| Phillippe Aumont | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Aumont with theChicago White Sox during spring training in 2016 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1989-01-07)January 7, 1989 (age 36) Gatineau,Quebec, Canada | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 23, 2012, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 19, 2015, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 1–6 |
| Earned run average | 6.80 |
| Strikeouts | 42 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Medals | |
Phillippe Aumont (born January 7, 1989) is aCanadian former professionalbaseballpitcher, who played for thePhiladelphia Phillies ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by theSeattle Mariners 11th overall in the2007 Major League Baseball draft,[1] and was the third earliest Canadian pick (afterAdam Loewen andJeff Francis, both picked in 2002)[2] as well as the first player born inQuebec to be selected in the first round of the draft.[3]
Aumont was raised in alow-income housing complex in Quebec, the third of four siblings. His mother worked in a hotel and his father for a moving company.[4] As a child Aumont's first love was baseball.[5] He played with different regional and provincial teams, while attending high school atÉcole secondaire du Versant inGatineau, Quebec. Aumont was 15 years old when his hometownMontreal Expos left for Washington, D.C. after the 2004 season, but still supported the team despite playing in a new location.
Aumont was drafted by theSeattle Mariners with the 11th overall pick of the2007 Major League Baseball draft and signed a contract which included a $1.9 million signing bonus.[6] Aumont appeared in 15 games in 2008 (8 starts) for the Seattle Mariners A level affiliate, theWisconsin Timber Rattlers, posting a 2.75 ERA over55+2⁄3 innings with 50 strikeouts versus 19 walks.[7] He began the 2009 baseball season with theHigh Desert Mavericks, the Seattle Mariners Advanced A affiliate, where he was converted into a reliever. In 29 appearances he posted a 3.24 ERA with 12 saves as the closer, earning a promotion to theDouble-AWest Tenn Diamond Jaxx in mid-July. He finished the 2009 season with a 2–6 record, 16 saves, 3.88 ERA, and 59 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched.[7] In the offseason, Aumont played in theArizona Fall League for thePeoria Javelinas, and posted a dismal 12.00 ERA in 10 appearances.[7]
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On December 16, 2009, Aumont was traded to thePhiladelphia Phillies along withTyson Gillies andJ. C. Ramírez forCliff Lee.[8][9]
Aumont played the 2010 season with the Advanced-AClearwater Threshers and Double-AReading Phillies, posting a combined record of 3–11, a 5.68 ERA, and 115 strikeouts in a career-high 122 innings pitched, mostly as a starter.[7] He was moved back to a relief role for the 2011 season and made 43 total appearances for Double-A Reading, as well as theTriple-ALehigh Valley IronPigs.[7]
Aumont began the 2012 season in the bullpen for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, posting a 3–1 record, 4.26 ERA, and 59 strikeouts in44+1⁄3 innings pitched.[7] On August 20, he was promoted to the majors for the first time.[10] He made his MLB debut on August 23, pitching a scoreless inning against theCincinnati Reds. Aumont finished the season in the Phillies bullpen, appearing in 18 games and posting a 3.68 ERA with 2 saves.[11]
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After opening the 2013 season in the Phillies bullpen, Aumont was demoted to Triple-A on May 23.[12] He made 22 total appearances at the major league level in 2013 as well as 32 appearances in the minors, and struggled with command, walking 51 batters in 55 combined innings.[7][11]
On June 1, 2014, Aumont was recalled by the Phillies; he pitched in his first game back on the roster and took the loss.[13] Aumont appeared in just 5 games for the Phillies, posting an ERA of 19.06.[11]
On April 1, 2015, Aumont was sent outright to Triple-A. During the 2015 season with Lehigh Valley, Aumont transitioned back to a starter for the first time since 2010.[14] After posting solid numbers in Triple-A, Aumont was called up on June 19, but struggled mightily with his control, walking 7 batters and serving up 2 home runs in just 4 innings.[11] It was his lone start as the Phillies designated him for assignment afterwards. On June 24, Aumont declined his outright assignment and instead became a free agent.[15]
On July 28, 2015, Aumont signed a minor league contract with theToronto Blue Jays.[16] On August 21, Aumont was released.[17]
On November 23, 2015, Aumont signed a minor league contract with theChicago White Sox. Aumont pitched to a 12.27 ERA over 11 innings with the Triple-ACharlotte Knights,[18] and announced his retirement on June 6, 2016.[19]
On June 7, 2017, Aumont came out of retirement and signed a one-year deal with theOttawa Champions of theCanadian American Association of Professional Baseball. He would make his debut in the second game of a doubleheader against theRockland Boulders. On June 28, 2017. Aumont threw the firstno-hitter inOttawa Champions history against theDominican Republic national baseball team. During the 2017 season, he had a 5.14 ERA and 103 strikeouts in115+2⁄3 innings.
