Always fresh, always Tim Mayza.
The long-time Blue Jays reliever isn’t the first name one might consider when thinking of the club.
His jersey won’t outsell more than his teammates. You won’t see him endorsing a brand of peanut butter or a financial institution. And it’s more than likely his name won’t be in the headlines after a game.
Nevertheless and professionally, Mayza goes to work every time John Schneider uses his left hand to signal the bullpen. The 31-year-old will let his performance speak on his behalf because those who know, know.
Mayza has been an absolute rock for the Jays since 2021. His ERA has stayed below 3.50 per season and he’s become a reliable asset out of the ‘pen.
Has he been perfect or lights out? Of course not! But even the greatest relievers have had dips and off days. What separates Mayza from others is a sense of confidence, a far better value than a collective groan for those who become liabilities.
Results aside, what Mayza has done is incredible considering what happened to him four years ago.
I’m sure you remember the match: September 13, 2019; a Friday night contest against the New York Yankees.
With the score 5-5, Mayza stepped on the mound for the 10th inning. Facing Didi Gregorius, the count was full and Mayza began to throw his eighth pitch of the at-bat.
And then, the worst thing that could happen to a pitcher happened.
In front of thousands of spectators and a national television audience, Mayza tore his ulnar collateral ligament. The sequence was violent and shocking.
The pitch flew erratically and to the backstop as Mayza crumpled to the ground. Training staff, teammates and then-manager Charlie Montoyo rushed to the mound. Moments later, Mayza left the field. His throwing arm was in a clear state of shock.
One could only imagine the thoughts that were going through Mayza’s mind at that moment. Surely, the three words that would scare fans and players had a conscious presence: Tommy John Surgery.
The Blue Jays would ultimately win, 6-5, thanks to a Bo Bichette walk-off home run in the 12th inning. A small solace for some following the devastating injury.
As if Tommy John surgery wasn’t enough, it was also discovered that Mayza tore his flexor tendon in his forearm. Significant time was needed to heal and rebuild. Thus began the long recovery process.
If that wasn’t enough, recovery occurred throughout 2020, when we were all restricted due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. According to a Toronto Star article by Laura Armstrong, rather than rehabbing on-site with support staff nearby, Mayza had to rely on ad-hoc setups and virtual correspondence. He even tested positive for the coronavirus at one point.
Mayza ultimately worked his way back up and solidified a role. From a human standpoint, it’s a remarkable achievement.
Just like Vladdy Guerrero Jr. and Bichette, Mayza will be a free agent after the 2025 season. By then, he’ll be in his mid-30s, which could affect his value from an analytical side.
That’s assuming he’s not part of a trade or designated for assignment at some point. That would be unfortunate given that he’s currently the longest-serving Blue Jay on the active roster.
Mayza has overcome challenges and stayed on throughout the rebuild and current window of opportunity. He deserves to be part of a championship team.
If there’s a list of items to motivate the Jays, Mayza’s perseverance should be near the top.
ER
Definitely Not JaysTalk 