Jonathan Robert Papelbon (; born November 23, 1980) is an American former professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...
relief pitcher
In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed because of fatigue (medical), fatigue, ineffectiveness, injury, or ejection (sports), ejection, or for other strategic ...
. He played 12 seasons in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB), most notably for the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
, with whom he was an
All-Star in four consecutive seasons (
2006
File:2006 Events Collage V1.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2006 Winter Olympics open in Turin; Twitter is founded and launched by Jack Dorsey; The Nintendo Wii is released; Montenegro 2006 Montenegrin independence referendum, votes to declare ...
–
2009
File:2009 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The vertical stabilizer of Air France Flight 447 is pulled out from the Atlantic Ocean; Barack Obama becomes the first African American to become President of the United States; 2009 Iran ...
), won the 2007
Delivery Man of the Year Award
Major League Baseball (MLB) annually honored its best relief pitcher with the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award from 2005 through 2013. It was initially part of a sponsorship agreement between MLB and package delivery company DH ...
, and was a
2007 World Series
The 2007 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2007 season. The 103rd edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the National League (NL) champion Colorado Rockies and the American Le ...
champion. The Red Sox drafted him in the 4th round of the
2003 Major League Baseball Draft, and he played three seasons of minor league baseball before breaking into the majors. He also played for the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
from 2012 to 2015, and the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
from 2015 to 2016.
Early life
Jonathan Robert Papelbon was born on November 23, 1980, in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge ( ; ) is a city in and the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. Located the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, it is the parish seat of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana's most populous parish—the equivalent of counties i ...
. He was the oldest son of three to John, a
staff sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services.
History of title
In origin, certain senior sergeants were assigned to administrative, supervi ...
in the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
, and Sheila, a
corporate trust
In the most basic sense of the term, A corporate trust is a trust created by a corporation.
The term in the United States is most often used to describe the business activities of many financial services companies and banks that act in a fiducia ...
banker. In college, Sheila had been a
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
for the
softball team at
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1860 nea ...
, and all of her children grew up to become baseball pitchers. Papelbon attended
Bishop Kenny High School
Bishop Kenny High School (commonly referred to as Bishop Kenny or BKHS) is a private, college-preparatory, coeducational Catholic high school in Jacksonville, Florida. It is located in and administered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. August ...
in
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the ...
, where he was a standout
first baseman
A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...
for the school baseball team. He was named All-City for three consecutive years, and during his
senior
Senior (shortened as Sr.) means "the elder" in Latin and is often used as a suffix for the elder of two or more people in the same family with the same given name, usually a parent or grandparent. It may also refer to:
* Senior (name), a surname ...
year in 1999, Papelbon
batted .336 with five
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
s and 27
runs batted in
A run batted in (RBI; plural RBIs ) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if the bat ...
(RBI). He pitched only occasionally, but threw two
no-hitter
In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher wh ...
s that same year.
College career
In his senior year of high school, Papelbon committed to play college baseball for
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, commonly known as Mississippi State University (MSU), is a public land-grant research university adjacent to Starkville, Mississippi. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Unive ...
.
Papelbon was a closer for the
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State Bulldogs is the name given to the athletic teams of Mississippi State University, in Mississippi State, Mississippi. The university is a founding member of the Southeastern Conference and competes in NCAA Division I.
Sports sp ...
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 the
2001
The September 11 attacks against the United States by Al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror, were a defining event of 2001. The United States led a Participants in ...
and
2003
File:2003 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The crew of STS-107 perished when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry into Earth's atmosphere; SARS became an epidemic in China, and was a precursor to SARS-CoV-2; A des ...
NCAA Tournaments and won the
2001
The September 11 attacks against the United States by Al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror, were a defining event of 2001. The United States led a Participants in ...
SEC Tournament
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) sponsors nine men's sports and twelve women's sports. This is a list of conference champions for each sport. Also see the list of SEC national champions.
