Braves' history - including Boston and Milwaukee - had done that: Dana Fillingim in 1918.

...Earned the win against the Rockies with 7.2 scoreless IP in the makeup game at COL on 6/16. According to Elias, he became just the third rookie to shut out the Rockies through seven innings at Coors Field, joining FLA's Ricky Nolasco in 2006 and PHI's Matt Beech in 1997.

...Missed his start on 6/11 at CHI after falling down stairs leading from the clubhouse following the game on 6/10 at CHI.

...Fell an out shy of qualifying for the win on 5/26 vs. ARI's B. Webb. Held a 5-3 lead in the fifth, but came out with a runner on and two outs.

...Won back-to-back starts with a 6-3 victory at NYM on 4/25. Jair collected his first ML hit with a single off Mike Pelfrey in the 6th inning.

...Earned his first win with the Braves on 4/2 vs. PIT, going 5.1 IP and allowing two runs on seven hits with a walk and five Ks.


2009 Highlights

Finished the season with a career-high four-game winning streak (also: 5/21-6/27/08) dating back to 9/11 at STL. During the streak, he posted a "quality start" in each of his five starts, pitched at a 0.97 ERA (4 ER/37.0 IP), and held opponents to a .194 avg.

...Was voted NL Pitcher of the Month for September, when he posted a 4-1 record with a 1.25 ERA. In 36.0 IP, he struckout 21 batters and only walked 11.

...Ranked third in the National League in ERA (2.60).

...Allowed two or fewer earned runs in 26 of his 34 starts (77%).

...Became only the sixth active pitcher to record 13-or-more wins in both his rookie and sophomore seasons...Limited batters to a .192 average with RISP.

...During his four wins in September, posted a 0.62 ERA and held opponents to a .210 batting average.

...His four September wins tied for the NL lead, and his ERA was T2nd in the Majors (min. 25.0 IP).

...During his four-game losing streak from 6/5-26, he received just five runs of support, which was the second-lowest total of any pitcher (min. 25.0 IP) during the month of June.

...His .187 opponents' batting average (min. 30.0 IP) in July ranked fourth in the Majors (2nd in the NL) and his four July wins were tied for the fourth-most during the month. Also, pitched to a 2.09 ERA in July.


2010 Highlights

Was placed on the disabled list on 4/30 with a strained left hamstring.

...Prior to landing on the DL, went 0-3 with a 6.38 ERA in five starts.

...Made three rehabilitation starts with Triple-A Gwinnett, where he went 1-1 with a 5.54 ERA (13.0 IP, 20 H, 8 ER, 2 HR, 6 BB, 9 K).

...Went 7-3 with a 4.19 ERA in 15 starts after being activated from the 15-day DL on 6/30.

...Matched his career-best four-game winning streak 8/5-9/4.

...His eight strikeouts on 8/30 vs. NYM and seven strikeouts on 9/4 at FLA marked the first time in his career he had fanned seven or more batters in back-to-back outings.

...Was scratched from 9/20's scheduled start due to a right knee injury that he suffered in the bullpen on 9/17 at New York. The injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year.


2011 Highlights

In his fifth Major League season and ninth professional campaign, went 13-6 with a 2.96 ERA in an injury-shortened season that saw him make only 23 starts.

...Opened the season on the disabled list with a strained right oblique. He was placed on the DL on 4/3 (retroactive to 3/25) and missed 15 team games. His first start of 2011 came 4/16 vs. NYM when he tossed 7.0 shutout innings allowing just two hits in the 4-0 victory.

...Was placed on the DL for a second time on 8/6 (retroactive to 8/2) with a right knee strain. Prior to landing on the DL, went 0-3 with a 6.38 ERA in five starts.

...His last start of the season came on 8/30. He missed the entire month of September with a right knee strain.

...Was selected to his first All-Star game after finishing the first half of the season with a National-League leading 12 wins and the second-lowest ERA (1.87).

