Anthony Kay

Anthony Benjamin Kay

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 218 lb.
• School University of Connecticut
• High School Ward Melville High School
• Debut September 7, 2019

• Born March 21, 1995 in Stony Brook, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Anthony Kay was drafted twice by his hometown team, the New York Mets. A product of Long Island, he was first picked in the 29th round in the 2013 amateur draft, coming out of high school, and again in Compensation Round A of the 2016 amateur draft, with the 31st overall pick, out of the University of Connecticut, obtained in compensation for losing Daniel Murphy to free agency. He was the Mets' second selection that year, after fellow pitcher Justin Dunn, who had been plucked with the #19 pick in the 1st round proper. He signed with the Mets that second time.

It took a whole for Anthony to make his professional debut as he underwent Tommy John surgery in the fall of 2016 and then missed all of 2017 recovering from the procedure. In 2018, he was assigned to the Columbia Fireflies of the South Atlantic League, where he went 4-4, 4.54 in 13 starts. He was then promoted to the St. Lucie Mets of the Florida State League on July 3rd and made another 10 starts there, going 3-7, 3.88. Overall, his line was 7-11, 4.26 in 23 starts, with 122 2/3 innings pitched, 124 hits allowed, 49 walks and 123 strikeouts.

He was named to the roster of the National League team for the 2019 Futures Game. Less than a month later, on July 28th, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays along with fellow prospect Simeon Woods-Richardson in return for All-Star starting pitcher Marcus Stroman. He was brought up to the majors when rosters expanded in September and made his major league debut as a starting pitcher against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 7th. He was solid during 5 2/3 innings, walking 3 and striking out 8 and leaving with a 3-2 lead, but the bullpen was unable to hold it and he ended up with a no-decision.

On June 24, 2021, he became the first pitcher in Blue Jays history to record the first seven outs of a game via strikeout. It came in a start against the Baltimore Orioles, and it wasn't the crispest of outings, as he stranded the bases loaded in both the 1st and 2nd inning, but he still managed to throw five scoreless innings that day and received credit for his first win of the year as the Blue Jays prevailed, 9-0. He was making a spot start in place of Steven Matz, still sidelined after a positive COVID-19 test earlier that month.

Related Sites

• Anthony Kay on mlb.com
• BR Minors page