On January 9, 2018, Aumont signed a minor league contract with theDetroit Tigers.[20] He spent the year with the Triple–AToledo Mud Hens, also appearing in two games for the Double–AErie SeaWolves. In 29 games for Toledo, Aumont struggled to a 6.58 ERA with 62 strikeouts across53+1⁄3 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 2.[21]
On January 10, 2019, Aumont signed with theOttawa Champions of theCan-Am League. On July 16, Aumont threw 18strikeouts in a complete-game victory over theRockland Boulders, setting aCan-Am League record for strikeouts in a single game.[22] He finished the season with the lowest ERA (2.65) and fewest earned runs against (35) among all Can-Am League starters, and was named the 2019 Pitcher of the Year.[23] Aumont became a free agent after the Champions franchise elected to take a season off following the Can-Am League's merger with theFrontier League.
On October 25, 2019, Aumont was drafted by theQuébec Capitales in theOttawa Champions dispersal draft.[24]
On December 2, 2019, Aumont signed a minor league contract with theToronto Blue Jays.[25] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[26] On June 30, 2020, Aumont announced his retirement onCBC Radio.[27]
Aumont pitched for theCanada national baseball team at the2009 World Baseball Classic,2013 World Baseball Classic,2015 Pan American Games,2015 WBSC Premier12,2019 Pan American Games Qualifier,[28]2019 Pan American Games,2019 WBSC Premier12,[29] and2023 World Baseball Classic.[30]
In the 2009 World Baseball Classic, Aumont appeared in the 7th inning againstTeam USA on March 7. He struggled early, giving up two hits and a walk, before settling down. He then proceeded to retire MLB All-StarsDavid Wright,Kevin Youkilis, andCurtis Granderson in order, the last two by strikeout, to escape the inning with no runs surrendered.[citation needed]
Prior to March 2023, Aumont had not pitched in a game sincespring training in 2020. Nonetheless, at 34 years old, in his first tune-up game before the 2023 World Baseball Classic, he pitched a perfect inning against the Seattle Mariners and hisfastball reached 92 miles per hour. In spite of his success, he said he was not particularly interested in pursuing professional baseball again.[30]
Aumont was a "power" pitcher, with a hard fastball and sharp breaking ball. Standing 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm) and weighing 255 pounds (116 kg), Aumont threw a fastball in the mid 90s, reaching the upper 90s on occasion, with late movement. His breaking pitch was a "power slurve" which moves more like acurveball and had been clocked in the high 70s to low 80s. He also threw achangeup on occasion.[31] During the 2014 offseason, Aumont commented that he has "always idolized"Randy Johnson, who is 6 feet 10 inches (208 cm) tall:
"This offseason I was looking around a little bit. What I've heard and what you can see [from the stats] is that he didn't really get through his wild stage until he was [almost 30]. So that's why when I go to bed at night I'm like, 'You know what? I still might be struggling with mechanics. I still might not be able to consistently get the corner I want or get the result of the pitch that I want. But if I keep working it will come to me and eventually I'll get it. Some guys get it really early. Some guys get it later. That's just how it works."
— Aumont, February 21, 2014[32]
In mid-2019, Aumont's fiancée gave birth to his first child, a daughter named Gabrielle.[4][33] In 2020, he began renting a farm and growing produce in Gatineau, Quebec.[4] Aumont had another daughter named Raphaelle in or around 2022.[30]
In January 2023, just two months before the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Aumont broke histailbone during a recreationalice hockey game atCarleton University. He was not able to throw a baseball for about three weeks after the injury.[30]