...At the time of his second disabled list stint, ranked eighth in the National League with a 2.71 ERA and his 2.50 nighttime ERA ranked seventh in the majors (third in the National League).

...Went at least 6.0 innings in 18 of his 22 starts, nine of which were at least 7.0 innings.

...In games in which he pitched at least 7.0 innings (nine starts), went a perfect 8-0 with a 1.29 ERA while the team went 9-0.

...Posted a four-game winning streak 6/19-7/6. During the seven-start span, Jurrjens pitched at a 2.84 ERA while the team went 7-0.

...In his start on 7/22 at CIN, he allowed back-to-back homers to Fred Lewis and Drew Stubbs marking the first time this season a Braves hurler had given up a home run to consecutive batters. For Jurrjens, it was just the second time in his career he'd allowed back-to-back homers, with his other offense also taking place at Great American Ball Park, May 31, 2008.

...With his 11th win on 7/1 Jurrjens became the first pitcher to claim 11 victories in 15 or fewer starts since Tom Glavine earned his 11th win in his 15th start in 2002.

...Made his 15th start of the season on 7/1 and claimed his 11th win while lowering his ERA to 1.89. Since the National League started compiling ERA in 1912, only one other Braves pitcher had 11 wins and a sub-2.00 ERA over his first 15 starts of a season. In 2002, Tom Glavine recorded 11 wins and a 1.53 ERA over his first 15 starts of the season (courtesy Elias Sports Bureau).

...Started the season with 11 "quality starts", the longest such streak by a Braves starting pitcher since Greg Maddux posted 16 in a row to start the 1994 campaign.

...Voted the National League Pitcher of the Month for the month of May. In six May starts, Jurrjens went 5-1 and was tied for the Major-League-lead in wins, his 43.2 innings pitched were the second-most in the NL, while his 1.65 ERA was the second-lowest among NL starters. The award was Jurrjen's second career monthly honor after being voted NL Pitcher of the Month for September 2009.

...His season ERA through his first 11 starts was 1.82. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only four Braves pitchers (six times) have had a lower ERA over their first 11 starts since the Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966: Phil Niekro in 1967 (1.52), Buzz Capra in 1974 (1.19), Greg Maddux in 1994 (1.47), 1997 (1.57) and in 1995 (1.77) and Tom Glavine in 2002 (1.67).

...Made his ninth start of the season on 5/29 vs. CIN and claimed his seventh win while lowering his season ERA to 1.51. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only three other pitchers in Major League history have started a season with nine consecutive games of 6+ IP while allowing two-or-fewer earned runs in each game: Lefty Gomez in 1937, Randy Johnson in 2000 and Ubaldo Jimenez (12 games) in 2010.

...Did not allow more than two earned runs in any of his first nine starts this year, posting a 1.51 ERA (11 ER/65.2 IP) along the way.

...Became the first Braves starting pitcher to begin the season 5-0 with a sub-2.00 ERA since Tom Glavine began the 2000 campaign 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA.

...Since the Braves left Boston after the 1952 season, only two other Braves pitchers won at least five of their first six starts in a season, while allowing eight-or-fewer earned runs -- John Smoltz in 1999 and Pascual Perez in 1983. Both Smoltz and Perez were 5-0 with eight earned runs allowed through six starts.


2012 Highlights

Spent the season between Atlanta (11G/10GS) and AAA Gwinnett (14GS).

... Opened the season with Atlanta and went 0-2 with a 9.37 ERA before being optioned to Gwinnett, 4/23.

... Recalled from Gwinnett to make a start on 6/22 @BOS (W, 7.2IP, 3H, ER, BB, 4 K).

... Posted three-game win streak, 6/22-7/8, for the first time since winning four straight decisions, 6/19-7/6/11.

... Placed on 15-day DL (groin), 8/1.

... Went 3-4 with a 5.18 ERA in 10 GS for Gwinnett, allowing 68H, 39R/33ER and 14BB, while recording 30K in 57.1IP.

... Recorded three consecutive Quality Starts, including back-to-back wins, in his first three starts with Gwinnett, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.05 ERA.

