Jake signed a minor league contract with the Cubs in April of 2016 and spent most of last season with Triple-A Iowa before joining the Cubs in September ... he has gone 2-3 with a 3.75 ERA (21 ER/50.1 IP) in 24 games (three starts) across parts of three big league seasons with Houston (2014-15) and the Cubs (2016) ... Made his major league debut with Houston in 2014, pitching in 17 games (two starts) ... in his 15 relief outings, he posted a 3.46 ERA (10 ER/26.0 IP) with 17 strikeouts ... Has gone 50-50 with a 4.11 ERA (383 ER/838.0 IP) in 170 minor league games across seven seasons ... Was named a Texas League All-Star in 2013 with Double-A Corpus Christi and a California League All-Star in 2011 with Single-A Lancaster ... was named the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2011 ... Entered the 2012 season ranked by Baseball America as having the "Best Control" in the Astros system ... Was drafted by the Astros in the eighth round of the 2010 Draft out of North Carolina State University ... he went 8-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) his senior season of 2010 ... was teammates with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson ... Graduated from North Gaston High School in North Carolina where he was named First-Team All-State by the North Carolina High School Coaches Association and co-MVP of the Big South 3-A/4-A Conference ... His wife, Chelsa, is a sports anchor at WINK, the CBS television affiliate in Fort Myers, Florida.
2017
Played for 3 different organizations, spending the majority of the season in Triple-A with Iowa (Cubs), Louisville (Reds) and Reno (D-backs)...combined to go 7-3 with a 4.51 ERA in 21 games (19 starts)...Made 5 appearances with Cincinnati (8.16 ERA)...On disabled list from April 15-22 with right thumb contusion...Claimed off waivers by the Reds on May 25 and later signed as a Minor League free agent by the D-backs on July 6.
2016
Jake spent nearly the entire minor league season with Triple-A Iowa before being selected by the Cubs, September 1 ... went 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (1 ER/6.0 IP) in two games with the Cubs, including 5.0-scoreless innings in a spot start, September 30 at Cincinnati ... Made his first start since July 31, 2014 vs. Toronto ... his 5.0 innings pitched tied his career-high and he allowed just two hits and one walk ... Made his Cubs debut September 5 at Milwaukee ... allowed a solo homer in 1.0-inning of relief in the Cubs 7-2 victory ... Went 12-8 with a 4.34 ERA (68 ER/141.0 IP) in 24 appearances (22 starts) with Iowa ... had a strong finish, going 2-1 with a 1.35 ERA (3 ER/20.0 IP) in his final three starts ... With Iowa, held righties to a .263 average (87-for-331), while lefties batted at a .302 clip (67-for-222) ... Tossed 7.0-scoreless innings, June 4 vs. Memphis, his longest scoreless outing of the season ... Spent Spring Training with the Astros but was released on March 31 and signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in early April ... joined Iowa, April 18.
2015
Jake made five appearances for Houston in his one stint with the Astros, posting no record and a 2.00 ERA (2 ER/9.0 IP) ... he spent the majority of his season at Triple-A Fresno, going 5-5 with three saves and a 4.76 ERA (43 ER/81.1 IP) in 30 games (seven starts) ... Began his year with Fresno, starting five of his first six games before a promotion to Houston on May 14 ... Pitched in long relief for Houston, tossing 2.0-plus innings in three of his five outings ... allowed just five hits in his 9.0 innings, pitching to a .161 (5-for-31) opponent batting average ... Was optioned back to Fresno, June 7 ... finished his season in the bullpen (except for one start) ... had a strong August, going 2-1 with two saves and a 2.66 ERA (6 ER/20.1 IP) in 10 games ... Was designated for assignment September 1, and outrighted to Triple-A five days later ... pitched for the Toros del Este in the Dominican Winter League, posting a 3-0 record and a 2.01 ERA (7 ER/31.1 IP) in seven games (five starts).
