Jordan Blake Balazovic (pronounced BAL-uh-ZAH-vick)...X: @JBalazovic...Instagram: @ jordanbalazovic...Attended St. Martin Secondary School in Mississauga...In 2016 was ranked as the highest prep school Canadian and the 134th-best prospect in the draft by Baseball America and also as the 127th overall prospect by MLB.com...Played for the Canadian Junior National Team and tossed 9.0 scoreless innings with three hits allowed, no walks and eight strikeouts in a two-game trip to the Dominican Republic in 2016...Was named Rawlings-Perfect Game All-Region selection from the Canada/Puerto Rico region in 2016...In 2015, he earned All-Tournament honors at the Perfect Game World Wood Bat Championship after tossing a complete game, allowing two walks and six hits with five strikeouts...Grandfather Joe Balazovic played two seasons in the Cleveland system, including making his professional debut in 1957 with the Fargo-Moorhead Twins...Is good friends with the Naylor brothers (Josh and Bo), who both play for Cleveland...Jordan enjoys spending time with his family during the offseason...If he could play any TV/movie character, he would play Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn in Major League...His favorite vacation destination is Mexico...Outside of baseball, is also a big hockey and basketball fan...Favorite baseball memory as a kid was when he pitched his first no-hitter at age 13...Says that his celebrity look-a-like is teammate Joe Ryan...Lucky number is 17 even though he wears 81, a number that was given to him prior to Spring Training in 2021 after he was added to the 40-man roster in Nov. of 2020...Favorite non-baseball athlete is Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson...Isn't involved in any particular charitable causes but always believes in giving back to young athletes, donating cleats, gloves, etc...Participated in 2023 and 2024 TwinsFest at Target Field.
2023
Was in Twins Spring Training but did not pitch and was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on March 3...Posted a 1.80 ERA (15.0 IP, three ER) with 10 walks and 22 strikeouts in first seven games (two starts) for Saints from April 7-May 9...Recalled by Minnesota on June 18 and made Major League debut that afternoon vs. Detroit, pitching 3.2 scoreless innings with two hits allowed, one walk and two strikeouts in a Twins 6-4 loss...Recorded first career strikeout, fanning Spencer Torkelson...Earned first career win on July 22 vs. Chicago-AL, pitching 1.0 scoreless inning in a Twins 3-2 victory...Became 14th pitcher in Twins history (since 1961) to allow two-or-fewer earned runs within his first 10 career games, first since Ryan O¡¯Rourke (one ER) from July 7-Aug. 1, 2015...Went 1-0, 1.29 ERA (14.0 IP, 2 ER) with two holds, four walks and 10 strikeouts in first 11 Major League games from June 18-July 24...Used more in high-leverage situations from mid- to end of July...Appeared in seven games for the Twins from July 26-Aug. 19, posting an 8.71 ERA (10.1 IP, 10 ER) with eight walks and seven strikeouts and was optioned to St. Paul on Aug. 20...Finished season at St. Paul but spent the final week of the season throwing to rehabbing hitters (Buxton, Correa, Lewis, etc.) to be ready for postseason...Went 2-1, 5.01 ERA (70.0 IP, 39 ER) with 44 walks, 71 strikeouts, a 1.67 WHIP, .270 (73-for-270) opponent batting average and 9.1 strikeouts per-9.0 innings ratio in 40 games (three starts) between St. Paul and Minnesota...Named by Baseball America as having the best curveball in the Twins system...Ranked as 25th best prospect in Twins organization by Baseball America entering 2024...Designated for release or assignment (along with Bubba Thompson and Daniel Duarte) on Feb. 7, 2024, when the Twins added Carlos Santana, Zack Weiss and Jay Jackson...Cleared waivers and signed to Minor League contract with spring invite on Feb. 13.
2022
Was in Twins Spring Training for second straight season but did not pitch, battling a left knee sprain...Made first appearance of season in rehab appearance with Low-A Fort Myers on May 1, then began season with Triple-A St. Paul....Pitched less than 4.0 innings 14 times on the season, averaging 3.2 innings-per-start...season-high in innings pitched was 5.0, done twice: September 9 at Toledo and Sept. 27 vs. Omaha....Set season-high with nine strikeouts on Sept. 9 at Toledo (5.0 IP)...Named Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Week on Sept. 11, going 0-0, 1.00 ERA (9.0 IP, 1 ER) with four walks and 15 strikeouts in two starts for the Saints...Went 0-1, 3.43 ERA (21.0 IP, 8 ER) with 10 walks and 30 strikeouts in five September starts....Led Saints in starts (21), losses (7), third in strikeouts (76) and fourth in innings pitched (70.2)....Ranked as 16th-best prospect in Twins organization by MLB.com after season....Ranked as 21st-best prospect in Twins organization by MLB.com entering 2023.
2021
Began season as 97th-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com...Pitched in first career spring training with Twins and was optioned to alternate training site on March 14...Spent entire season with Double--Wichita, but started season on 7-day Injured List with right shoulder tendinitis; reinstated on June 5...Named Twins minor league Pitcher of the Week on June 20 after making one start for the Wind Surge (June 15 vs. Springfield), pitching 4.1 scoreless innings with two hits allowed, one walk and eight strikeouts...Named Double--Central Pitcher of the Week and Twins minor league Pitcher of the Week on July 18, going 1-0, 0.00 ERA (13.0 IP) in two starts for the Wind Surge, including six hits allowed, one walk and 18 strikeouts...struck out a season-high 11 batters over 7.0 innings pitched on July 15 vs. Tulsa...Named Double-A Central Pitcher of the Week on September 12, going 1-1, 1.54 ERA (11.2 IP, 2 ER) in two starts for the Wind Surge, including six hits allowed, two walks and 11 strikeouts...Went 4-3, 3.34 ERA (72.2 IP, 27 ER) in final 14 starts from July 10-end of season after starting season 1-1, 4.44 ERA (24.1 IP, 12 ER) in first six starts from June 5-30...Held right-handed batters to a .236 (43-for-182) batting average and left-handed batters to a .272 (55-for-202) average...Finished third on Wind Surge staff in strikeouts (102), despite missing the first month of season...Ranked as the third-best prospect in the Twins' system and as having the best curveball among Twins farmhands by Baseball America...Ranked fifth-best prospect in the Twins organization by MLB.com, entering 2022.
2020
2018
Spent third professional season with Single-A Cedar Rapids...named Twins minor league Pitcher of the Week on June 16 after striking out out 11 on June 11 against Wisconsin, allowing one run on three hits over 7.0 innings and earning his first win of the season...named Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 25-July 1 after winning his only start against Burlington, striking out 10 over 6.1 shutout innings... missed time on 7-day Injured List with a left hamstring strain from August 24 through end of season.
2017
Spent second professional season with GCL Twins, going 1-3, 4.91 ERA (40.1 IP, 22 ER) with 20 walks and 29 strikeouts in 10 games (3 starts)¡pitched 27.0 innings in relief and 13.1 innings as a starter.
2016
Began professional career with GCL Twins, going 2-1, 1.97 ERA (32.0 IP, 7 ER) with five walks, 16 strikeout and a .217 opponent batting average in eight games (6 starts).