... Posted a 2-0 record with a 1.17 ERA (23.0IP, 3ER) in three day starts.

... Tossed a 7.0-inning CG, 5/11 vs. Toledo, allowing two runs on eight hits.

03/28/2008 1:19 PM ET
Jurrjens keeps celebration on hold
Hurler waits until Braves make decision official
MLBPLAYERS.com

Jair Jurrjens doesn't want to get too far ahead of himself.

The young starter said earlier in camp that he wouldn't believe he made the Braves until someone told him in person. And even when the club's game notes listed him as the starting pitcher in the third game of the season, Jurrjens still refused to celebrate.

"I suppose that means I made the team," Jurrjens told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I'm still not going to believe it 'til I fly to Washington [for the season opener Sunday]. I'm not telling anyone. I'm still waiting."

Jurrjens reasoned that no one gave him official word and that plenty can still happen between now and the opener.

"That [plan] could change. You always have to be prepared," Jurrjens said.

Ex-Tiger Jurrjens keeps his promise

ROCKFORD -- He was born in Curacao, a small Caribbean island. He grew up there, playing baseball and learning to speak four languages. He did not see snow -- or own a jacket -- until he was 19.

Yet, Michigan is something of a second home to Jair Jurrjens. The Tigers signed him when he was 17. He had a breakthrough year with Class A West Michigan in 2005. He debuted with the Tigers in 2007.

The Tigers traded Jurrjens to the Atlanta Braves in October 2007. Jurrjens had a standout 2008 season, leading National League rookies with 13 wins and compiling a 3.68 ERA.

Tigers fans wish he could return. Last weekend, he did, but not in uniform.

Jurrjens came to keep a promise he made to Carmen and David Cox, the Rockford couple who served as his host family while he played for the Whitecaps. Even though he's no longer with the organization and he spends his off-season in Florida and Curacao, Jurrjens vowed to return.

He flew in two Fridays ago, returned to Tampa last Sunday, and did a lot of reminiscing in between. He visited Fifth Third Ballpark, where he pitched as a little-known teenager. He looked at the field, walked into the clubhouse and reflected on how far baseball had taken him.

"It brought a lot of good feelings," Jurrjens said from the Cox home. "I imagined all the fans and how much fun it was to play in Michigan.

"A lot of baseball people don't remember where they came from -- especially what they went through to get to the big leagues. That's the moment you need to appreciate, now that everything is so nice. If you think about where you came from, it's going to make you work harder and stay up in the big leagues."

For some time, the Coxes had planned to invite fellow Whitecaps host families to their home for a party two Saturdays ago. It was only later that Jurrjens chose that particular weekend for his visit.

Suddenly, attendance spiked. A budding star was on his way to the neighborhood.

"When I found out JJ was coming," Carmen Cox said, "my party went from 12 to 35 people."

Jurrjens, a 22-year-old right-hander, could have a long, successful career in the majors. He proved his reliability this year, leading the team -- and establishing personal bests -- in starts (31), innings (188 1/3 ) and wins.

He avoided the disabled list, something he was unable to do during his final two seasons in the Tigers organization. He asked veteran pitchers Tim Hudson and John Smoltz for advice on how to keep his shoulder strong late in the season. The line from his final start -- seven innings, two earned runs against the World Series-bound Phillies -- showed that he was a good student.

Braves television broadcaster Joe Simpson said Jurrjens has become a favorite among Atlanta fans because of his engaging smile, pleasant demeanor and competitiveness.

"To simplify it: He gets it," Simpson said in a telephone interview. "Even at that age, he knows what he has to do to prepare to win and be part of a team."

During this past season, it was easy for Tigers fans to lament that Jurrjens was not there to help rescue a beleaguered rotation. He and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez had been traded to Atlanta for shortstop Edgar Renteria -- a deal team officials believed would solidify their championship-caliber lineup. Instead, Renteria was a disappointment on offense and defense.