2014
Made his MLB debut with the Astros and pitched in 17 total games, including two starts...went 1-2 with a 3.46 ERA (10ER/26IP) and 17 strikeouts in his 15 relief outings...posted a 61.5% groundball rate (4.24 GB/FB), which ranked second on the club (min. 10IP)...had two stints with the Astros...began the year at Triple A after spending Spring Training with the Astros as a non-roster invitee...was selected to the Major League roster on June 21 before making his first MLB start that day...optioned to Triple A on June 27...was recalled to Houston on July 18 where he remained through the end of the season...was one of eight players to make their MLB debuts with the Astros this season...made his debut in a start against the Rays on June 21 at TB (5ER/4.1IP)...was one of three Astros pitchers to make his MLB debut as a starter this season, joining LHP Rudy Owens (5/23/14 at SEA) and RHP Nick Tropeano (9/10/14 at SEA)...earned his first Major League win on June 27 vs. DET in his second career game...tossed a perfect inning of relief, retiring the heart of the Tigers lineup in order (IF Miguel Cabrera, IF Victor Martinez, OF J.D. Martinez)...made 16 appearances (15 starts) at Triple A, going 7-5 with a 3.87 ERA (38ER/88.1IP), 46 strikeouts and 16 walks...at the time of his first promotion to the Majors, led all Astros minor leaguers with 76.1IP...named the Oklahoma City May Pitcher of the Month after going 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA over five starts, striking out 22 and walking just five...started the month with three consecutive scoreless starts spanning 23.2 innings...became the first player from the Astros 2010 draft class to make the Majors (RHP Mike Foltynewicz joined him later in the year).
2013
Began his year at Double A Corpus Christi and went 7-2 with one save and a 2.09 ERA (19ER/82IP), while allowing just nine walks in 18 games, including 13 starts...named a Texas League Midseason All-Star and earned the Texas League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending on May 6...went 36.2 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run from April 26-June 4...his totals in May: 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 27.2 innings pitched in six games (four starts)...allowed just 16 hits and two walks in the month en route to earning Corpus Christi's Pitcher of the Month Award...started his season 7-0 with a save before going 0-2 over his last two appearances...promoted to Triple A on June 26 and finished his season in the RedHawks rotation...made 12 starts at Triple A, going 5-5 with a 3.89 ERA (33ER/76.1IP)...eight of his 12 starts were quality starts...combined to go 12-7 with one save and a 2.96 ERA (52ER/158.1IP) in 30 games (25 starts) between the two levels...posted the third-lowest walks per 9.0 innings ratio (1.25) among pitchers who threw 100+ innings at the Double A and Triple A levels.
2012
Entered the season ranked by Baseball America as the No. 13 prospect with the 'Best Control' in the Astros system...began the season with Double A Corpus Christi and would go on to lead the Texas League with a 2.05 groundballs per flyball ratio (203GB/99FB) on the season...went 5-9 with a 4.96 ERA (74ER/134.1IP) in 27 games (19 starts) with the Hooks...pitched out of the Hooks rotation thru his first 19 games before being promoted to Triple A OKC on July 25 and made his first two relief appearances of the season (4ER/4IP) before making his only Triple A start of the season on Aug. 1 at Tacoma (5ER/4IP)...sent back to Double A after the start and finished his season with eight relief appearances...was 5-6 with a 5.00 ERA (62ER/111.2IP) in his 19 starts and 0-3 with a 4.76 ERA (12ER/22.2IP) in his eight relief appearances at the Double A level...combined to go 5-10 with a 5.25 ERA (83ER/142.1IP) at the two levels.
2011
Named the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year and a California League Midseason All-Star...also named a MiLB.com Organization All-Star...led the California League with a 2.31 ground ball per fly ball ratio (256GB/111FB)...ranked second in the league in WHIP (1.21), fifth in ERA (3.91) and innings pitched (158.2) and tossed one of only three complete game shutouts in the California League in 2011...allowed only one home run every 16.5 innings pitched, compared to Lancaster's team average of one home run allowed every 6.9 innings pitched...became the first Lancaster pitcher to start at least 20 games with the club and end the season with an ERA in the 3.00s since Brandon Webb did so in 2001 (28gs, 3.99 ERA)...finished his campaign 5-10 with a 3.91 ERA (69ER/158.2IP) while pitching in the extremely hitter friendly California League...made 25 starts with Lancaster, tossing one complete game shutout...allowed just four hits and three walks in the shutout on May 1 at Inland Empire...Promoted to Double A Corpus Christi for his final start of the season and tossed a gem, going 7.0 innings while allowing just one run on six hits, but did not factor into the decision..combined to post a 3.80 ERA (70ER/165.2IP) and a 5-10 record in 26 starts between the Class A and Double A levels.
2010
Drafted by Houston in the eighth round of the June 2010 draft on June 8 and signed his professional contract on June 9...reported to Class A Short Season Tri-City and made 14 starts at the level, going 4-5 with a 4.28 ERA (29ER/61IP)...allowed only three homers and walked just 11 hitters in his 61.0 innings pitched...among pitchers in the New York-Penn League with at least 60.0 innings pitched, his 11 walks allowed were only bested by teammates RHP Bobby Doran (9BB/71.1IP) and RHP Carlos Quevedo (8BB/85.1IP)...made his professional debut on June 22 at Lowell (2ER/2.1IP).
