| Paul Maholm | |
|---|---|
 Maholm with the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1982-06-25)June 25, 1982 (age 42) Greenwood, Mississippi, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 30, 2005, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 1, 2014, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 77–100 |
| Earned run average | 4.30 |
| Strikeouts | 984 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Paul Gurner Maholm (/məˈhɒləm/ born June 25, 1982) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for thePittsburgh Pirates,Chicago Cubs,Atlanta Braves andLos Angeles Dodgers.
Paul Gurner Maholm was born on June 25, 1982, inHolly Springs, Mississippi.[1] He played golf at the Holly Springs Country Club as a teenager.[1]
Maholm graduated fromGermantown High School inGermantown, Tennessee. He was a three-year letterman while pitching atMississippi State University for theBulldogs.
Maholm was selected by thePittsburgh Pirates in the first round (eighth overall) of the2003 draft.
While playing in the minor leagues in 2004, Maholm was struck in the face by a line drive. This resulted in a badly broken nose and a shattered left orbital, requiring surgery to repair the damage.[2]
Maholm made his major league debut as a starter, on August 30, 2005, against theMilwaukee Brewers and pitched eight shutout innings, earning his first career win. Maholm compiled a 3–1 record in six games with a 2.18 ERA in the 2005 season.
In 2006, Maholm made 30 starts for the Pirates, going 8–10 with a 4.76 ERA in 176 innings. He struck out 117 while walking a career high 81 and hitting 12 batters.
Maholm pitched his first shutout, while giving up three hits in a 3–0 victory over theHouston Astros on April 24, 2007. The rest of his season went sour, finishing 10–15 in 29 starts. He minimized his walk total from the previous year, inducing just 49 walks in 177.2 innings.
The 2008 season proved to be one of Maholm's best as a starting pitcher. Despite not reaching double digit wins in 31 starts (9–9), he lowered his ERA by more than a run from the previous year, finishing with a 3.79 ERA in a career-high 206.1 innings. In a spring training game against theYankees that year, he facedBilly Crystal in the comedian's lone at-bat. Crystal fouled off the second pitch down the first-base line, but ultimately struck out.[3]
After the 2008 season, Maholm signed a three-year contract extension worth a guaranteed $14.5 million, with a team option for 2012.[4]
In 2009, Maholm hit his first major league home run, off theMets'John Maine. He finished 2009 with a record of 8–9, 4.44 ERA, 14 home runs allowed, six hit batsmen, 60 walks, 119 strikeouts, .290 average against, a 1.44 walks and hits per innings pitched, in 194.2 innings pitched.
Maholm reverted to his 2007 performance in 2010, finishing with a record of 9–15 with a career high 5.10 ERA.[5]
In 2011, Maholm had a stint on the DL, missing more than three starts on the season.[6] He finished 6–14 despite having an ERA of 3.66 and allowing just 11 home runs. He became a free agent following the season.
On January 10, 2012, Maholm signed a one-year, $4.75 million contract with theChicago Cubs with an option for a second year.[7] He was 9–6 with a 3.74 ERA in 20 starts.
On July 30, 2012, Maholm was traded to theAtlanta Braves withReed Johnson forArodys Vizcaino andJaye Chapman.[8][9] He was 14–16 with a 4.14 ERA over1+1⁄2 seasons. He became a free agent following the 2013 season.
On February 8, 2014, Maholm signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers.[10][11] He started eight games for the Dodgers because of various injuries but spent most of his time in the bullpen as a long reliever. In 30 games, Maholm had a 4.84 ERA and a 1–5 record. In a game on August 1 against theChicago Cubs, he tore hisanterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and was lost for the season.[12] He became a free agent following the season.
On February 1, 2015, Maholm signed a minor league deal with theCincinnati Reds.[13][14] Though he hoped to make the Reds as a starting pitcher, he wound up competing for a position in the bullpen.[15] He was released on March 30.[16]
Maholm threw a wide variety of pitches and with a great range of speeds. His lead pitch was asinker in the 87–89 mph range. Maholm also throws afour-seam fastball (87–90),changeup (80–83),cut fastball (83–86),slider (79–82), andcurveball (70–75). He used the cutter and changeup almost exclusively on right-handed hitters, while the slider was used only on lefties. Maholm threw his curveball to batters from both sides of the plate. In 2013, he added a slow curveball that ranges from 62 to 70 MPH, that at times dips into the fifties.[17]
