| John Axford | |
|---|---|
 Axford with the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1983-04-01)April 1, 1983 (age 41) Simcoe, Ontario,Canada | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 15, 2009, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 2, 2021, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 38–34 |
| Earned run average | 3.90 |
| Strikeouts | 589 |
| Saves | 144 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
John Berton Axford (born April 1, 1983), nicknamed "Ax Man", is a Canadian former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theMilwaukee Brewers,St. Louis Cardinals,Cleveland Indians,Pittsburgh Pirates,Colorado Rockies,Oakland Athletics,Toronto Blue Jays, andLos Angeles Dodgers.
Axford made his MLB debut in 2009. He led theNational League insaves in 2011, when he won theRolaids Relief Man Award.
Raised inPort Dover, Ontario, Axford attendedAssumption College School in nearbyBrantford. Because the school did not have an interscholastic baseball program, he played for Port Dover Minor Baseball, then Team Ontario and Team Canada. His combined four-year totals with the three clubs were a 37–12 record, a 1.88earned run average (ERA), 278innings pitched, 432strikeouts and 173walks.[1]
TheSeattle Mariners selected Axford in the seventh round (219th overall) of the2001 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft,[2] but he accepted anathletic scholarship to theUniversity of Notre Dame instead.[3] In 2002, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theHyannis Mets of theCape Cod Baseball League, and returned to the league in 2003 to play for theCotuit Kettleers.[4][5][6] He was inactive during hisjunior year after undergoingTommy John surgery in December 2003.[1] Used as astarting pitcher in 26 of 36 games, his record in three seasons with the Fighting Irish was 14–6.[7] Despite losing his scholarship as aredshirtsenior in 2005, he still earned abachelor's degree in film, television and theatre.[3]
Axford was selected by theCincinnati Reds in the 42nd round (1,259th overall) of the2005 MLB draft.[8] He spent the spring of 2006, his one remaining year of collegiate athletic eligibility, atCanisius College where he went 3–8, with a 5.01 earned run average in fourteen starts.[7] After watching him in action with the Golden Griffins, the Reds declined to offer a contract. By that summer, he was pitching for theMelville Millionaires of theWestern Major Baseball League. A nineteen-strikeout performance in a seven-inning contest caught the attention of theNew York Yankees.[3]
TheNew York Yankees signed Axford as aminor-league free agent on August 11, 2006.[9]
His 2007 campaign was divided between three Class Afarm teams (Staten Island Yankees,Charleston RiverDogs andTampa Yankees) and the Triple AScranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, where he appeared in only one game. He had a combined 1–4 record in 27 games,[7] and was released on December 14, 2007.[9]
After spending the winter working as acell phone salesman forTelus in theToronto area,[3] he signed with theMilwaukee Brewers on March 4, 2008.[9] A 5–10 campaign with a 4.55 ERA for theBrevard County Manatees was followed by an offseason employment as abartender at anEast Side Mario's location inHamilton, Ontario.[3]
Used exclusively out of thebullpen in2009, he improved to a combined 9–1 with the Manatees,Huntsville Stars andNashville Sounds.[7] He was called up to the Brewers on September 7,[10] and made his major league debut eight nights later as the last Brewers pitcher in a 13–7 loss to theChicago Cubs atWrigley Field. He surrendered an earnedrun, ahit and threewalks in oneinning pitched.[11]
Axford started 2010 in Nashville before being promoted by the Brewers on May 15.[12] WithTrevor Hoffman struggling in save situations, Axford, despite having never been a closer in his career, was given the job, where he became a big success in the role and gained popularity with Brewers fans as he sported a handlebar mustache in many of his early appearances, evoking memories of legendary relieverRollie Fingers. Axford finished his first full season with an 8–2 record, a 2.48 ERA, pitched in 50 games, was 24 out of 27 in save attempts, and struck out 76 batters in 58 innings pitched. He was named a relief pitcher onBaseball America's 2010 All-Rookie Team.[13]