Members
The SEC was established on December 1932, when t ...
. During the summer after his freshman year, Papelbon played with the
Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts
Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical co ...
in suburban D.C., a summertime collegiate baseball team in the
Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
The Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League (CRCBL) is a collegiate summer baseball league located in the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland, metropolitan areas. The CRCBL is a member of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball (NA ...
. During the subsequent summers of his college career Papelbon played for the Danville Dans, a summer baseball team in
Danville, Illinois
Danville is a city in and the county seat of Vermilion County, Illinois. As of the 2010 census, its population was 33,027. As of 2019, the population was an estimated 30,479.
History
The area that is now Danville was once home to the Miami, K ...
. Soon after arriving in Danville, he led the team to a CICL championship.
In the
2002 MLB draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.
It is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book '' Moneyball''.
First round selections
Supplemental first round compensation selections
* ...
, the
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...
selected Papelbon with a 40th-round draft pick.
Oakland's 2002 draft became known as the "
Moneyball draft" after the team's
scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking ...
strategies were featured in the book ''
Moneyball'', which later became
a movie by the same name. 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.
Professional career
Minor leagues
Papelbon was drafted by the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
in the fourth round of the
2003 Major League Baseball draft.
Papelbon began his minor league career as a starting pitcher for the
Lowell Spinners
The Lowell Spinners were a baseball team based in Lowell, Massachusetts. From 1996 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL) as the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. With Major League ...
of the
New York–Penn League
The New York–Penn League (NYPL) was a Minor League Baseball league that operated in the northeastern United States from 1939 to 2020. Classified as a Class A Short Season league, its season started in June, after major-league teams signed th ...
. In 13 games (6 started), he had a 1–2 record, a 6.34 ERA, 43 hits, 36
strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is deno ...
s, and 9
walks in
innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched (IP) are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher is on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one innin ...
.
After a 13–10 record for
Class-A Lowell Spinners
The Lowell Spinners were a baseball team based in Lowell, Massachusetts. From 1996 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL) as the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. With Major League ...
and
Sarasota Red Sox
Sarasota () is a city in Sarasota County on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts, and the Sarasota School of Architecture. The city is located in the sou ...
from 2003 to 2004, Papelbon was 5–2 in 14
starts for Double-A
Portland
Portland most commonly refers to:
* Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States
* Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...
in 2005. Promoted to Triple-A
Pawtucket, he went 1–2 with a 3.57
ERA
An era is a span of time defined for the purposes of chronology or historiography, as in the regnal eras in the history of a given monarchy, a calendar era used for a given calendar, or the geological eras defined for the history of Earth.
Comp ...
in four starts, walking two and striking out 21 in 22 innings.
Boston Red Sox (2005–2011)
2005
Papelbon made his major league debut with the Red Sox on July 31, 2005 against the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
, in which he went 5 innings, struck out seven batters and issued five walks in Boston's 4–3 victory. He did not receive a decision.
He earned his first
major league win on September 12, pitching three scoreless innings in an
extra-inning game against the
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
.
In two
postseason
The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
appearances in 2005, he pitched four scoreless innings against the eventual World Series Champion
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
. The Red Sox had plans of slotting Papelbon into their starting rotation prior to the regular season in 2006. However, the incumbent closer,
Keith Foulke
Keith Charles Foulke ( ; born October 19, 1972) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. A graduate of Hargrave High School in Huffman, Texas, Foulke attended Galveston College and Lewis–Clark State College. Between 1997 and 2008, he p ...
, proved to be ineffective trying to come back from an injury-plagued 2005.
2006
In April 2006, he changed his hair to a
Mohawk Mohawk may refer to:
Related to Native Americans
*Mohawk people, an indigenous people of North America (Canada and New York)
*Mohawk language, the language spoken by the Mohawk people
*Mohawk hairstyle, from a hairstyle once thought to have been t ...
style, after
Charlie Sheen
Carlos Irwin Estévez (born September 3, 1965), known professionally as Charlie Sheen, is an American actor. He has appeared in films such as ''Platoon'' (1986), ''Wall Street'' (1987), '' Young Guns'' (1988), '' The Rookie'' (1990), ''The Thr ...
