NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



St. Paul Saints

Saints Sign Versatile Triple-A Talent, Jayce Boyd

April 6, 2018 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - It helps to have players that can play multiple positions. It's even more of a benefit if they have played at the highest levels of the Minor Leagues. Manager George Tsamis found both, signing first baseman/outfielder Jayce Boyd, who had one of his best overall seasons last year at Triple-A.

The 27-year-old Boyd spent all of 2017 at Triple-A Las Vegas in the New York Mets organization. He hit .297 with a career high 11 home runs and 46 RBI in 92 games. In 246 at bats he scored 39 runs, ripped 18 doubles, one triple, a .371 on base percentage, .512 slugging percentage, for a very solid .883 OPS. He collected four RBI in three separate games and had two separate back-to-back three-hit games. He set a career high by homering in three consecutive games from August 18-20.

Boyd was originally drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 19th round of the First Year Player Draft in 2009 out of J.M. Tate (FL) High School, but he elected to play college baseball at Florida State. The move paid off as he was selected in the sixth round of the 2012 draft by the New York Mets out of FSU and was assigned to the Rookie Level New York-Penn League with the Brooklyn Cyclones. He hit .239 with five homers and 19 RBI in 54 games. He began his professional career by hitting in his first five games, including a three-hit, two double performance in his debut on July 2. He also would double in his first three professional games.

In 2013 Boyd began the season at Single-A Savannah and obliterated the league in 65 games. He hit .361 with five home runs and 46 RBI. In 249 at bats he scored 90 runs, whacked 16 doubles, one triple, a .441 on base percentage, .494 slugging percentage, for a remarkable .935 OPS. He was selected to the South Atlantic League All-Star Game and was an MiLB.com Organizational All-Star. While in Savannah he hit safely in 11 straight from April 15-26, which included five consecutive multi-hit games and seven of the 11 with more than two hits. He closed his time with the Sand Gnats by collecting 11 hits over his final four games including a four-hit performance on June 13. Boyd was promoted to High-A St. Lucie on June 20 and hit .292 with four home runs and 37 RBI in 58 games. He recorded a hit in his first 10 games, including multi-hits in his first five and an RBI in his first six. He would have a second streak of six straight games with an RBI from July 14-21.

In 2014 Boyd spent the entire season at Double-A Binghamton hitting .292 with eight homers and 59 RBI in 119 games. In 413 at bats he scored a career high 60 runs, walloped 22 doubles, two triples, had a .382 on base percentage, and .414 slugging percentage. Boyd finished tied for ninth in the Eastern League in batting average and was the hero of the Mets Double-A Championship Series when he hit the walk-off championship winning two-run double against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. During the season he collected three or more hits 11 times.

Boyd split 2015 between Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas. Between the two stops he hit .281 with one home run and 28 RBI in 98 games. In 299 at bats he scored 30 runs, clubbed a career high 27 doubles, a .338 on base percentage, and a .381 slugging percentage. While at Binghamton he hit safely in 12 straight from May 14-26 and reached base safely in 25 consecutive games from April 27-May 28.

Despite the success in 2015 Boyd spent all of 2016 at Binghamton and hit .259 with two home runs and 26 RBI in 77 games. He hit safely in 12 straight from July 3-28.

Boyd was a star at Florida State where he hit .376 and earned First Team All-America accolades from the ABCA and Perfect Game, Second Team All-American honors from Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball and NCBWA during his junior year in 2012. He finished the season with 96 hits, which led the ACC. He also ranked in the top 10 in batting average, doubles (21), RBI (61), total bases (129), and on-base percentage (.452). He was named a semi-finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, given to the top collegiate player.

Boyd was a four-sport star at Tate High School, playing four years of baseball and football, two years of basketball and a year of golf. He was named an All-Star in football and baseball as a senior. He played in the 2008 Under Armour All-American Game, was champion of the Homerun Derby contest at Wrigley Field, and played in the Power Showcase at Tropicana Field. Boyd also received Academic All-America honors in golf.

The Saints have now signed 14 players this off-season.

Roster

RHP - Mike Devine

LHP - Ken Frosch

RHP - Eddie Medina

RHP - Vinny Nittoli

RHP - John Straka

RHP - Beck Wheeler

OF - Kes Carter

OF - Max Murphy

OF - Jordan Smith

INF - Josh Allen

INF - Dante Bichette Jr.

INF/OF - Jayce Boyd

INF - Noah Perio

INF Brady Shoemaker

The Saints had signed infielder Jake Hager, but he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers organization on February 20.

The Saints begin the 2018 season on the road against the Gary SouthShore Railcats on Friday, May 18. The Saints first game at home is on Monday, May 21 against the newest member of the American Association, the Chicago Dogs, at 3:05 p.m.

Check out the St. Paul Saints Statistics

• Discuss this story on the American Association message board...

American Association Stories from April 6, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central