2021 South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 96: Trey Jeans

Trey Jeans

Left-Handed Relief Pitcher
5´10´´
195 pounds
Age: 25
SSS rank among all left-handed relief pitchers in the system: 8
2020 SSHP Top Prospect ranking: 97

Jeans was a well-traveled collegian, as he attended the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Seminole State College and the University of Louisiana-Monroe. He posted his best season with Louisiana-Monroe in 2019 as a senior, compiling a 3.76 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 15 starts. In his 79 innings for the Warhawks, Jeans surrendered 61 hits (.213 OBA) and 37 walks (11.0%) while striking out 69 (20.5%). As a result of his efforts, they White Sox tried on Jeans in the 33rd round in 2019.

Jeans sailed through the AZL season in 18 relief outings, and pitched his final three games of 2019 for Great Falls. In a total of 27 ⅔ combined innings, he allowed 28 hits (.252 OBA) and just five walks (4.2%) while fanning an eye-popping 43 (36.4%). Righties (.253) and lefties (.250) hit Jeans at about the same rate this year.

Jeans offers a three-pitch repertoire including a fastball, curveball (his plus pitch) and changeup. Especially given the year off, Jeans is likely to begin the 2020 season with Kannapolis due to his age. It’s unclear, however, if he’ll be a starter or reliever going forward, but based on his results so far, it seems that Jeans may be better suited out of the pen.