Axford went into 2011 as the Brewers closer and struggled early, blowing two saves in the first two weeks of the season, then went on to convert every single save opportunity the rest of the way. In a game against theChicago Cubs on July 27, Axford converted his 26th consecutive save opportunity, breakingDoug Jones's Brewers franchise record.[14] Axford was namedDelivery Man of the Month Award winner for July 2011, in which he recorded 11 saves with a 2.57 ERA.[14] On September 24, he set the Brewers franchise record for most saves in a single season, saving his 45th against theFlorida Marlins. For the season he led the National League in saves (46), and was second in games finished (63), pitching73+2⁄3 innings with 86 strikeouts and 59 hits while going 2–2 with a 1.95 ERA.[15] Axford was the first Brewers pitcher since Rollie Fingers to be a league leader in saves. He continued his success in the 2011 postseason, appearing in 6 playoff games and racking up 3 saves and a 1.29 ERA while striking out 9 batters in 7 innings pitched. Axford, however, blew his first save since the second week of the season in the decisive Game Five of the NLDS, but still got the win as the Brewers won in the 10th inning. On October 28, Axford was named the recipient of the 2011 Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year Award by theAmerican Mustache Institute.[16] Recognition of Axford's success in 2011 continued into the offseason, where he was ninth overall in voting for the NL Cy Young Award and 17th overall for the NL MVP award. He was nominated for and won several awards recognizing his success, including the NL Rolaids Relief Man (given to the league's best closer), and the Canadian Tip O'Neill Award (presented annually by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to the Canadian-born player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution). He shared the award withJoey Votto, being the third time the Tip O'Neill Award had been shared.[17]
Axford began 2012 with six straight saves, extending a streak to 49 consecutive save opportunities converted. This was thefourth-longest streak in MLB history. The streak ended on May 11, 2012, in a game against the Chicago Cubs. As it turned out, Axford's wife began going into labor with the birth of his second child that night, and he was unavailable to comment after the game. Instead, he left a handwritten note for journalists in his locker.[18] On July 16, Axford gave up three runs in the top of the ninth to blow a 2–0 lead. Axford, however, was able to regain his control and was reinstated as the Brewers closer in the second half of the season. He managed to rebound enough to finish the 2012 season with 35 saves, which was still good enough for 6th in the National League, with a 4.67 ERA, plus a new career high in strikeouts in a season, striking out 93 batters in 69 innings pitched, averaging 12 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.[19] On September 16, Axford recorded his 100th career save against the New York Mets.[20]
On January 18, 2013, the Brewers announced they had avoided arbitration with Axford, signing him to a one-year contract worth $5 million.[21] He pitched for theCanadian national baseball team in the2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) before the season. In his first four appearances, he had an 0–2 record with 22.10 ERA and a blown save. He threw 98 miles per hour (158 km/h) during the WBC, but only 90–91 miles per hour (145–146 km/h) with the Brewers. The Brewers replaced Axford as their closer with Canadian-bornJim Henderson.[22] He had a 4.45 ERA in 62 games for Milwaukee.[23]
On August 30, 2013, the Brewers traded Axford to theSt. Louis Cardinals for aplayer to be named later, who was later identified asMichael Blazek.[23] Cardinals' coaches informed Axford he wastipping his pitches.[24] With the Cardinals, he worked with catcherYadier Molina to fix mechanical flaws the Cardinals' coaching staff diagnosed.[22][23] Axford completed the season with a 1.74 ERA in his last 13 regular-season games, and a 1.59 ERA during the 2013 postseason, including2+1⁄3 innings without allowing a run during the2013 World Series.[23] After the season, the Cardinals opted not to tender Axford a contract for the 2014 season, making him a free agent.[25]
.jpg)
On December 19, 2013, Axford signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with theCleveland Indians, who announced he would serve as their closer.[22] Despite 9 saves in April, Axford struggled in the closer role and lost the job to a closer-by-committee composed ofCody Allen,Bryan Shaw,Scott Atchison andMarc Rzepczynski in May.[26][27]
Axford was claimed off waivers by thePittsburgh Pirates on August 14, 2014.[28][29] He was designated for assignment on October 25, 2014, and removed from the 40-man roster. He elected to become a free agent on November 3.
