Jordan Balazovic’s Sucker Punch Story is Suspect

Minnesota Twins prospect pitcher, Jordan Balazovic, was once regarded as one of the best players coming through the team’s minor league system. He’s fallen off top prospect lists since and had a terrible 2022 (7.68 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, 72 IP) that ended early due to injury.

That’s why Balazovic entered 2023 Spring Training hoping to prove to Rocco Baldelli, Derek Falvey and the rest of the organization that, at 24-years-old, he’s MLB ready.

Jordan Balazovic Breaks Jaw

But then, Jordan went out with some buddies the weekend before pitchers and catchers were scheduled to report this spring and he caught a right hook to the jaw that rocked him so hard he still has it wired shut three weeks later.

Look, bar fights happen. And that’s what everyone thought this was. But when Jordan was asked about the incident this week by the Athletic, he denied that any dispute or confrontation took place prior to him getting socked.

“I went out, it was our last off day before spring training, and then the next thing I know, I got hit,” Balazovic said of the punch to his face that required surgery and an overnight hospital stay. “There wasn’t really an altercation. I didn’t say anything to the guy. I don’t know the guy. And I ended up getting hit twice. They’re looking for him and that’s all I can say.”

Jordan Balazovic via The Athletic

Don’t you hate when that happens. Here you are, just walking down the street with friends, when Rocky pops out of the bushes and puts you to sleep with one sucker punch. Worse yet, none of those friends was able to stop and ID Rocky the public sucker punch artist.

“I didn’t see it coming,” Balazovic said. “I wasn’t paying attention. I was walking, and the next thing I know, I got hit. Like I said, I don’t know who the person is. Never spoke a word to the person. I can’t say a whole lot on it, but it’s a pretty s—– situation.”

Jordan Balazovic via The Athletic

Balazovic’s story is suspect…

Yes, getting knocked out while you’re walking innocently down the street is a shitty situation. And sure, an interaction like that is possible. Hell, anything is “possible”. But how plausible is it?

I’ve walked around a lot of public places and never have I fallen victim to a sucker punch and run altercation. Does that mean it didn’t happen to Jordan Balazovic? Of course not. I wasn’t there. I cannot tell you exactly what happened. Stranger things have certainly taken place.

But if I’m Derek Falvey and that’s the story Jordan tells me, through his wired-shut jaw, my skepticism is through the roof. According to The Athletic’s story, Balazovic expects to get the wire taken out of his jaw in a couple weeks and hopes to be available for the St. Paul Saints in April.

At the end of the day, nobody will care about how his jaw was broken if he can come out and pitch better this spring and summer.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan