Joel Payamps Bio
Joel Elias Payamps, born on April 7, 1994, is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who currently plays in Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed relief pitcher, he has spent parts of eight seasons in the major leagues after working his way up through the minor leagues. Over the course of his career, Payamps has played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, and Atlanta Braves. He remains active in professional baseball and continues to compete at the highest level of the sport.
Early Life and Background
Joel Elias Payamps was born on April 7, 1994, in the Dominican Republic, a country with a long and celebrated history of producing elite baseball talent. Growing up in a baseball-rich environment, Payamps developed an early interest in the sport and began pursuing pitching as a young athlete. His Dominican upbringing provided him with the cultural foundation and year-round playing opportunities that have shaped many of the country’s major leaguers.
Payamps began his organized professional career as a teenager when he signed with the Colorado Rockies as an international free agent on May 1, 2011. He spent his first two seasons with the Dominican Summer League Rockies, building experience and refining his craft as a young pitcher. His early professional years laid the groundwork for what would become a long journey through the minor league system of multiple organizations.
Path to Baseball
After starting in the Dominican Summer League in 2011 and 2012, Payamps advanced through several levels of the Rockies’ minor league affiliates. He pitched for the rookie-level Grand Junction Rockies in 2013 and played for the Tri-City Dust Devils in 2014, where he continued developing his pitching repertoire. On May 6, 2015, Payamps was released by the Rockies organization, creating a turning point in his career that led him to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Payamps signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on November 30, 2015, restarting his professional journey. He progressed through the Diamondbacks’ system, pitching for the Single-A Kane County Cougars, High-A Visalia Rawhide, Double-A Jackson Generals, and Triple-A Reno Aces. His steady development through the minor leagues, including a combined 11-7 record with a 4.30 ERA in 2017, demonstrated his potential and durability as a starting pitcher in waiting.
Joel Payamps Career
Early Career (2011-2018)
Joel Elias Payamps began his professional baseball career in 2011 after signing with the Colorado Rockies organization. He pitched in the Dominican Summer League across his first two seasons before moving up to the rookie-level Grand Junction Rockies in 2013 and the Tri-City Dust Devils in 2014. After his release from the Rockies in May 2015, he found a new opportunity with the Arizona Diamondbacks later that year. He built his resume across the Diamondbacks’ farm system from 2016 through 2018, compiling consistent innings as he climbed toward the major leagues.
On November 20, 2018, the Diamondbacks added Payamps to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, a major milestone in his development. He opened the 2019 season with the Triple-A Reno Aces before earning his first promotion to the major leagues. His minor league performance, including a combined 5-6 record with a 3.89 ERA in 2019, helped establish him as a legitimate big-league prospect.
MLB Debut and Diamondbacks Era (2019-2020)
Joel Elias Payamps made his major league debut on August 21, 2019, against the Colorado Rockies, allowing two runs over three innings pitched. He appeared in two games during his rookie campaign, striking out three batters in four innings while allowing two earned runs. In 2020, he appeared in two more games with the Diamondbacks, striking out two batters in three innings, allowing one earned run. Overall with Arizona, Payamps appeared in four MLB games, pitching to a 3.86 ERA in four appearances without a decision. On November 20, 2020, Payamps was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks, ending his first major league chapter.
Blue Jays and Royals Years (2021-2022)
On November 25, 2020, Payamps was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox before being designated for assignment in February 2021. He bounced between the Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays on waiver claims before settling with the Blue Jays in March 2021. Payamps recorded a 2.70 ERA in 22 appearances with the Blue Jays before being designated for assignment on July 16, 2021.
On July 21, 2021, Payamps was traded to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash considerations. He appeared in 15 games with one start down the stretch for the Royals, posting a 1-1 record with a 4.43 ERA over 20+1/3 innings. He made the Opening Day roster going into 2022 and appeared in 29 games for Kansas City, posting a 2-3 record and 3.16 ERA with 33 strikeouts across 42+2/3 innings pitched before being designated for assignment on August 18, 2022.
Brewers Era (2022-2025)
On December 12, 2022, the Athletics sent Payamps to the Milwaukee Brewers as part of a three-team trade. On April 13, 2023, Payamps recorded his first major league save in an extra innings win over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, a career-defining moment. He made 69 appearances for Milwaukee during the 2023 season, compiling a 7-5 record and 2.55 ERA with 77 strikeouts and three saves across 70+2/3 innings pitched.
In 2024, Payamps made 68 appearances out of the bullpen for the Brewers, registering a 3-7 record and 3.05 ERA with 59 strikeouts and six saves over 59 innings of work. Payamps made 23 appearances for the Brewers in 2025, but struggled to an 8.35 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 18+1/3 innings pitched. He was designated for assignment by Milwaukee on May 22, 2025, cleared waivers, was sent outright to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, and returned to the active roster on September 3, 2025, before being designated for assignment again on September 20.
Atlanta Braves Era (2025-Present)
On September 22, 2025, Payamps was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves. He made two appearances for Atlanta, recording a 3.38 ERA with two strikeouts across 2+2/3 innings pitched. On November 6, 2025, Payamps was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, electing free agency the same day.
On November 23, 2025, Payamps re-signed with the Braves on a one-year, $2.25 million contract. In 12 appearances for Atlanta, he struggled to an 8.22 ERA with nine strikeouts across 7+2/3 innings pitched. On May 1, 2026, Payamps was designated for assignment by the Braves and was sent outright to Triple-A Gwinnett on May 3.
Joel Payamps Family
Personal Life
Joel Elias Payamps, a Dominican professional baseball pitcher, maintains a private personal life away from the public spotlight. He was born in the Dominican Republic on April 7, 1994, and has built his baseball career across multiple organizations throughout his professional journey. Public details about his family, marital status, and children are not widely documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Joel Elias Payamps experienced a turbulent 2025 season split between the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves. He began the year with Milwaukee, where he made 23 appearances but struggled to an 8.35 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 18+1/3 innings pitched. His struggles led to a designation for assignment on May 22, 2025, before he was sent outright to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds and later returned to the Brewers’ active roster in September.
After clearing waivers, Payamps was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves on September 22, 2025, where he made two appearances and recorded a 3.38 ERA with two strikeouts across 2+2/3 innings pitched. His late-season work with Atlanta helped him secure a new contract with the Braves on November 23, 2025, a one-year deal worth $2.25 million. The 2025 season ultimately served as a transitional year for Payamps as he navigated multiple organizations and adjusted to new team environments.