Axford signed a minor league contract with theColorado Rockies on January 30, 2015.[30] He was added to the 40-man roster on March 1, whenTyler Chatwood was placed on the 60-day disabled list.[31] After struggles fromLaTroy Hawkins, setup manAdam Ottavino was appointed as the Rockies closer. When Ottavino tore his UCL and needed Tommy John surgery, Axford was named the closer for Colorado. Balls hit against him had the highest averageexit velocity in the major leagues, at 90.6 miles per hour.[32] Axford was designated for assignment by the Rockies after the season.[33]
On December 11, 2015, Axford signed a two-year, $10 million contract with theOakland Athletics.[34] In 2016, Axford appeared in 68 games, earning three saves in ten chances. He had a 3.97 ERA. He wasdesignated for assignment on July 27, 2017,[35] and released on August 1.[36]
On February 8, 2018, Axford signed a minor league contract with theToronto Blue Jays with an invitation to spring training.[37] His contract was purchased by the Blue Jays on March 29, 2018, and he was assigned to the Opening Day roster.[38] On July 28, Axford made his first career start against theChicago White Sox, becoming the sixth Canadian-born starter in franchise history.[39] He faced the minimum over a career-high three innings, though the Blue Jays would end up losing the game 9–5.[40]
On July 31, 2018, Axford was traded to theLos Angeles Dodgers in exchange for minor league pitcher Corey Copping.[41] He only played in five games with the Dodgers, allowing seven earned runs in 32⁄3 innings.[42]
On February 14, 2019, Axford signed a minor league contract to return to the Blue Jays.[43] He was released on March 23 after suffering a stress reaction in his elbow. The following day, it was announced that he would undergo rehab and re-sign with the Blue Jays to a re-worked contract.[44][45] On August 8, Axford had bone spurs removed from his pitching elbow.[46] Axford only appeared in one rehab start with the rookie-levelGCL Blue Jays before electing free agency on November 4, 2019.[47]
After spending the 2020 season out of affiliated ball, Axford agreed to a contract to re-join the Blue Jays on June 20, 2021.[48] He again pitched for their rookie-level team, renamed as theFCL Blue Jays, on June 28.[49]
On August 2, 2021, Axford was traded to theMilwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations. The Brewers then selected his contract.[50] After pitching1⁄3 of an inning in his return, Axford was removed from the game due to an injury. It was later revealed that Axford had significant structural damage in his right elbow and missed the remainder of the season.[51] He became a free agent following the season.
On June 6, 2022, Axford announced on his personal Twitter account that he had resumed throwing for the first time since undergoingTommy John surgery in September 2021.[52]
On December 19, 2022, Axford announced that he would be playing forTeam Canada in the2023 World Baseball Classic.[53]
On March 12, 2024, Axford announced his retirement from professional baseball.[54]
When Axford first entered the majors as the Brewers closer, he relied heavily (almost exclusively) on his powerfastball, which is generally thrown around 96–98 miles per hour (154–158 km/h), but can reach as high as 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). Because of his height, the pitch is delivered on a downward plane, and is thrown with a peculiar arm snapping motion. Since then, his breaking pitches have become nearly as dominant as his fastball, and he now regularly throws acurveball at 79–80 miles per hour (127–129 km/h) with a sharp 12-to-6 break, as well as an 83–86-mile-per-hour (134–138 km/h)slider with a late, sharp break.[citation needed]
Axford received abachelor's degree from Notre Dame in film and television.[55] An avid film fan, Axford correctly predicted 14 of the 15 winners of the2013 Oscar awards, and all eighteen winners in2014 via hisTwitter account.[56] Making predictions in all 24 categories of the2015 and2016 Oscars, Axford successfully chose 17 winners in both years. In 2017, he improved upon this, making correct picks in 19 of the 24 categories at the88th Academy Awards.[57][58] Axford is involved in the annualMilwaukee Film Festival.[55]
