Jordan Balazovic

Jordan Balazovic (born September 17, 1998) is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Jordan Balazovic
Balazovic with the St. Paul Saints in 2022
Minnesota Twins – No. 81
Pitcher
Born: (1998-09-17) September 17, 1998
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 18, 2023, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record1–0
Earned run average4.44
Strikeouts17
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Canada
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place2019 LimaTeam

Career

Balazovic attended St. Martin Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft[1] and he signed, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at Auburn University.[2]

Balazovic spent his first two professional seasons in 2016 and 2017 with the Gulf Coast Twins, posting a 1.97 ERA and a 4.91 ERA, respectively. He spent 2018 with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, going 7–3 with a 3.94 ERA in 12 games (11 starts),[3] and returned there to begin 2019 before being promoted to the Fort Myers Miracle.[4][5] In July, he represented the Twins in the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.[6] Over 19 games (18 starts) with Cedar Rapids and Fort Myers, he pitched to an 8–5 record and a 2.69 ERA, striking out 129 over 93+2⁄3 innings. In July and August he played for team Canada in the 2019 Pan American Games.[7]

Balazovic did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] The Twins added Balazovic to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.[9]

Balazovic spent the 2021 season with the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge, recording a 5–4 record and 3.62 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 97.0 innings pitched across 20 starts. He pitched in 22 games (21 starts) for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints in 2022, but struggled to an 0–7 record and 7.39 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 70.2 innings pitched.

On February 11, 2023, Balazovic suffered a broken jaw after being struck twice by a stranger and had his jaw wired shut.[10] On March 3, Balazovic was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul to begin the season.[11] He made 14 appearances, mainly working out of the bullpen,[12] and logged a 4.79 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 35+2⁄3 innings of work. On June 18, Balazovic was promoted to the major leagues for the first time after Jorge Lopez was placed on the injured list.[13] In the major leagues, Balazovic recorded a 1–0 record and a 4.44 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 24.1 innings pitched over 18 games.

References
  1. Colpitts, Iain (June 10, 2016). "Mississauga pitcher Jordan Balazovic drafted by Minnesota Twins". Mississauga.com. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  2. tigerterrace (June 11, 2016). "Auburn recruits that were drafted". 247sports.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  3. "Balazovic carving path into Twins' Future". MiLB.com. July 7, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  4. "Canadian pitcher Jordan Balazovic continues progression with Cedar Rapids Kernels". The Gazette. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  5. "Miracle's Balazovic perfect in FSL debut". MiLB.com. May 5, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  6. Helfand, Betsy (July 7, 2019). "Royce Lewis, Jordan Balazovic represent Twins at Futures Game – Twin Cities". Twincities.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  7. "Three Former OBJ on Pan Am Roster – Ontario Blue Jays". www.objbaseball.com. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  8. "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  9. La Velle E. Neal III (November 24, 2020). "Twins add Balazovic, Ober and Rortvedt to their 40-man roster". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  10. "Balazovic not letting tough start to key spring slow him down". mlb.com. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  11. "Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Optioned to Triple-A level". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  12. "Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Moves to bullpen at Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  13. "Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Called up by Minnesota". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
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