's character Ricky Vaughn from the film ''
Major League'' due to a wager with teammate
Kevin Youkilis
Kevin Edmund Youkilis (; born March 15, 1979), nicknamed "Youk" , is an American former professional baseball first baseman and third baseman, who primarily played for the Boston Red Sox. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, he was drafted by the Red S ...
in which they bet whether he could start the season with 10 scoreless innings.
On April 5, the second game of the 2006 season, Papelbon recorded his first career save against the
Texas Rangers.
On April 29, he set a major league record with his 10th save, against the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home venu ...
, becoming the first rookie in major league history to record double-digit saves in the month of April. He subsequently received the
Delivery Man of the Month Award
Major League Baseball (MLB) honored its best relief pitchers with a Delivery Man of the Month Award for one pitcher during each month of the regular season from 2005 through 2013. The awards were initially part of a sponsorship agreement between ...
for April. 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's
closer. Papelbon in 2006 saved 35 games, struck out 75 batters in 68 innings, and held opposing batters to a .167
batting average
Batting average is a statistic in cricket, baseball, and softball that measures the performance of batters. The development of the baseball statistic was influenced by the cricket statistic.
Cricket
In cricket, a player's batting average is ...
.
2007
On October 11, 2007, Papelbon was named the 2007 winner of the "DHL Presents the Major League Baseball
Delivery Man of the Year Award
Major League Baseball (MLB) annually honored its best relief pitcher with the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award from 2005 through 2013. It was initially part of a sponsorship agreement between MLB and package delivery company DH ...
."
Papelbon garnered 39,043 votes out of almost 125,000 votes cast.
In Game 2 of the
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...
, Papelbon was brought in with the bases empty and two outs in the eighth with the Red Sox leading 2–1 to face Rockies hitter
Matt Holliday
Matthew Thomas Holliday (born January 15, 1980) is an American professional baseball coach and former left fielder who is the bench coach for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB from 2004 to 2018 for the ...
. 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 out
Seth Smith
Garry Seth Smith (born September 30, 1982) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles. He w ...
to clinch the 2007 Championship for the Red Sox.
2008
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 for
salary arbitration Free agency in Major League Baseball (MLB) concerns players whose contracts with a team have expired and who are therefore eligible to sign with another team. Free agents may be eligible for pendulum arbitration, also called "salary arbitration" or ...
, topping
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera (born November 29, 1969) is a Panamanian-American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, from 1995 to 2013. Nicknamed "Mo" and "Sandman", he spent most ...
's previous record by $25,000. Boston was under no obligation to pay Papelbon more than the league minimum of $390,000. 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. Papelbon recorded his 100th career save on July 13, 2008. Among pitchers who had thrown at least 200 innings, Papelbon's 0.930
WHIP
A whip is a tool or weapon designed to strike humans or other animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain. They can also be used without inflicting pain, for audiovisual cues, such as in equestrianism. They are generally e ...
through 2008 was the lowest in major league history.
2009
Papelbon criticized former teammate
Manny Ramirez
Manuel Arístides Ramírez Onelcida (born May 30, 1972) is a Dominican-American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for parts of 19 seasons. He played with the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Lo ...
in the April 2009 issue of ''Esquire'' magazine, citing his selfishness and incapability of working with his teammates.
On June 29, 2009, Papelbon gained his 132nd save, in a 4–0 shut out against the
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
, tying
Bob Stanley's team record for saves which had stood for 20 years. Stanley prophetically commented to the ''
Boston Herald
The ''Boston Herald'' is an American daily newspaper whose primary market is Boston, Massachusetts, and its surrounding area. It was founded in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States. It has been awarded eight Pulit ...
