Joe Mays

Education

He also attended Manatee Community College in Bradenton. He began the season in the bullpen before going to the rotation, he finished the season pitching in 49 games with a record of 6-11 for the Twins.

Career

Mays is a 1994 graduate of Southeast High School in Bradenton, Florida. He signed with the on December 23, 2005. Mays" Royals career was short-lived, as he was released on May 16, 2006 after posting an 0-4 record in 6 starts with a 10.27 European Research Area. On May 19, 2006, Mays signed a minor league contract with the Louisville Bats.

On June 6, Mays had his contract purchased by the Reds.

However, Mays was designated for assignment on July 26, ending his short stint with the Reds. Mays would spend a good deal of time as a free agent before signing a minor league contract with the on February 7, 2007.

The contract included an invitation to spring training, where Mays failed to make the big league roster. Mays requested and received his release on May 16, 2007 after pitching in 8 starts.

Mays is a distant cousin of submarine pitcher Carl Mays who threw the pitch that resulted in the death of Ray Chapman, the only Major League Baseball player to die during a game as a direct result of an on-field injury, on August 16, 1920.

Achievements

• Mays began his major league career with the Twins on April 7, 1999. He began the season in the bullpen before going to the rotation, he finished the season pitching in 49 games with a record of 6-11 for the Twins. The following season he was implanted into the rotation, pitching poorly throughout the season, finishing with an European Research Area of 5.56 and a record of 7-15 in 31 games (28 starts). He had his best season in 2001, going 17-13 with a 3.16 European Research Area. He led the league in European Research Area+ (143) and was selected to the All-Star Game. He pitched in a career high 233 innings and 4 complete games. He missed all of the 2004 season after having Tommy John surgery performed on his pitching arm. Through 2003, he posted a 42-55 record with a 4.70 European Research Area. Mays successfully bounced back from his surgery to rejoin the Twins" starting rotation at the beginning of the 2005 season, and recorded his first win since the 2003 season on April 27, 2005 against the Due to his losing record and disappointing European Research Area, on August 26, 2005, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire demoted Mays to the Twins bullpen and called up Scott Baker from American Automobile Association Rochester to replace Mays in the pitching rotation. Mays failed to live up to his 2001 season, winning 18 games from 2002-2005 and having an European Research Area over 5.20 in each season. On October 7, 2005, the Twins chose not to renew Mays" contract for 2006, making him a free agent.