Jeremy Jeffress

Jeffress' 2019 season was plagued by injuries and he's something of a wild card heading into 2020. He was sidelined initially by a sore shoulder in early March. The right-hander was delayed until April 17 as a result and his velocity was still down upon his return. Eventually, Jeffress regained some steam on his fastball, though his average velocity was down 1.5 mph overall from 2018. In August, Jeffress went down with a hip injury, was released by Milwaukee and then decided not to sign with another club opting instead to focus on getting healthy for 2020. Jeffress had a 30 K% and was an All-Star in 2018. With better health, he could return to a high level of performance, but we'll have to wait until spring training to get a better read on his health. There's still closer potential here is he lands in the right spot and the velocity returns.

The roller coaster that has been Jeffress' career reached a crest last year, as he earned his first All-Star berth despite working as a setup man in the first half. His run of success carried over to the second half, as he took over the closing duties from a temporarily-ineffective Corey Knebel, notching 12 saves from July 31 onward. His 1.29 ERA was the second best mark by a reliever last year, behind Blake Treinen, and he ranked top-15 in innings (76.2). As luck would have it, Jeffress was just not sharp in the playoffs, which put a damper on an otherwise stellar campaign. Knebel finished the year on a high note, and given that he spent the bulk of the last two seasons as closer, he likely heads into 2019 as the favorite for the job. However, Jeffress would be the top right-hander after Knebel, and would work in tandem with Josh Hader in a setup role. His ratios, strikeouts and innings provide roto value, even without the saves.

Jeffress has played for three other teams since being drafted by the Brewers in 2006, but he has twice returned to Milwaukee, most recently in 2017, when he was acquired from the Rangers at the trade deadline just one year after being sent to Texas. Jeffress was barely a replacement-level pitcher with the Rangers last season, but he was serviceable for the Brewers, earning four wins, recording four holds and even starting two times over 22 appearances with the team. He will remain with the Brewers for another year, which is no surprise given that over five seasons with the club he has posted a 2.56 ERA -- by far his best mark with any team. While he pitched better in the second half last year, he still posted a 1.58 WHIP with the Brewers and a 1.64 WHIP for the entire season, so it's unlikely he will head into 2018 in a high-leverage role.

Jeffress started 2016 by seizing the Brewers closer job, his first sustained opportunity to save games after years of hype thanks to his big velocity. Unfortunately, his value all but disappeared after Milwaukee traded him to the Rangers. Jeffress continued his fine form with a 2.70 ERA in 13.1 innings with Texas, mostly in an eighth-inning role, but he then had to leave the team to deal with substance abuse issues after a DWI. Fortunately he was able to return to pitch over the final week of the season. Jeffress kept his excellent control and groundball rates with increased efficiency: His 61.0 first-strike percentage marked a career best, but his success came with a significant loss of more than 2.0 K/9. The right-hander's 9.6 percent swinging-strike rate says he can regain some of his formerly overpowering approach, though he is not guaranteed to step in if Dyson falters, as Matt Bush has emerged as a more prototypical ninth inning candidate.

Finally given a chance to pitch in the majors for a full season, Jeffress excelled out of the bullpen for the Brewers as one of the setup men for Francisco Rodriguez. In 106.2 innings for Milwaukee dating back to 2014, Jeffress now owns a sharp 2.45 ERA with 100 strikeouts against 35 walks, good for a 162 ERA+ and 2.9 K/BB. The Brewers will enter the season with both Jeffress and Will Smith getting save opportunities based on matchups, and Jeffress figures to be the guy when there is a run of righties due up. Lefties hit Jeffress hard (.752 OPS), so Smith will get the ball with some imposing left-handed hitters are due up, but Jeffress will only need a dozen or so saves to make good on his cheap draft day price tag.

