The well hitting center fielder, Jon Jay, is moving to the Kansas City Royals on a one-year contract.

Jon Jay Signs With The Royals

We’ve signed outfielder Jon Jay to a one-year contract for the 2018 season. Welcome to the #Royals! pic.twitter.com/QmKFx8WBIP

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 6, 2018

Jay’s Career Profile

Drafted in the second round with the 74th overall pick in the 2006 June Amateur Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, Jay would play in the majors in 2010, four years later. In his rookie year, Jay played in 105 games hitting an incredible .300 batting average with four home runs and 27 RBI. The following year, Jay was part of the Cardinals team that won the 2011 World Series. During the 2011 regular season, Jay was just as productive hitting a .297 batting average with 10 home runs and 37 RBI. In the postseason, Jay hit a .182 batting average with three RBI. In his six total years with the Cardinals, Jay hit a .287 batting average with 29 home runs and 227 RBI. During the 2015 off-season, Jay was traded to the San Diego Padres in exchange for third baseman Jedd Gyorko.

After spending the year in San Diego, Jay would sign a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. During his career so far, Jay is hitting a miraculous .288 batting average with 33 home runs and 287 RBI.

The Impact Of The Signing

For the Royals they gain one of the better hitters in MLB today. With someone who hasn’t yet batted under a .200 batting average in eight years in the league. And even if they decide not to start him in that center field position, Jay will still be able to contribute as a pinch hitter. For the Cubs, they lose a reliable outfielder, who though not very high on the depth chart, still was able to make an impact. Hitting a .296 batting average with two home runs and 34 RBI in 141 games, he was still very utilized in the season.

Not only was Jay a great outfielder for the Cubs when needed, he also came in as an emergency pitcher. In an effort to preserve the bullpen in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Jay came in to pitch in the ninth inning and pitched a scoreless inning. But now we get to see if Jay will walk to the mound in his new home.

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