Today, we celebrate the 36th birthday of Joe Biagini, a former Toronto Blue Jays standout who made a significant impact during his time with the team. Biagini joined the Jays as a Rule 5 draft pick before the 2016 season, quickly becoming a vital contributor to the bullpen. In his rookie year, he appeared in 60 games, achieving a commendable 3.06 ERA while serving as a long reliever, often pitching two innings in 13 of those outings. His engaging personality and unique sense of humor made him a favorite among fans and media alike.
The 2017 season began on a high note for Biagini, as he thrived in a setup role, boasting a 2.12 ERA by the end of April. However, injuries to the starting rotation thrust him into a starting role, where he initially performed well. Unfortunately, over nine starts, his ERA ballooned to 6.70, prompting a return to the bullpen.
In 2018, Biagini started the season in the rotation but struggled, posting a 7.71 ERA over five starts before reverting back to the bullpen, where he found less success than in his rookie year. A rebound came in 2019, as he managed a 3.78 ERA in 50 relief appearances. He was later traded to the Houston Astros alongside Aaron Sanchez in exchange for Derek Fisher, whose tenure with the Jays was largely forgettable. Biagini made 17 appearances for the Astros before joining the Chicago Cubs as a free agent, spending most of the 2021 season in Triple-A. He returned to the Blue Jays organization in 2022, playing for the Buffalo Bisons. Biagini’s journey reminds fans of his resilience and the challenges he faced, especially being moved into the rotation without proper preparation.
Turning 59 today is Bill Risley, a right-handed reliever who debuted with the Montreal Expos in 1992. He played in just three games over two seasons before being claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners. Risley found more success there, appearing in 82 games over two years with a 3.28 ERA. He was later traded along with Miguel Cairo to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Edwin Hurtado and Paul Menhart. Risley’s time with the Jays was marred by injuries, yet he managed to pitch in 72 games, recording a 4.83 ERA. Over his career, he made 157 appearances with a 3.98 ERA and tallied one save.
Also celebrating a birthday today is Steven Matz, who turns 35. Matz began his MLB career with the New York Mets, where he played for six seasons before being traded to the Blue Jays for Yennsy Díaz, Sean Reid-Foley, and Josh Winckowski. Matz had a standout season in 2021 with Toronto, finishing with a 14-7 record and a 3.82 ERA across 29 starts. The Jays concluded that season with a 91-71 record, just missing out on a Wild Card spot. After his successful stint in Toronto, Matz signed a four-year, $44 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he posted a 15-14 record and a 4.24 ERA. He has since pitched for the Boston Red Sox and is currently with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Finally, Trever Miller turns 53 today. He had a brief stint with the Blue Jays in 2011, appearing in six relief outings during his 13-year MLB career. Miller accumulated a total of 694 games pitched, including five starts, with a 4.18 ERA and 11 saves. Happy birthday to all these players who have left their mark on the game!
Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.
