| Jonathan Papelbon | |
|---|---|
 Papelbon with the Red Sox in 2011 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1980-11-23)November 23, 1980 (age 45) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 31, 2005, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 6, 2016, for the Washington Nationals | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 41–36 |
| Earned run average | 2.44 |
| Strikeouts | 808 |
| Saves | 368 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Jonathan Robert Papelbon (/ˈpæpəlbɒn/; born November 23, 1980) is an American former professionalbaseballrelief pitcher. He played 12 seasons inMajor League Baseball (MLB), most notably for theBoston Red Sox, with whom he was anAll-Star in four consecutive seasons (2006–2009), won the 2007Delivery Man of the Year Award, and was a2007 World Series champion. The Red Sox drafted Papelbon in the fourth round of the2003 Major League Baseball Draft, and he played three seasons of minor league baseball before breaking into the majors. He also pitched for thePhiladelphia Phillies from 2012 to 2015, and theWashington Nationals during 2015 and 2016.
Jonathan Robert Papelbon was born on November 23, 1980, inBaton Rouge, Louisiana.[1] He is the oldest son of three to John, astaff sergeant in theUnited States Army, and Sheila, acorporate trust banker.[2] In college, Sheila had been apitcher for thesoftball team atLouisiana State University, and all of her children grew up to become baseball pitchers.[3] Papelbon attendedBishop Kenny High School inJacksonville, Florida, where he was a standoutfirst baseman for the school baseball team. He was named All-City for three consecutive years, and during hissenior year in 1999, Papelbonbatted .336 with fivehome runs and 27runs batted in (RBI). He pitched only occasionally, but threw twono-hitters that same year.[4]
In his senior year of high school, Papelbon committed to play college baseball forMississippi State University.[5]
Papelbon was a closer for theMississippi State Bulldogs and had a 9–6 record with 13 saves and 2.90 ERA in his three years on the team. During his time at MSU, the Bulldogs appeared in the2001 and2003NCAA tournaments and won the2001SEC tournament. During the summer after his freshman year, Papelbon played with theSilver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts in suburban D.C., a summertime collegiate baseball team then in theClark Griffith Collegiate Baseball League (now in theCal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League). During the subsequent summers of his college career Papelbon played for the Danville Dans, a summer baseball team inDanville, Illinois. Soon after arriving in Danville, he led the team to a CICL championship.[citation needed]
In the2002 MLB draft, theOakland Athletics selected Papelbon with a 40th-round draft pick. The team was taking a chance with the pick in the hopes that Papelbon would agree to leave Mississippi State after his junior year, but Athletics scouting director Eric Kubota said Papelbon was firm in his decision to return to school. Papelbon graduated from Mississippi State in 2003.[6]
Papelbon was drafted by theBoston Red Sox in the fourth round of the2003 Major League Baseball draft.[7] Papelbon began his minor league career as a starting pitcher for theLowell Spinners of theNew York–Penn League. In 13 games (six started), he had a 1–2 record, a 6.34 ERA, 43 hits, 36strikeouts, and 9walks in32+2⁄3innings pitched.[8]
After a 13–10 record forClass-ALowell Spinners andSarasota Red Sox from 2003 to 2004, Papelbon was 5–2 in 14starts for Double-APortland in 2005. Promoted to Triple-APawtucket, he went 1–2 with a 3.57ERA in four starts, walking two and striking out 21 in 221⁄3 innings.[9]
Papelbon made his major league debut with the Red Sox on July 31, 2005, against theMinnesota Twins, in which he went 51⁄3 innings, struck out seven batters and issued five walks in Boston's 4–3 victory. He did not receive a decision.[10] Papelbon earned his firstmajor league win on September 12, pitching three scoreless innings in anextra-inning game against theToronto Blue Jays.[11] In twopostseason appearances in 2005, he pitched four scoreless innings against the eventual World Series ChampionChicago White Sox. The Red Sox had plans of slotting Papelbon into their starting rotation prior to the regular season in 2006.[12] However, the incumbent closer,Keith Foulke, proved to be ineffective trying to come back from an injury-plagued 2005.[13]
