Williams Jerez

Williams Alexander Jerez (Spanish pronunciation: [jeˈɾeθ] born May 16, 1992) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He was a 2nd round selection in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Williams Jerez
Jerez with the Portland Sea Dogs in 2015
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1992-05-16) May 16, 1992
Santiago, Dominican Republic
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 7, 2018, for the Los Angeles Angels
MLB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Win–loss record1–0
Earned run average5.33
Strikeouts24
Teams

Early life

Jerez was born in Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic.[1] During his childhood, he was primarily a pitcher.[2][3] In 2009 at the age of 17, Jerez along with his father and sister moved to Bushwick, Brooklyn in New York City.[1][4][2][3] That year, he was discovered in a local park by a former minor league player.[5]

Initially attempting to enroll at Gregorio Luperón High School in Manhattan, Jerez later enrolled at Grand Street Campus in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.[5] Jerez played center field at Grand Street for two seasons.[1][5] He hit .519 with four home runs and 19 RBIs his first season.[1] During his senior year he hit .692 with five home runs and 26 stolen bases, leading Grand Street to the 2011 Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) Class A semi-finals.[4][6][7] Jerez won the PSAL Wingate Award, given to the top senior in each sport.[7] He also played summer baseball for Hank's Yanks, a team sponsored by Hank Steinbrenner.[8] Jerez, however, drew controversy with some opposing coaches believing him to be older than high-school age.[1][5][9][8]

Coming out of high school, Jerez was considered a five-tool prospect, and was ranked among the top 100 prospects in the nation by both ESPN and Baseball America.[9] His skill set drew comparisons to Carlos Beltrán.[9][3] He received a baseball scholarship to San Jacinto College in Texas.[1]

Career

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox selected Jerez in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft, signing him with a bonus of $443,700.[10][6] He was the highest draft pick out of New York City since pitcher Jason Marquis in 1996.[6][8] Jerez started his career as an outfielder, but was converted to a pitcher during extended spring training in 2014.[4][3]

He made his debut with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox in 2012 and collected hits in 11 of 12 games during one early-season stretch, batting as high as .340, but eventually he tapered off. He finished the year batting .248/.285/.310 with five stolen bases, three triples, and just six walks in 32 games.[10]

In 2012, Jerez started 32 games with the Short-Season A Lowell Spinners before missing the remainder of the season with hand injury. Prior to injury, Jerez batted .241 (20-for-83)/.276/.277 with five RBIs and three stolen bases.

Then in 2013, he appeared in 38 games and hit a paltry .176/.203/.235 in 38 games while playing right and center field for Lowell. But Jerez turned his career around after moving from outfield to pitcher in 2014. In that season, he posted a 3–1 record with a 2.22 ERA and one save coming out of bullpen for the GCL Red Sox. He ended the season at Lowell, going 1–1 with a 4.50 ERA.[10]

In 2015 Jerez joined the Low A Greenville Drive, where he went 3–1 with a 2.06 ERA and three saves, striking out 43 in 39⅓ innings of work. He then gained a promotion to High A Salem Red Sox and was more dominant, posting a 1–0 record with a 0.73 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 12 innings.[10] The Portland Sea Dogs would be the fifth stop in just a year and a half for Jerez, as he collected scoreless outings in 13 of 22 appearances since his Double-A debut on June 24, 2015.[11] Overall, he went 5–3 with a 2.54 ERA and four saves in a career-high 41 games during the three stints.[10]

Jerez was added to the Red Sox 40-man roster in November 2015. He remained with the Sea Dogs through 2016, featuring a 1–6 mark with a 4.71 ERA in 40 games, striking out 65 and walking 30 in 65 innings, while earning a selection to the Eastern League All-Star Game.[12]

He opened 2017 at Portland, where he went 2–0 with four saves and 3.10 ERA in 29 games before joining the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox in the month of August. He appeared in nine games with the PawSox, going 0–2 with a 3.75 ERA in 12 innings.[10] He finished the year rated as the Red Sox' No. 21 prospect, according to MLB.com.[13] Jerez began the 2018 season with Triple-A Pawtucket.

