Ex-Jasper pitcher makes his long-awaited MLB debut

This year is lining up to be the “Year of the Jasper” in Major League Baseball. First there was Tom Cosgrove with the San Diego Padres, and now the latest member to join the ranks out of Manhattan College is Joe Jacques. The Boston Red Sox called up Jacques on June 9 and he made his debut three days later.

The 28-year old Jacques was summoned in the 10th inning of Monday’s game between the Red Sox and Colorado Rockies at Fenway Park. With Boston already down 3-2 with the bases loaded and two outs, Jacques endured a torrential downpour and a botched ground ball from first baseman Tristan Casas. After that one batter, Jacques’ night was over as the team faced a 1-hour, 29-minute rain delay before Colorado eventually won 4-3.

In a strange set of circumstances for a debut, which included a pitch clock violation, Jacques walked away with the strangest stat line due to the Casas’ error: 0 innings pitched, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, and 0 strikeouts. Jacques unintentionally made history as just the second pitcher in MLB history to face one batter and allow them to reach on an error in their debut.

Three days earlier, Jacques received the news about his call up from Triple-A Worcester manager Chad Tracy. It was a moment he waited for since becoming a 33rd round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2018 draft. That night, Jacques found himself back in the Bronx with the Red Sox in town for a three-game set with the Yankees.

Jacques grew up a Yankees fan, which made the homecoming all the more special for the 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher.

Even though Jacques didn’t appear in any games at Yankee Stadium, there was ample support for him in the crowd. Everyone from close friends back home in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, to former teammates at Manhattan made the rounds to support Jacques during the weekend series.

The peaks and valleys are another part of the journey for Jacques. What Jacques was able to attain in Boston got away from him with the Pirates. While inching closer to the Majors last year at Triple-A Indianapolis, Jacques gave up eight runs in a game on July 27, which he felt “kinda blew my chance”, according to the New York Post.

Jacques departed Pittsburgh in the Rule 5 Draft this past offseason and the Red Sox saw something they liked in him. In 23 games at Triple-A Worcester, Jacques had a 3.58 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 27.2 innings pitched.

At Manhattan, Jacques walked on to the baseball team his freshman year and never looked back. Former Manhattan baseball coach Jim Duffy remembers there being something different about Jacques after he walked into Duffy’s office the first day of school to introduce himself.

The open tryouts went according to plan for Jacques, who not only made the Jaspers’ team but “was getting it done from day one” Duffy said. Duffy admired Jacques early on for the professional standards he set for himself, and was not surprised to see him make the MLB. 

“He acted differently,” he said, citing Jacques’ commitment to strength and conditioning training. “He has acted like a Major Leaguer since being a freshman at Manhattan.”

Jacques was a starter for stretches at Manhattan but was eventually made into a full-time reliever in professional baseball. He worked his way up the program annals, finishing eighth with 209 strikeouts and 10th with 256 2/3 innings pitched.

“I had him start because he was too valuable and we needed him for more innings,” Duffy said. “He never complained and did everything he was asked to do.”

A gifted three-sport athlete at Red Bank Regional High School, where he played baseball, football, and basketball, Jacques rose up the minor leagues as a relief pitcher on the strength of his athleticism and willingness to adapt. He experimented with a lower arm slot to deceive hitters.

“Joe is humble,” said Nick Tucker, Jacques’ assistant coach at Red Bank. “He’s a calm and confident kid and just lets his work and play talk for him.”

Jacques joins Cosgrove as the first Manhattan players to make the MLB since Mike Parise did with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008. Both were on their respective teams’ rosters during recent visits to Yankee Stadium, but neither appeared in any of the games in the Bronx. Cosgrove also had family and friends in attendance when the Padres were in town Memorial Day weekend.

“For me to have coached them and then they get called up in the same year is great,” Duffy said. “I’m loving it.”

By PETE JANNY

Correspondent

This year is lining up to be the “Year of the Jasper” in Major League Baseball. First there was Tom Cosgrove with the San Diego Padres, and now the latest member to join the ranks out of Manhattan College is Joe Jacques. The Boston Red Sox called up Jacques on June 9 and he made his debut three days later.

The 28-year old Jacques was summoned in the 10th inning of Monday’s game between the Red Sox and Colorado Rockies at Fenway Park. With Boston already down 3-2 with the bases loaded and two outs, Jacques endured a torrential downpour and a botched ground ball from first baseman Tristan Casas. After that one batter, Jacques’ night was over as the team faced a 1-hour, 29-minute rain delay before Colorado eventually won 4-3.

In a strange set of circumstances for a debut, which included a pitch clock violation, Jacques walked away with the strangest stat line due to the Casas’ error: 0 innings pitched, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, and 0 strikeouts. Jacques unintentionally made history as just the second pitcher in MLB history to face one batter and allow them to reach on an error in their debut.

Three days earlier, Jacques received the news about his call up from Triple-A Worcester manager Chad Tracy. It was a moment he waited for since becoming a 33rd round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2018 draft. That night, Jacques found himself back in the Bronx with the Red Sox in town for a three-game set with the Yankees.

Jacques grew up a Yankees fan, which made the homecoming all the more special for the 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher.

Even though Jacques didn’t appear in any games at Yankee Stadium, there was ample support for him in the crowd. Everyone from close friends back home in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, to former teammates at Manhattan made the rounds to support Jacques during the weekend series.

The peaks and valleys are another part of the journey for Jacques. What Jacques was able to attain in Boston got away from him with the Pirates. While inching closer to the Majors last year at Triple-A Indianapolis, Jacques gave up eight runs in a game on July 27, which he felt “kinda blew my chance”, according to the New York Post.

Jacques departed Pittsburgh in the Rule 5 Draft this past offseason and the Red Sox saw something they liked in him. In 23 games at Triple-A Worcester, Jacques had a 3.58 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 27.2 innings pitched.

At Manhattan, Jacques walked on to the baseball team his freshman year and never looked back. Former Manhattan baseball coach Jim Duffy remembers there being something different about Jacques after he walked into Duffy’s office the first day of school to introduce himself.

The open tryouts went according to plan for Jacques, who not only made the Jaspers’ team but “was getting it done from day one” Duffy said. Duffy admired Jacques early on for the professional standards he set for himself, and was not surprised to see him make the MLB. 

“He acted differently,” he said, citing Jacques’ commitment to strength and conditioning training. “He has acted like a Major Leaguer since being a freshman at Manhattan.”

Jacques was a starter for stretches at Manhattan but was eventually made into a full-time reliever in professional baseball. He worked his way up the program annals, finishing eighth with 209 strikeouts and 10th with 256 2/3 innings pitched.

“I had him start because he was too valuable and we needed him for more innings,” Duffy said. “He never complained and did everything he was asked to do.”

A gifted three-sport athlete at Red Bank Regional High School, where he played baseball, football, and basketball, Jacques rose up the minor leagues as a relief pitcher on the strength of his athleticism and willingness to adapt. He experimented with a lower arm slot to deceive hitters.

“Joe is humble,” said Nick Tucker, Jacques’ assistant coach at Red Bank. “He’s a calm and confident kid and just lets his work and play talk for him.”

Jacques joins Cosgrove as the first Manhattan players to make the MLB since Mike Parise did with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008. Both were on their respective teams’ rosters during recent visits to Yankee Stadium, but neither appeared in any of the games in the Bronx. Cosgrove also had family and friends in attendance when the Padres were in town Memorial Day weekend.

“For me to have coached them and then they get called up in the same year is great,” Duffy said. “I’m loving it.”