In April 2006, Papelbon changed his hair to aMohawk style, afterCharlie Sheen's character Ricky Vaughn from the filmMajor League due to a wager with teammateKevin Youkilis in which they bet whether he could start the season with 10 scoreless innings.[14]
On April 5, the third game of the 2006 season, Papelbon recorded his first career save, against theTexas Rangers.[8] On April 29, he set a major league record with his 10th save, against theTampa Bay Devil Rays, becoming the first rookie in major league history to record double-digit saves in the month of April.[15] He subsequently received theDelivery Man of the Month Award for April.[16] In early September, Papelbon injured his shoulder. When the Red Sox were eliminated from playoff contention, he was shut down for the remainder of the season to rest. The team considered using Papelbon as a starter due to his shoulder problems, but he was moved back to the bullpen before the start of the 2007 season and remained the team'scloser.[17] Papelbon in 2006 saved 35 games, struck out 75 batters in 68 innings, and held opposing batters to a .167batting average.[8]
On October 11, 2007, Papelbon was named the 2007 winner of the "DHL Presents the Major League BaseballDelivery Man of the Year Award."[8] Papelbon garnered 39,043 votes out of almost 125,000 votes cast.[18]
In Game 2 of theWorld Series, Papelbon was brought in with the bases empty and two outs in the eighth with the Red Sox leading 2–1 to face Rockies hitterMatt Holliday. Papelbon gave up a single to Holliday before picking him off to end the inning. Papelbon pitched a one-two-three ninth for the save. In Game 4, he entered in the eighth inning to shut down the Rockies' comeback, and pitched the ninth inning where he struck outSeth Smith to clinch the 2007 Championship for the Red Sox.[19]
On March 6, 2008, Papelbon agreed to terms with the Red Sox for $775,000. Papelbon's deal set the record for the largest contract for a closer not eligible forsalary arbitration, toppingMariano Rivera's previous record by $25,000. Boston was under no obligation to pay Papelbon more than the league minimum of $390,000.[20] On January 20, 2009, Papelbon agreed to a one-year $6.25 million contract with the Red Sox, avoiding arbitration. This was the largest contract for a closer in his first year of arbitration eligibility.[21] Papelbon recorded his 100th career save on July 13, 2008.[22] Among pitchers who had thrown at least 200 innings, Papelbon's 0.930WHIP through 2008 was the lowest in major league history.[23]
Papelbon criticized former teammateManny Ramirez in the April 2009 issue ofEsquire magazine, citing his selfishness and incapability of working with his teammates.[24][25]
On June 29, 2009, Papelbon gained his 132nd save, in a 4–0 shut out against theBaltimore Orioles, tyingBob Stanley's team record for saves which had stood for 20 years. Stanley prophetically commented to theBoston Herald in reference to Papelbon breaking the record "He’s a great kid and competitor. If anyone’s going to break it, that’s a good guy to do it. He’s probably going to end up with a lot more than 132."[26] On July 1, Papelbon recorded his 133rd save with the Red Sox, to break the franchise record. He was selected to represent Boston at the2009 All-Star Game.[27]
Papelbon was cited repeatedly for his slow play. On September 4, 2009, it was reported that he had been fined $5,000 for failing to deliver his first pitch within the required time in a September 1 appearance. Papelbon told theBoston Herald that he had been cited on at least five occasions, and fined more than $10,000 for these violations. Papelbon jokingly added, "I think they're going to call my parole officer and put me away."[28]
In Game 3 of the 2009 ALDS, with Boston down two games to none, Papelbon failed to make the save and Boston was swept. He allowed four hits and three runs; all of the runs scored with two outs.[29] His difficulties continued into the next season.
