For fans born in the mid-to-late-90s, the mid-2010s represent the dark times of our Yankees fandom. Gone were the fan favorites Hideki Matsui, Nick Swisher, Curtis Granderson, and Johnny Damon. Father time had called an end to the legendary careers of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, and Alex Rodriguez. The injury bug had derailed the careers of Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, and Joba Chamberlain. For the first time in years, a home grown star, Robinson Canó, walked in free agency. An influx
of older veterans — Ichiro Suzuki, Travis Hafner, Vernon Wells, Lyle Overbay, Jacoby Ellsbury, Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Beltrán, Brian McCann — failed to stem the tide, as the window of contention, open from 1996 to 2012, slammed shut in an instant.
And yet, for some of us, we look back to that time fondly, for while nobody can say that the 2013-16 Yankees were any good, they were nonetheless filled with some interesting characters who, somehow, helped the team maintain its stream of finishing the season with a winning record. Central among those characters was Jayson Nix, who in the words of one announcer, “Just [did] something every game” … even if he didn’t, really.
Jayson Truitt Edward Nix
Born: August 26, 1982 (Dallas, TX)
Yankees Tenure: 2012-13
The younger brother of journeyman outfielder Laynce Nix, Jayson was born and raised in Dallas, where he was named to the All-American team as an infielder during his senior year of high school, joining J.J. Hardy, Casey Kotchman, and David Wright. Off this success, he was selected with the 44th overall pick (a sandwich pick between the 1st and 2nd rounds) of the 2001 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies. A shortstop by trade, the Rockies — who had a young Juan Uribe manning the position — shifted him to second base, where he struggled at first, but ultimately began to flourish as the years ticked by. Due to his young age and inconsistent production at the plate, however, he struggled to take the next step, and would not make his Major League debut until April 4, 2008, when he replaced Kazuo Matsui as the Rockies’ second baseman on Opening Day.
His first success came, however, the year prior, as a member of Team USA during the 2007 Baseball World Cup (the predecessor to the World Baseball Classic). In nine games, he slashed .387/.444/.742, scoring nine times and driving in two runs against Cuba during the championship en route to winning the World Cup MVP. Because of this sucess, when the Rockies sent him down to the minors after his struggles in the majors (he had an OPS+ of 3 in 22 games in 2008), Team USA immediately added him to the squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Serving as the team’s second baseman, he hit a big home run in the eighth inning to tie the game against Cuba, but later deflected a ball off his face on a failed bunt attempt that kept him out for most of the remainder of the tournament.
The Rockies let Nix go following the 2008 season. Over the next three seasons, Nix bounced around the league, spending time with the White Sox, Cleveland, and Blue Jays, adding third base to his repertoire, serving as a utility infielder, and even playing a couple of games in the outfield.
In November 2011, the Yankees signed Nix to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training — the type of no-risk move that every team makes in the offseason to ensure they have enough camp bodies and Major League depth to get through spring training. As it turned out, though, the move would have major implications for the next two seasons. Although he failed to make the Opening Day roster, Nix was called up by the Yankees in early May after Eric Chavez hit the shelf with a concussion. A backup infielder and defensive replacement, he played in 74 games, slashing .243/.306/.384 and accruing 0.3 rWAR.
Nix appeared sparingly in the postseason, filling in for Derek Jeter when the Captain dealt with lingering hamstring issues during the ALDS against the Orioles, and being the first man up to replace him when he broke his ankle during Game 1 of the ALCS. He, unfortunately, had the distinction of being the final out of Game 4, as the Tigers completed the sweep that effectively ended the Yankees’ window of contention.
The Bombers designated Nix for assignment that winter in order to make room on the 40-man roster for Mariano Rivera, re-signed for one final ride after missing most of 2012 with an injury (one that coincidentally occurred while Nix was taking batting practice in Kansas City). Knowing that Jeter and Alex Rodriguez both had major injuries that would cause them to miss time, however, they immediately signed him to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. As it turned out, that was prudent: thanks to injuries to Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson, Nix made the Opening Day roster, and once Kevin Youkilis and Eduardo Núñez went down, well, the left side of the infield became a real revolving door: 11 different players manned the hot corner, eight grabbed a glove and played short.
Despite his less-than-pedestrian .236/.308/.311 slash line—and a stumbling GIF that proved emblematic of the frustrating season—Nix became an important contributor to the Yankees lineup, batting second a whopping 21 times. He did have one particular highlight though, lifting an improbable homer against then-Rangers ace Yu Darvish that left Darvish with an appropriately shocked expression.
Even Nix, however, was struck by the injury bug, missing time in the summer due to a hamstring strain and then breaking his hand on August 21st after being plunked by R.A. Dickey, ending his season just one day after a walk-off single against Toronto.
Looking to upgrade on the chaotic mess that was 2013, the Yankees non-tendered Nix that winter. He signed a minor-league deal with the Rays soon after, was traded to the Phillies during spring training, was released, and re-signed with the Rays. He was released on August 1st, signed with the Pirates, was released by the Pirates, and was claimed off waivers by the Royals. Between the three teams (he never made it to the big with the Rays), he put together the worst season of his career, slashing .120/.169/.157 (a -8 OPS+) and accruing -1.1. rWAR.
Nix spent the 2015 season in the Orioles and Phillies organizations, but never made it back to The Show. After a few years away from the professional game, Nix embarked on a coaching career, working for the Los Angeles Angels from 2021 to 2025. This year, he earned his first managerial gig, managing the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, an A-ball affiliate of the White Sox.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
