John Axford

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73+23 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 the American 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 with Joey 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 the fourth-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 the Canadian national baseball team in the 2013 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-born Jim Henderson. [22] He had a 4.45 ERA in 62 games for Milwaukee. [23]

St. Louis Cardinals

On August 30, 2013, the Brewers traded Axford to the St. Louis Cardinals for a player to be named later, who was later identified as Michael Blazek. [23] Cardinals' coaches informed Axford he was tipping his pitches. [24] With the Cardinals, he worked with catcher Yadier 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, including 2+13 innings without allowing a run during the 2013 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]

Cleveland Indians

Axford pitching for the Cleveland Indians in 2014 John Axford on July 9, 2014 (2).jpg
Axford pitching for the Cleveland Indians in 2014

On December 19, 2013, Axford signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Cleveland 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 of Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, Scott Atchison and Marc Rzepczynski in May. [26] [27]

Pittsburgh Pirates

Axford was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh 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.

Colorado Rockies

Axford signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies on January 30, 2015. [30] He was added to the 40-man roster on March 1, when Tyler Chatwood was placed on the 60-day disabled list. [31] After struggles from LaTroy Hawkins, setup man Adam 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 average exit velocity in the major leagues, at 90.6 miles per hour. [32] Axford was designated for assignment by the Rockies after the season. [33]

Oakland Athletics

On December 11, 2015, Axford signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Oakland Athletics. [34] In 2016, Axford appeared in 68 games, earning three saves in ten chances. He had a 3.97 ERA. He was designated for assignment on July 27, 2017, [35] and released on August 1. [36]

Toronto Blue Jays

On February 8, 2018, Axford signed a minor league contract with the Toronto 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 the Chicago 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]

Los Angeles Dodgers

On July 31, 2018, Axford was traded to the Los 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 323 innings. [42]

Toronto Blue Jays (second stint)

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-level GCL 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 the FCL Blue Jays, on June 28. [49]

Milwaukee Brewers (second stint)

On August 2, 2021, Axford was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations. The Brewers then selected his contract. [50] After pitching 13 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 undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2021. [52]

On December 19, 2022, Axford announced that he would be playing for Team Canada in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. [53]

On March 12, 2024, Axford announced his retirement from professional baseball. [54]

Scouting report

When Axford first entered the majors as the Brewers closer, he relied heavily (almost exclusively) on his power fastball, 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 a curveball 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 ]

Personal life

Axford received a bachelor's degree from Notre Dame in film and television. [55] An avid film fan, Axford correctly predicted 14 of the 15 winners of the 2013 Oscar awards, and all eighteen winners in 2014 via his Twitter account. [56] Making predictions in all 24 categories of the 2015 and 2016 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 the 88th Academy Awards. [57] [58] Axford is involved in the annual Milwaukee Film Festival. [55]

See also

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References

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John Axford
Johnaxford2013cardinals.jpg
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