MLB debut - Willie Eyre

Willie Mays (yep, Willie Mays) Eyre made his debut for the Twinskies on 6 April at the stadium formerly known as Skydome. Mays, I mean Eyre, is a 27 year old rookie reliever. So, you'll guess immediately that he's not prospect. But, the guy's finally made it to the Bigs. That's always nice: to see an organisational type player crack the Show.

Being an organisation guy (7 years with the Twins, no less), it would not usually be easy to pick up a great deal of information about someone like Eyre. However, McKamey's "Minor League Baseball Analyst" has a few lines. It seems he's a recent transfer to the bullpen. As happens for many a pitcher, a move to the pen means he can throw nothing but heaters and get away with it. One of Eyre's problems seems to be arm-speed on his secondary pitches, so a bit of tipping going on there.

Last year, Eyre went 10-3 with 7 saves in 56 games with a 2.72 ERA.

Against Toronto, Eyre relieved Juan Rincon in the 7th with Minnesota down 6-2. He kept them in the ball game with an inning of one-hit ball. Apart from a single to Hillenbrand, Eyre threw three groundball outs.

(Correction) Eyre is the brother of the Cubs' Scott Eyre but is not, if you need telling, any relation to Willie Mays.

ESPN
MLB
Baseball Cube