Juan Gustavo Minaya (born September 18, 1990) is a Dominican
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Mod ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in MLB for the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
and
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
.
Career
Houston Astros
On June 21, 2009, Minaya signed with the
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
as an international free agent. He made his professional debut with the
GCL Astros
The Florida Complex League Astros are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Houston Astros, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to the 2021 season, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Astros. The team plays i ...
. In 2010, Minaya played for the Single-A
Lexington Legends
The Lexington Legends are an American professional baseball team based in Lexington, Kentucky. They are a member of the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of Major League Baseball. The Legends have ...
, recording a 4-12 record and 4.79 ERA in 26 appearances. He appeared in 28 games for Lexington the next year, pitching to a 1-5 record and 6.90 ERA. He spent the 2012 season with the Low-A
Tri-City ValleyCats
The Tri-City ValleyCats (often shortened to Cats) are a professional independent baseball team based in Troy, New York. The Tri-City name refers to the three nearby cities of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy which make up New York State's Capital D ...
, registering a 2-2 record and 4.66 ERA with 31 strikeouts. In 2013, he played for the Single-A
Quad Cities River Bandits
The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Their home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park (formerly John O'Donnell Stadium) in Davenport, Iowa, one ...
, pitching to a 3-6 record and 4.77 ERA in 54.2 innings of work. He split the 2014 season between the High-A
Lancaster JetHawks
The Lancaster JetHawks were a baseball team located in Lancaster, California. They were named for the city's association with the aerospace industry and played their home games at The Hangar. From 1996 to 2020, they were members of Minor League ...
and the Double-A
Corpus Christi Hooks
The Corpus Christi Hooks are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team is owned by ...
, accumulating a 2-3 record and 4.19 ERA in 53.2 innings pitched. He split the 2015 season between Corpus Christi and the Triple-A
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. They are located in Fresno, California, and play their home games at Chukchansi Park, which was opened in 2002 in do ...
, posting a 2.80 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 35 appearances between the two teams. The Astros added him to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season. On June 14, 2016, Minaya was designated for assignment by the Astros.
Chicago White Sox
On June 22, 2016, Minaya was claimed off waivers by the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
. He was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on September 1, and made his MLB debut that day,pitching a scoreless innings of relief against the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
. He finished his rookie season with a 4.35 ERA in 11 appearances. In 40 games for the White Sox in 2017, Minaya pitched to a 3-2 record and 4.53 ERA with 51 strikeouts. He appeared in 52 games for Chicago in 2018, posting a 2-2 record and 3.28 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 46.2 innings of work. On March 15, 2019, Minaya was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and assigned to the Triple-A
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. They are located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and play their home games at Truist Field, which opened in 20 ...
. On May 5, Minaya was selected to the active roster. Minaya pitched to a 3.90 ERA in 22 games before he was designated for assignment on July 13. He was assigned outright to Triple-A Charlotte on July 17, where he spent the remainder of the season. He elected free agency on October 1.
Minnesota Twins
On January 28, 2020, Minaya signed a minor league deal with the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
organization. On August 28, 2020, Minaya's contract was selected to the active roster. On September 1, Minaya was designated for assignment without making an appearance for the big league club. Minaya was outrighted to the alternate training site and elected free agency on October 7, 2020.
On December 17, 2020, Minaya re-signed with the Twins on a new minor league contract. On May 29, 2021, Minaya was selected to the active roster. After recording a 4.26 ERA in 4 appearances for Minnesota, he was designated for assignment on June 5. He was outrighted to the Triple-A
St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and have played their home games at CHS Field since 2015. They prev ...
on June 8. On July 17, Minaya was re-selected to the active roster.
On November 30, Minaya was non-tendered by the Twins, making him a free agent. On March 11, 2022, Minaya re-signed with the Twins on a minor league contract. On May 28, 2022, Minaya had his contract selected to the major league roster. He was designated for assignment on June 7.
He was released on September 5, 2022.
Washington Nationals
On September 7, 2022, Minaya signed a minor league deal with the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Minaya, Juan
1990 births
Living people
Charlotte Knights players
Chicago White Sox players
Corpus Christi Hooks players
Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States
Gigantes del Cibao players
Gulf Coast Astros players
Fresno Grizzlies players
Lancaster JetHawks players
Lexington Legends players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic
Minnesota Twins players
Quad Cities River Bandits players
Tri-City ValleyCats players
People from Monseñor Nouel Province