'' 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." On July 1, Papelbon recorded his 133rd save with the Red Sox, to break the franchise record. He was selected to represent Boston at the
2009 All-Star Game.
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 the ''
Boston Herald
The ''Boston Herald'' is an American daily newspaper whose primary market is Boston, Massachusetts, and its surrounding area. It was founded in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States. It has been awarded eight Pulit ...
'' 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."
In Game 3 of the 2009 ALDS, with Boston down two games to none, Papelbon blew the save and Boston was swept. He allowed four hits and three runs; all of the runs scored with two outs. His difficulties continued into the next season.
2010
In 2010, he blew eight saves (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.
2011
On June 7, 2011, Papelbon recorded his 200th career save against the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
, and achieved the mark in the fewest appearances (359), beating Mariano Rivera's mark in 382 appearances. 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 and allowed them a walk-off 4–3 win. Just moments later, the Rays won their game against the Yankees with a walk-off home run by
Evan Longoria
Evan Michael Longoria (born October 7, 1985), nicknamed "Longo", is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2008 through 2017, and the S ...
to clinch the Wild Card, capping off a nine-game comeback in the standings against Boston and officially eliminating them from the playoffs. Following the 2011 World Series, Papelbon became a free agent.
Philadelphia Phillies (2012–2015)
2012
In November 2011 Papelbon agreed with the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
on a four-year, $50 million contract (equivalent to $ million in ) with a vesting option for a fifth year, bringing the total possible contract value to $60 million. It was the largest contract ever signed by a relief pitcher. He was signed to fill the role of former closer
Ryan Madson
Ryan Michael Madson (born August 28, 1980) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Washington Nationals, and Los Angeles D ...
, who left to join the Reds.
During April, Papelbon started using
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...
's song "
For Whom the Bell Tolls
''For Whom the Bell Tolls'' is a novel by Ernest Hemingway published in 1940. It tells the story of Robert Jordan, a young American volunteer attached to a Republican guerrilla unit during the Spanish Civil War. As a dynamiter, he is assigned ...
" as his entrance music. 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.
2013
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.
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.
2014
On June 10, Papelbon earned his 300th career save against the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
, becoming the 27th member of the
300 save club
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the 300 save club is the group of pitchers who have recorded 300 or more regular-season saves in their careers. Most commonly a relief pitcher ("reliever" or " closer") earns a save by being the final pitcher of a ...
. On August 26, Papelbon recorded his 100th save with the Philadelphia Phillies becoming tied for fourth on the all-time franchise saves list. On September 1, Papelbon was one of four pitchers who combined for a no-hitter in the Phillies' 7–0 win over the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
.
On September 14, 2014, Papelbon blew a save against the
Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The franc ...
, and was booed by the hometown Phillies fans at Citizens Bank Park. He then made an
obscene gesture
An obscene gesture is a movement or position of the body, especially of the hands or arms, that is considered exceedingly offensive or vulgar in some particular cultures. Such gestures are often sexually suggestive.
The Finger
Although " the fi ...
toward the fans, for which he was ejected from the game. He initiated a confrontation with umpire
Joe West, who had thrown him out of the game, and was subsequently suspended by MLB for seven games. His high school coach said: "The persona that I think he exhibits makes ... fans ... dislike
im Unless you're a Phillies fan ... and even some of them don't like him."
2015
In April 2015, he had a heated argument with radio/TV commentator
Howard Eskin
Howard is an English-language given name originating from Old French Huard (or Houard) from a Germanic source similar to Old High German ''*Hugihard'' "heart-brave", or ''*Hoh-ward'', literally "high defender; chief guardian". It is also probabl ...
in the Phillies clubhouse, and the two needed to be separated and restrained.
On May 13, Papelbon became the Phillies all-time saves leader with 113 saves.
