Joel Payamps Finds a 'Home' in Blue Jays Bullpen

In 15 appearances this season, Payamps has worked in high leverage and shaped into a major piece of Toronto's bullpen.

Blue Jays reliever Joel Payamps waited on the mound as his catcher, Reese McGuire, jogged out to meet him. The two talked, then took their respective places. 

In the 11th innning of Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Payamps faced outfielder Brett Phillips with the bases loaded, the score tied 5-5. 

To that point, Payamps had already tossed 24 pitches and was just one out away from escaping a jam, but the pressure was on. 

After already walking one batter this inning, Payamps fell behind Phillips 3-0. He tossed the ball up in the air, spit, and honed back. Payamps countered with two fastballs, to set up a critical 3-2 count.  

With the runners on the move, Payamps shook the first sign from McGuire then spun a slider over the plate that caught Phillips completely off guard, freezing him to end the inning. 

Even Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo was shocked with what he saw that inning. 

"That slider that [Payamps] threw 3-2, nobody was expecting that," Montoyo said. "That's gutsy you know."

"He came back and he was outstanding," Montoyo said. "He gave us a chance to win."

Payamps erupted after the strikeout, strutting off the mound, beating his chest in celebration. It was a rare emotional expression from a player who's had few opportunities to prove himself in the major leagues. 

"It was so emotional for me that I couldn't hold it [in]," Payamps said through a translator. 

Toronto lost the game, but Payamps's electric performance brought to light a blend of both clutch play and reliability he's shown all season. 

In 15 appearances this year, Payamps has pitched to a 1.74 ERA and given up just four extra-base hits. He's also mastered the art of forcing soft contact. Opposing hitters have averaged an exit velocity of 85 miles-per-hour off Payamps -- he ranks in the league's 94th percentile for that category. 

Toronto's also been able to consistently rely on him late in games like Friday's extra-innings marathon against Tampa. Per Baseball Reference, the 27-year-old has faced 11 hitters in high leverage situations without surrendering a hit. 

For Payamps, it's been a complicated journey to the majors. The 27-year-old has been claimed off waivers four times in his career. 

Even after Toronto waived, and re-claimed Payamps -- who's still technically a rookie -- back from the Boston Red Sox on March 6, he was no lock to make the team, bouncing back and forth between the big leagues and the alternate site. 

But now, Payamps says he's finally found his footing. 

"I'm very grateful right now for the opportunity the organization gave me and I'm not gonna take it for granted," Payamps said. 

"Finally, I feel like I'm home," he said.