"No question, it was a miscalculation," president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said at the end of the season. "I wish I had Jurrjens back, but you have to give something up to do things. We knew we were giving up a good player."

Jurrjens bears no grudge against the Tigers. ("If Renteria had a good year, nobody would have said it was a bad trade," he said.) He understands that his shoulder tendinitis in 2007 and two poor starts to end the season might have contributed to the trade.

He kept track of his former team this season, particularly after so many of his minor league teammates were promoted to the major leagues.

"A lot of people think if you have a team of superstars, it's going to bring you to the playoffs," Jurrjens said, when asked about the Tigers' dismal season. "Teams who go to the playoffs are teams who can play together. When you have a lot of superstars, they have a lot of egos.

"When I came up, the team was so united. Everybody was getting along with each other. I can't remember who I was talking to, but they say it's not the same thing (as) when I came up. I didn't ask who -- they just say it wasn't the same environment.

"I think everybody was trying to press so much -- be the leader, be the superstar."

Jurrjens is among 12 prospects who have reached the majors since playing at Double-A Erie in 2007. He has had the most success of any player in the group.

Perhaps because of his experience in Erie, Jurrjens believes that it's best to promote a group of players from within, rather than trade prospects for veterans.

"Definitely," he said. "They know each other. They know the character. They know how to get along with each other. They know how to play together -- that's most important.

"Being a pitcher, the infielder knows what your pitches do. They can help by moving to the right, moving to the left. That can help saving a hit or a run."

Carmen Cox has noticed a "night and day" difference in Jurrjens since first meeting him.

When he was pitching for the Whitecaps, Cox said, "his emotional maturity wasn't quite there." Now, she sees his composure and professionalism on the mound.

"I think he is living in a dream, and, because of that, he doesn't want to do anything to leave a legacy that is anything other than a positive one," Cox said. "He's worked so hard to get here that I don't think he's taking any of that for granted."

As long as Jurrjens continues to pitch well, the Tigers will have no choice but to be reminded of him. If it is any comfort, Jurrjens is not about to forget the people he met in Michigan, either.

"This is a place," he said, "that's going to be in my memory."

Contact JON PAUL MOROSI at 313-223-4097 or jmorosi@freepress.com. Check out his Tigers blog at www.freep.com/sports.

Jurrjens back with Tigers on Minors deal

By Joey Nowak / MLB.com | 7/24/2013 11:21 P.M. ET

CHICAGO -- Jair Jurrjens is back in the Tigers organization.

The right-hander, who last pitched for the Orioles this season, was signed to a Triple-A contract on Wednesday and will report to Toledo on Friday.

Jurrjens, 27, made his Major League debut with the Tigers in 2007, when he went 3-1 with a 4.70 ERA in seven games (all starts).

"He kind of came on the scene pretty good," manager Jim Leyland said. "Pretty calm, pretty collected, made a good impression. Evidently, he's had a lot of health issues since we've had him."

Jurrjens was traded to the Braves, along with Gorkys Hernandez, in October 2007 for Edgar Renteria. Jurrjens spent five seasons with the Braves, with whom he went 50-36 with a 3.58 ERA. He had double-digit win totals in 2008, '09 and '11 and an ERA under 3.00 in two of those seasons.

In 2010, he had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee for a torn meniscus, and the same knee bothered him again in 2011 after beginning the season on the disabled list.

Jurrjens was signed as a Minor League free agent by the Orioles in February to compete for a rotation spot, but he pitched in just two games for Baltimore, allowing four earned runs in 7 1/3 innings. In 16 starts for Baltimore's Triple-A Norfolk club, he went 6-6 with a 4.18 ERA. Jurrjens was designated for assignment on July 12 and granted free agency last Thursday.

He joins former Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman in Toledo. Both pitched in the Tigers rotation in 2007. Bonderman signed as a Minor League free agent on July 14 after being designated for assignment by the Mariners.

Joey Nowak is a reporter for MLB.com.Follow him on Twitter at @joeynowak. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.