Washington Nationals
2015
Papelbon began to express discontent with being on the Phillies as the trade deadline inched closer. On July 28, 2015, the Phillies traded Papelbon to the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
for
Nick Pivetta
Nicholas Johncarlo Pivetta (born February 14, 1993) is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Washington Nationals selected Pivetta in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB draft. He was tra ...
. Papelbon assumed the role of Nationals' closer from
Drew Storen
Drew may refer to:
__NOTOC__ Places
;In the United States
* Drew, Georgia, an unincorporated community
* Drew, Mississippi, a city
* Drew, Missouri, an unincorporated community
* Drew, Oregon, an unincorporated community
* Drew County, Arkansas
...
.
On September 23, Papelbon intentionally threw a pitch at
Manny Machado
Manuel Arturo Machado (; born July 6, 1992) is an American professional baseball third baseman and shortstop for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). Very highly recruited from an early age, he was raised in Miami, where he at ...
'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 of
Max Scherzer
Maxwell Martin Scherzer (born July 27, 1984) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, and L ...
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.
Papelbon initiated an argument with teammate
Bryce Harper
Bryce Aron Max Harper (born October 16, 1992) is an American professional baseball right fielder and designated hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). Prior to his arrival in Philadelphia, Harper played for the Wash ...
during their September 27 game, as Harper was returning to the dugout following his
at bat
In baseball, an at bat (AB) or time at bat is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher. An at bat is different from a plate appearance. A batter is credited with a plate appearance regardless of what happens during their turn at bat, but a batt ...
. 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. Nats fans on Twitter offered to donate $100 each (totaling thousands of dollars) to a charity of the Nats' choosing if it got rid of Papelbon.
The Nationals suspended Papelbon for four games without pay for attacking Harper, costing Papelbon $284,153.
Papelbon dropped his appeal of his suspension for hitting Machado. With seven games remaining for the Nationals, the pair of suspensions ended his season. 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.
2016
During the offseason, Storen was traded to the
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
, cementing Papelbon as the team's closer. On June 14, 2016, Papelbon was placed on the
15-day disabled list due to an
Intercostal muscle
Intercostal muscles are many different groups of muscles that run between the ribs, and help form and move the chest wall. The intercostal muscles are mainly involved in the mechanical aspect of breathing by helping expand and shrink the size ...
strain, the first stint on the disabled list in his career. The team acquired
Mark Melancon
Mark David Melancon ( ; born March 28, 1985) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pi ...
to supplant him as closer in late July.
On August 13, Papelbon requested and was granted his release from the Nationals. The Nats released Papelbon despite still being obligated to pay him $3.3 million over the remainder of the season. In 2016, Papelbon was 2–4 with a career-high 4.37 ERA and 19 saves for the Nationals.
Pitching style
Papelbon's velocity fueled much discussion about his overall value as a pitcher. Around 2011, his
four-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family of pitches and is usually the hardest (i.e., fastest) ball thrown by a pitcher. It is ca ...
reached ,
but by 2013, one column on
FanGraphs 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 Gammons
Peter Gammons (born April 9, 1945) is an American sportswriter
Sports journalism is a form of writing that reports on matters pertaining to sporting topics and competitions. Sports journalism started in the early 1800s when it was targeted ...
tweeted
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
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.
Papelbon threw three pitches.
His predominant pitch was the fastball, which he
cut
Cut may refer to:
Common uses
* The act of cutting, the separation of an object into two through acutely-directed force
** A type of wound
** Cut (archaeology), a hole dug in the past
** Cut (clothing), the style or shape of a garment
** Cut (ea ...
with "hard sweeping movement", particularly effectively against left-handed hitters.
He also threw an occasional
two-seam fastball
A two-seam fastball is a pitch in baseball and softball. It is a variant of the straight fastball. The pitch has the speed of a fastball and can also include late-breaking action caused by varying the pressure of the index and middle fingers on t ...
, which averaged . Secondarily, he threw a
splitter, which he utilized as a strikeout pitch and particularly "work
dwell with the fastball".