Los Angeles Angels

On July 31, 2018, the Red Sox traded Jerez and pitcher Ty Buttrey to the Los Angeles Angels for second baseman Ian Kinsler.[14] On August 7, 2018, the Angels called up Jerez and he made his major league debut pitching two scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers.[15] For 2018 with the Angels, he was 0-0 with a 6.00 ERA, and 15 strikeouts in 15 innings.[16]

San Francisco Giants

On March 26, 2019, Jerez was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Chris Stratton.

Pittsburgh Pirates

On September 13, 2019, Jerez was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.[17] Jerez was outrighted to AAA on November 27.[18] Jerez elected free agency after the 2020 season on September 28, 2020.

Seattle Mariners

On May 21, 2021, Jerez signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners.[19] In 19 appearances for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, Jerez struggled to an 11.32 ERA with 23 strikeouts. On August 5, 2021, Jerez was released by the Mariners.[20]

Staten Island FerryHawks

On April 20, 2022, Jerez signed with the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[21] Jerez made 6 appearances for the FerryHawks, struggling to an 0-2 record and 19.29 ERA with 4 strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched. He became a free agent following the season.

Charleston Dirty Birds

On April 7, 2023, Jerez signed with the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[22] In 31 games for Charleston, he struggled to a 7.29 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 33+1⁄3 innings pitched. On July 31, Jerez was released by the Dirty Birds.[23]

Player profile

Jerez throws a fastball in the low 90s, topping out at 97 miles per hour. He also throws a slider and changeup, both with low 80s velocity.[10][2]

References
  1. Lelinwalla, Mark (March 25, 2011). "Grand Street Campus prospect Williams Jerez hopes to follow in footsteps of Yankees' Dellin Betances". New York Daily News. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  2. Joyce, Thomas (May 10, 2016). "Pitching in: Shift to mound has Jerez's career thriving". Brooklyn Daily. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  3. Smith, Christopher (March 2, 2016). "Williams Jerez's journey to Boston Red Sox spring training 2016 includes: Move to New York, David Ortiz encounter, switch to pitcher". The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts). Fort Myers, Florida. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  4. Thomas, Kevin. "On Baseball: Ex-outfielder hopes detour directs him to Fenway; Williams Jerez is now pitching his way through the Red Sox organization". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  5. Abramson, Mitch (June 4, 2011). "Age-Old Problem: Grand Street's Williams Jerez, an MLB draft talent, says he's 19, but not everyone is buying it". New York Daily News. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  6. Braziller, Zach (June 8, 2011). "Draft riot! Bushwick phenom picked by Red Sox in the second round". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  7. Braziller, Zach; Butler, Dylan (June 28, 2011). "Our All-Brooklyn baseball honors". Brooklyn Daily. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  8. Abramson, Mitch (June 8, 2011). "Boston Red Sox draft Grand Street Campus baseball star Williams Jerez in second round". New York Daily News. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  9. Abruzzese, Robert (June 6, 2011). "Grand Street's Jerez projected top NYC baseball pick". ESPN.com. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  10. "Williams Jerez - SoxProspects.com". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  11. Williams Jerez Transactions. MLB.com. Retrieved on August 8, 2015.
  12. Jerez and Romanski selected to Eastern League All-Star Game. SoxProspects.com. Retrieved on June 30, 2016.
  13. 2017 MLB Prospects Watch – 2017 Boston Red Sox Top 30 Prospects Watch. MLB.com. Retrieved on September 8, 2017.
  14. Kelly, Matt. "Red Sox trade for Ian Kinsler". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  15. "Angels' Williams Jerez: Joins major-league club". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
  16. Williams Jerez Stats | Baseball-Reference.com
  17. "Pirates claim lefty reliever Williams Jerez on waivers from Giants". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. September 13, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  18. RotoWire Staff (November 27, 2019). "Pirates' Williams Jerez: Clears waivers". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  19. "Mariners Sign Trio of Players to Minor League Deals". 22 May 2021.
  20. "Williams Jerez Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  21. Atlantic League Transactions
  22. "Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions".
  23. https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/
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