| Ryan Madson | |
|---|---|
 Madson with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1980-08-28)August 28, 1980 (age 44) Long Beach, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 27, 2003, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 29, 2018, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 61–48 |
| Earned run average | 3.48 |
| Strikeouts | 775 |
| Saves | 91 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Ryan Michael Madson (born August 28, 1980) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for thePhiladelphia Phillies,Kansas City Royals,Oakland Athletics,Washington Nationals, andLos Angeles Dodgers. Madson won World Series championships with the Phillies in 2008 and the Royals in 2015. He is third all-time in postseason pitching appearances, behind onlyMariano Rivera andKenley Jansen.[1]
Madson throws three types of fastballs. Hisfour-seamer andsinker both average 95 miles per hour. He also throws acut fastball that averages 93 mph, and acircle changeup around 85 mph.[2]
Madson graduated fromValley View High School in 1998. He committed to playcollege baseball forUSC.[3]
ThePhiladelphia Phillies selected Madson in the ninth round (254th overall) of the1998 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut in 2003. In 2005, he finished with a 4.14earned run average in 87 innings. The Phillies converted him back to astarting pitcher, the role he held throughout his minor league career in 2006.
By 2008 Madson had become part of the "bridge to Lidge (closerBrad Lidge)", developing into an outstanding set-up man. With a devastatingchangeup, Madson found increased velocity, hitting as high as 97 miles per hour in theNLCS. Madson earned his first playoffvictory when the Phillies defeated theLos Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS. He pitched1+2⁄3 innings,striking out one while allowing onehit and onewalk.
WhenBrad Lidge was placed on thedisabled list on June 9, 2009, Ryan Madson was the Phillies' choice for interim closer.[4][5][6] Madson got his first save in his new role on June 10, 2009, against theNew York Mets.[7]
In Game 6 of the2010 National League Championship Series, Madson was the losing pitcher when he gave up a solo home run toJuan Uribe in the eighth inning of a 3–2 loss to theSan Francisco Giants.[8]
Madson began the 2011 season once again as the Phillies' main set-up reliever. However, with Lidge andJosé Contreras on the disabled list in May 2011, Madson was chosen to close for the Phillies. as of August 21, 2011[update], Madson converted 23 saves in 25 opportunities and retained the closer role even after Lidge returned from the DL in July. Madson finished the season with 32 saves, 62 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.37.
A free agent, Madson was close to negotiating a four-year, $44 million contract to remain with the Phillies, but Phillies general managerRubén Amaro, Jr. reneged on the verbal agreement and instead signedJonathan Papelbon to a four-year $50 million deal to replace Madson as the team's closer.[9]
During the 2011–12 offseason, Madson agreed to a one-year $8.5 million contract with theCincinnati Reds.[10] Before the end of spring training, Madson had a torn ligament in his right elbow, requiringTommy John surgery, and missed the entire 2012 season.[11] He never pitched for the Reds, as he declined his option on October 31 and became a free agent.[12]
On November 28, 2012, Madson agreed to a one-year deal with theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim.[13][14] He began the 2013 season on the 15-day disabled list as he attempted to recover from the Tommy John surgery.[15] Later in the season, the Angels transferred Madson to the 60-day disabled list.[16] He was released on August 5 without appearing in a game.[17][18]
Madson tried out with several teams in January 2014 but received no minor league deals from them, so he retired.[9][19]
Madson had become a youth baseball coach in California after his retirement, and in 2014, he received a call fromKansas City Royals executive Jim Fregosi Jr., asking Madson to tutor a high school pitcher. Working with the student inspired Madson to return to MLB, and he contacted Fregosi again that winter.[20] On January 4, 2015, the Royals signed Madson to a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training.[21] Madson was the last player added to the Royals' 25-man roster, beating outBrian Flynn for the final bullpen position in a decision that managerNed Yost called "the hardest ... I think I've ever had to make".[22] He made his first major league appearance in over three years on April 6, 2015, pitching a scoreless ninth inning in the Royals' 10-1 Opening Day defeat of theChicago White Sox.[23] By the end of May, Madson had become a staple of Kansas City's strong bullpen, with a 1.74 ERA and 21 strikeouts in20+1⁄3 innings over 18 appearances.[24] WithWade Davis andGreg Holland unavailable, Madson earned the first save of this new stage of his career on August 9, holding the White Sox scoreless in the ninth inning for a 5-4 victory.[25] By the end of the month, Madson began to experience fatigue and "dead arm", and he was put on rest in order to be ready for a postseason push.[26]
In Game 4 of the2015 ALDS against theHouston Astros, Madson gave up two home runs which put the Royals behind 6–2 with six outs until elimination, however, the Royals rallied to win the game and eventually the series. In Game 6 of the2015 ALCS against theToronto Blue Jays, Madson surrendered a game-tying two run homer toJosé Bautista, but the Royals scored the game winning run in the bottom of the same inning to win the game and the series.[9]
On December 11, 2015, Madson signed a three-year, $22 million contract with theOakland Athletics.[27] In his first season, Madson was given the closer job while leftySean Doolittle recovered from injury. Madson saved 30 games, and despite blowing 7 saves, he finished with a 3.62 ERA in 63 games. In 2017, Madson was relieved of the closer role and was placed as the setup man. Through 40 games, he had a 2.06 ERA while improving his K/9 from 2016.
On July 16, 2017, Madson and Doolittler were traded to theWashington Nationals forBlake Treinen,Sheldon Neuse, andJesús Luzardo.[28] Madson drew criticism from some when on August 4, 2018, he hit Reds star first basemanJoey Votto on the knee with a 96 mph fastball on the first pitch, possibly in retaliation for an accidental hit by pitch of Nationals starBryce Harper. Votto, who yelled at Madson in anger over the pitch,[29] ended up going on the DL.
On August 31, 2018, Madson was traded to theLos Angeles Dodgers for minor league pitcher Andrew Istler.[30] In 9 games for the Dodgers, he struggled to a 6.48 ERA with 13 strikeouts across8+1⁄3 innings pitched. Madson was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the2018 NLCS.
Madson is divorced from his wife of 20 years, Sarah,[31] with whom he has five children.[32][33]
Since his Tommy John surgery, at the suggestion of his Anaheim Angels teammates, Madson has trained with EVO Ultrafit inPhoenix, Arizona, and carries around a POV Sport, an electrical modality, with him at all times during the season.[34]
Madson's uncle,Steve Barr, played in the major leagues from 1974 to 1976 for theBoston Red Sox andTexas Rangers.[35]
| Preceded by N/A | Steve CarltonMost Valuable Pitcher 2004 | Succeeded by |