Things came full circle for Jeffress in 2014, as he returned to the team that drafted him in 2006 and gave him his first shot to pitch in the majors. He had not experienced much success prior to being claimed off waivers by the Brewers, but that changed when he got to Milwaukee, as he posted a 1.88 ERA in 29 appearances out of the Brewers’ bullpen. Jeffress can throw gas, so he could get a shot to pitch in the ninth inning for the Brewers at some point. However, he has recorded just one big league save, so he will likely open 2015 in either a middle relief or setup role.

A former top prospect and one of the hardest throwers in all of professional baseball, Jeffress may have finally found his calling as a reliever. In 2013 he produced a 1.65 ERA over 27.1 innings with Triple-A Buffalo, before allowing just one run over 10.1 innings with the Blue Jays in September. The organization is reportedly thinking about converting Jeffress back into a starter, though it won't be surprising if he simply sticks in a setup/middle-relief role given that the pieces seemed to come together for him last season.

It has been quite a ride for the former first-round pick who had dealt with a pair of drug-related suspensions to open his career as well as a series of off-field incidents which turned him into more of a cautionary tale, the most recent being three charges stemming from a domestic assault in January of 2012. Still, the club stood by him and after a modest spring, started him off at Triple-A. He shuffled back and forth between Kansas City and Omaha a few times, but ultimately failed to take a significant step forward. With the bullpen being the Royals' greatest asset in 2012 and expectations equally high for it in 2013, Jeffress' services were no longer required and he was dealt to the Blue Jays in the offseason. He will compete for a bullpen job this spring, but will likely open the season in Triple-A once again.

Jeffress was demoted from the big leagues to Triple-A Omaha and then demoted again to Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2011 as he could never solve his control issues. This isn't surprising considering he walked over 6.0 BB/9IP at each stop. If he were ever able to cut down on the free passes, he might be quite useful as a reliever as he has shown an ability to miss bats with the best of them in the lower levels of the minors. Until that happens, he'll be nothing more than a righty with a big fastball who rarely knows where it's going.

Jeffress climbed three levels after moving to the bullpen in 2010 and ended in Milwaukee where he pitched well enough that he appeared to secure a regular role for 2011. He's a typical hard thrower with a lack of command, hitting 99 mph on the radar gun at times, but he also walked six batters in 10 innings with the Brewers. The command issues have dogged him for his entire minor league career, but no one doubts his overall stuff. Jeffress was included in the package the Brewers sent to Kansas City for Zack Greinke, and their plans for him are unclear. He has the ability to be a closer in the future if the Royals don't give him a look in their decimated rotation.

Jeffress was not very impressive in 2009 before his season ended early due to a 100-game suspension for a second failed drug test. Jeffress has all the talent in the world, but is now one failed drug test away from a lifetime ban. Of course, that can only happen if he's not on the Brewers' 40-man roster, so he's in the clear once the Brewers do that. At some point, the Brewers may convert Jeffress and his 100 mph fastball to relief and see if that will help with his control issues, but that likely won't be this season. He should return to Double-A Huntsville after his suspension ends.

Jeffress returned from a drug suspension to strike out 115 batters in 94 innings between High-A Brevard County and Double-A Huntsville. On the downside, he also walked 52 batters over that same span and was shut down during the Arizona Fall League with shoulder fatigue. His 100 mph fastball gives him some of the most potential in the minor leagues, but he needs to harness that heat and develop some other pitches. Some scouts think the 21-year-old would be best served as a closer in the majors, but the Brewers will only go there as a last resort. He should start the season at Double-A Huntsville and could see some time in Milwaukee late in the season.

Jeffress was having an outstanding season for Low-A West Virginia when he was suspended 50 games for violating the substance abuse policy. He then later supposedly failed a team administered test while working out in Arizona. Jeffress had a 3.13 ERA with 95 strikeouts in 86.1 IP while at West Virginia and his fastball has been clocked at 100 mph. He has immense potential, but needs to get his head on straight before he gets kicked out of baseball altogether.

Jeffress was the Brewers 2006 first-round pick and showed why by topping 100 mph in the Arizona Rookie League. He struck out 37 in 32.2, but also walked 25. If he gains any control, he'll be a top of the rotation starter in three or four years.