In 2010, Papelbon failed in eight save attempts (including one against the Yankees on May 17, 2010, where he allowed four earned runs and a walk-off home run for the first time in his career), leaving open the possibility that he might be traded. The Red Sox kept Papelbon as their closer and his productivity improved over the 2011 season.[citation needed]
On June 7, 2011, Papelbon recorded his 200th career save against theNew York Yankees, and achieved the mark in the fewest appearances (359), beating Mariano Rivera's mark in 382 appearances.[30] For the 2011 season, Papelbon recorded 31 saves in 34 opportunities. He blew just three saves all season long, but two occurred during the final month of the season, including the final game of the 2011 regular season; the Red Sox and Rays tied in the standings for the AL Wild Card, and Papelbon blew a 3–2 lead against the Baltimore Orioles in the ninth inning when he struck out the first two batters, but then gave up three consecutive hits, leading to a walk-off 4–3 loss. Just moments later, the Rays won their game against the Yankees with a walk-off home run byEvan Longoria to clinch the Wild Card, which capped off both an improbable late comeback from a 7–0 deficit in the eighth inning and a nine-game comeback in the standings against Boston and officially eliminating them from the playoffs.[31] Following the 2011 World Series, Papelbon became a free agent.
In November 2011 Papelbon agreed with thePhiladelphia Phillies on a four-year, $50 million contract (equivalent to $69.9 million in 2024) with a vesting option for a fifth year, bringing the total possible contract value to $60 million.[32] It was the largest contract ever signed by a relief pitcher.[33] He was signed to fill the role of former closerRyan Madson, who left to join the Reds.[34][35]
During April, Papelbon started usingMetallica's song "For Whom the Bell Tolls" as his entrance music.[36] Papelbon finished the season with 64 games finished (leading the National League), 38 saves, 92 strikeouts, and a 2.44 ERA over 70 innings pitched.[8]
Papelbon finished the 2013 season with 29 saves in 61 games. His save total was the lowest of any of his complete MLB seasons to that point, and the Phillies finished with a 73–89 win–loss record. Papelbon said that he could not remember playing for another losing team.[37] He lost more than two miles per hour off of his average fastball velocity, and after the season he said he had been playing with an injured hip.[38]
On June 10, Papelbon earned his 300th career save against theSan Diego Padres, becoming the 27th member of the300 save club.[39] On August 26, Papelbon recorded his 100th save with the Philadelphia Phillies becoming tied for fourth on the all-time franchise saves list.[40] On September 1, Papelbon was one of four pitchers who combined for a no-hitter in the Phillies' 7–0 win over theAtlanta Braves.[41]
On September 14, 2014, Papelbon blew a save against theMiami Marlins, and was booed by the hometown Phillies fans atCitizens Bank Park. He then made anobscene gesture toward the fans, for which he was ejected from the game. He initiated a confrontation with umpireJoe West, who had thrown him out of the game, and was subsequently suspended by MLB for seven games.[42] His high school coach said: "The persona that I think he exhibits makes ... fans ... dislike [him]. Unless you're a Phillies fan ... and even some of them don't like him."[43]
In April 2015, he had a heated argument with radio/TV commentatorHoward Eskin in the Phillies clubhouse, and the two needed to be separated and restrained.[44] On May 13, Papelbon became the Phillies all-time saves leader with 113 saves.[45]
Papelbon began to express discontent with being on the Phillies as the trade deadline inched closer.[46] On July 28, 2015, the Phillies traded Papelbon to theWashington Nationals forNick Pivetta.[47] Papelbon assumed the role of Nationals' closer fromDrew Storen.[48]
On September 23, Papelbon intentionally threw a pitch atManny Machado's head, resulting in immediate ejection. Machado tried to dodge the ball from hitting his head by throwing up his left shoulder and the ball hit his shoulder. The hit by pitch came after Machado hit a go-ahead home run in the 7th off ofMax Scherzer which gave the Orioles the lead and the win. Two days later, MLB suspended Papelbon for three games and fined him; he initially appealed the suspension.[49][50]