His tertiary pitch was a sweeping
slider
Slider or Sliders may refer to:
Arts
* K.K. Slider, a fictional character within the ''Animal Crossing'' franchise
* '' The Slider'', a 1972 album by T. Rex
* ''Sliders'' (TV series), an American science fiction and fantasy television series
* ...
, the velocity of which was around .
Personal life
Papelbon and his wife, Ashley Jefferies, live in
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Hattiesburg is a city in the U.S. state of Mississippi, located primarily in Forrest County, Mississippi, Forrest County (where it is the county seat and largest city) and extending west into Lamar County, Mississippi, Lamar County. The city popu ...
. They have two children: a daughter born December 27, 2008, and a son born April 17, 2010.
He appeared on the ''
Late Show with David Letterman
The ''Late Show with David Letterman'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS, the first iteration of the The Late Show (franchise), ''Late Show'' franchise. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was produced by ...
'' 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. Papelbon is an avid fan of the
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division. The team play ...
and attended games at
TIAA Bank Field
TIAA Bank Field is an American football stadium located in Jacksonville, Florida, that primarily serves as the home facility of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL) and the headquarters of the professional wrestling prom ...
after the completion of the baseball season.
His Red Sox teammate
Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague Schilling (born November 14, 1966) is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is a commentator for conservative media outlet BlazeTV. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a World Series appearance ...
said of Papelbon: "He's not exactly a charter member of
Mensa."
His former general manager
Theo Epstein
Theo Nathaniel Epstein (born December 29, 1973) is an American Major League Baseball executive, who currently works for MLB as a consultant. He was the vice president and general manager for the Boston Red Sox and then the president of baseball o ...
observed: "He’s not a
Rhodes Scholar
The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom.
Established in 1902, it is the oldest graduate scholarship in the world. It is considered among the world' ...
... obviously."
''
Esquire
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...
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."
Honors, awards, and records
Honors
Papelbon appeared on the
2022 ballot for the
National Baseball Hall of Fame
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...
. He appeared on only five ballots (1.3% of submissions), falling short of the five percent voter threshold required to appear on future ballots.
Awards and records
*6x
All-Star (
2006
File:2006 Events Collage V1.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2006 Winter Olympics open in Turin; Twitter is founded and launched by Jack Dorsey; The Nintendo Wii is released; Montenegro 2006 Montenegrin independence referendum, votes to declare ...
,
2007
File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pr ...
,
2008
File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
,
2009
File:2009 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The vertical stabilizer of Air France Flight 447 is pulled out from the Atlantic Ocean; Barack Obama becomes the first African American to become President of the United States; 2009 Iran ...
,
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...
,
2015
File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the Apri ...
)
*Holds the single-season record for most saves in a season by a Red Sox rookie (2006)
*First pitcher in Boston Red Sox franchise history to have three 30 save seasons
*Holds the Major League record for most consecutive scoreless innings to start a postseason career (25)
*One of only two (
Craig Kimbrel
Craig Michael Kimbrel (born May 28, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Chicag ...
) and first pitcher to record 25 saves in each of his first five full seasons; he recorded 30 in each of those years
*Was the fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach 200 career saves until Craig Kimbrel beat his previous record
*Philadelphia Phillies All-Time Saves Leader
*Boston Red Sox All-Time Saves Leader (219 saves)
* Included on the ballot for the
National Baseball Hall of Fame
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...
class of , announced on November 22, 2021
References
External links
:
{{DEFAULTSORT:Papelbon, Jonathan
1980 births
Bishop Kenny High School alumni
Baseball players from Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baseball players from Jacksonville, Florida
Major League Baseball pitchers
American League All-Stars
Boston Red Sox players
Philadelphia Phillies players
Washington Nationals players
Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball players
Lowell Spinners players
Sarasota Red Sox players
National League All-Stars
Portland Sea Dogs players
Pawtucket Red Sox players
Living people