Wes Parsons
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 46
Pitcher
Born: (1992-09-06) September 6, 1992 (age 31)
Clarksville, Tennessee, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: August 9, 2018, for the Atlanta Braves
KBO: April 14, 2021, for the NC Dinos
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record1–4
Earned run average7.01
Strikeouts32
KBO statistics
(through 2022 season)
Win–loss record5-10
Earned run average3.68
Strikeouts191
Teams

Arthur Wesley Parsons (born September 6, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies and in the KBO League for the NC Dinos.

Career

Amateur career

After graduating from Clarksville High School in Clarksville, Tennessee, Parsons enrolled at Jackson State Community College. In 13 games started as a freshman, he had a 7–3 win–loss record with a 4.31 earned run average (ERA), striking out 60 in 79+1⁄3 innings pitched.[1] After his freshman year, he played for the Thunder Bay Bordercats in the Northwoods League,[2] a summer wooden bat league for top college prospects. After making the league's All-Star game, Parsons signed with the Atlanta Braves as an undrafted free agent in 2013.[3]

Atlanta Braves

After signing, Parsons was assigned to the Rome Braves where he was 7–7 with a 2.63 ERA in 19 starts. In 2014 he pitched for the Lynchburg Hillcats, posting a 4–7 record and a 5.00 ERA in 23 starts. Parsons pitched in only five games in 2015 due to injury. He spent the majority of 2016 with the Carolina Mudcats where he was 0–2 with a 3.86 ERA in 16 games (seven starts), along with pitching one game for the Mississippi Braves. In 2017, Parsons pitched in 26 games (ten starts) for Mississippi where he compiled a 3–3 record and 2.71 ERA, and 8+1⁄3 innings for the Gwinnett Braves where he posted an 8.64 ERA.[4] He began 2018 with Mississippi[5] and was promoted to the Gwinnett Stripers in May after pitching to a 1–2 record and a 1.23 ERA over eight games (seven starts) for Mississippi.[6]

Parsons was called up to the major leagues by Atlanta on June 27, 2018.[7] In 14 appearances, with 13 being as a starter for Gwinnett prior to his callup, he had compiled a 3–1 record and a 2.83 ERA.[8] Parsons returned to the International League without making a major league appearance.[9] He was recalled back to the Braves on August 1 for his second call up in the 2018 season. He was then optioned back to Gwinnett the following day. Parsons received another promotion on August 7,[10] and made his major league debut two days later against the Washington Nationals.[11] Parsons made the Braves' Opening Day roster at the start of the 2019 season.[12] He appeared in relief of Sean Newcomb on April 1, 2019, pitching one inning against the Chicago Cubs to earn his first major league victory.[13][14] On August 16, 2019, Parsons was designated for assignment.

Colorado Rockies

On August 19, 2019, Parsons was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies.[15] Parsons was designated for assignment on November 27, 2019.[16] He was granted free agency on December 2, 2019, but later re-signed to a minor league deal in the offseason. He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.

NC Dinos

On January 11, 2021, Parsons signed a deal with the NC Dinos of the KBO League for $320K a year with a $80K signing bonus and a potential $200K coming from incentives.[17] On April 14, 2021, Parsons made his KBO debut, striking out six and earning the win in a start against the SSG Landers. He finished the season with a 4–8 record, 3.72 ERA, and 148 strikeouts over 133.0 innings pitched.

On December 21, 2021, he re-signed with the Dinos on a one-year deal worth up to $650,000.[18] Parsons started 8 games for the Dinos in 2022, registering a 1-2 record and 3.56 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 43.0 innings pitched. He was released on August 4, 2022.

Toronto Blue Jays

On May 8, 2023, Parsons signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays organization.[19] In 17 starts for the Triple–A Buffalo Bisons, he registered a 9–4 record and 4.55 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 85.0 innings of work. On October 1, the Blue Jays selected Parson's contract to the major league roster, enabling him to start the team's final regular season game.[20] He proceeded to give up 9 earned runs on 10 hits in 4.0 innings.

References

  1. ^ "Former JSCC General Moving up as a Pro | Jackson State Community College". Jscc.edu. January 22, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  2. ^ "Northwoods League – Get Ready for the Show!". Northwoods League. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  3. ^ "Atlanta Braves Scouting Report on RHP Wes Parsons". October 6, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  4. ^ "Wes Parsons Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  5. ^ "Mississippi Braves reveal 2018 Opening Day Roster – WLBT.com – Jackson, MS". Msnewsnow.com. August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  6. ^ "M-Braves pitcher Wes Parsons promoted to AAA Gwinnett". KLTV.com. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  7. ^ "Mike Soroka moves from Braves' 10-day disabled list to 60-day DL". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  8. ^ "Braves' Wes Parsons: Promoted to big leagues". CBSSports.com. June 27, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  9. ^ O'Brien, David (June 28, 2018). "Braves activate Acuna, put McCarthy on DL". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  10. ^ "Braves place LHP Fried, RHP Carle on DL". Gwinnett Daily Post. August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  11. ^ Burns, Gabriel (August 9, 2018). "Anibal Sanchez exits early after being struck by liner". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  12. ^ Bowman, Mark (March 26, 2019). "Parsons works way onto Braves' roster". MLB.com. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  13. ^ Bowman, Mark (April 2, 2019). "Native son helps Atlanta roll vs. Cubs". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  14. ^ "McCann's two-run single helps Braves beat error-prone Cubs". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  15. ^ RotoWire Staff (August 19, 2019). "Rockies' Wes Parsons: Claimed by Rockies". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  16. ^ Jeff Bailey (November 27, 2019). "Rockies agree to terms with right-hander Jose Mujica, designate Wes Parsons for assignment". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  17. ^ Dan, Kurtz (January 11, 2021). "NC Dinos officially announce the signing of pitcher Wes Parsons ($80K signing bonus, $320K salary, $200K incentives)". Twitter.
  18. ^ "NC Dinos sign new American outfielder, bring back 2 starters". English.yonhapnews.co.kr. December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  19. ^ "Transactions".
  20. ^ "Blue Jays' Wes Parsons: Called up to start Sunday". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.

External links

Toronto Blue Jays current roster
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