Papelbon initiated an argument with teammateBryce Harper during their September 27 game, as Harper was returning to the dugout following hisat bat. The exchange escalated, and Papelbon grabbed Harper by the throat and then shoved Harper toward the bench with both hands, before the two were separated by teammates.[51] Nats fans on Twitter offered to donate $100 each (totaling thousands of dollars) to a charity of the Nats' choosing if they got rid of Papelbon.[52] The Nationals suspended Papelbon for four games without pay for attacking Harper, costing Papelbon $284,153.[52][53] Papelbon dropped his appeal of his suspension for hitting Machado. With seven games remaining for the Nationals, the pair of suspensions ended his season.[54] Papelbon finished the season with seven saves with the Nationals, and 24 in total for the season. On December 6, 2015, Papelbon filed a grievance complaint against the Nationals organization, seeking the money he lost when he was suspended.[55]
During the offseason, Storen was traded to theToronto Blue Jays, cementing Papelbon as the team's closer. On June 14, 2016, Papelbon was placed on the15-day disabled list due to anIntercostal muscle strain, the first stint on the disabled list in his career.[56] The team acquiredMark Melancon to supplant him as closer in late July.[57][58]
On August 13, Papelbon requested and was granted his release from the Nationals.[59] The Nats released Papelbon despite still being obligated to pay him $3.3 million over the remainder of the season.[60] In 2016, Papelbon was 2–4 with a career-worst 4.37 ERA and 19 saves for the Nationals.[61]
Papelbon's velocity fueled much discussion about his overall value as a pitcher. Around 2011, hisfour-seam fastball reached 95 miles per hour (153 km/h),[62] but by 2013, one column onFanGraphs asserted that his velocity was "on the down side of that mountain", and that, for a reliever, he did not strike out enough hitters.Peter Gammonstweeted that some teams were not interested in acquiring Papelbon because of his velocity decline as well as poor performance in clutch situations — in 2013, he converted only five of nine one-run save opportunities.[63]
Papelbon threw three pitches.[62] His predominant pitch was the fastball, which hecut with "hard sweeping movement", particularly effectively against left-handed hitters.[64] He also threw an occasionaltwo-seam fastball, which averaged 92 miles per hour (148 km/h). Secondarily, he threw asplitter, which he utilized as a strikeout pitch and particularly "work[ed] well with the fastball".[62] His tertiary pitch was a sweepingslider, the velocity of which was around 76 miles per hour (122 km/h).[64]
Papelbon and his wife, Ashley Jefferies, live inHattiesburg, Mississippi. They have two children: a daughter born December 27, 2008, and a son born April 17, 2010.[65][66]
Papelbon’s younger brother, Josh, played college baseball as a pitcher at theUniversity of North Florida and was drafted by the Red Sox in the 46th round of the2006 MLB Draft.[67] His other brother, Jeremy, also pitched at the University of North Florida and was drafted by theChicago Cubs in the 19th round of the 2006 MLB draft.[68]
He appeared on theLate Show with David Letterman on October 31, 2007, after the Red Sox won the 2007 World Series. On December 20, 2007, Papelbon claimed that his dog "Boss" chewed up the ball that recorded the final out of the 2007 World Series.[69] Papelbon is an avid fan of theJacksonville Jaguars and attended games atTIAA Bank Field after the completion of the baseball season.[70]
His Red Sox teammateCurt Schilling said of Papelbon: "He's not exactly a charter member ofMensa."[71] His former general managerTheo Epstein observed: "He's not aRhodes Scholar ... obviously."[44]Esquire's Chris Jones had a slightly different take, writing: "Papelbon's not stupid. He just hasn't acquired ... an understanding of consequence: He says all the dumb things most of us probably think but keep back."[71]
Papelbon appeared on the2022 ballot for theNational Baseball Hall of Fame. He appeared on only five ballots (1.3% of submissions), falling short of the five percent voter threshold required to appear on future ballots.[72]
| Preceded by | No-hit game September 1, 2014 (withHamels,Diekman &Giles) | Succeeded by |
