Jonathan Broxton
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Roy Broxton is an American professional baseball
pitcher
for the Kansas City Royals
of Major League Baseball
. He spent seven seasons playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers
of Major League Baseball
.
A prototypical fireballer
, the 6'4", 295-pound Broxton features an overwhelming fastball
as well as a slider
.
as a pitcher.
He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 2nd round in 2002
and signed with them on June 30, .
His minor league teams were the Great Falls Dodgers of the Pioneer League, the South Georgia Waves
of the South Atlantic League
, the Vero Beach Dodgers of the Florida State League
, and the "AA" Jacksonville Suns
of the Southern League
.
debut on July 29, 2005 against the St. Louis Cardinals
, pitching one inning in relief, allowing one run, and striking out two. His first strikeout
victim was Cardinals
great Albert Pujols
. During the 2005 campaign, he appeared in 14 games, all in relief, striking out 22 batters in only 13 and two-third innings.
Broxton began the 2006 season with the Dodgers
Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s
. After allowing no runs in 11 appearances (with 18 strikeouts), on May 1, 2006, Broxton was recalled from the minors
after the demotion of veteran Lance Carter
.
After gradually gaining the confidence of manager Grady Little
, Broxton became Takashi Saito
's primary setup man, and the team's backup closer
.
He held batters to a .159 Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position
, and held right-handed batters to a .196 batting average
.
Appeared in a career high 83 games for the Dodgers, third most in the National League and fourth most in franchise history. He threw 99 strikeouts (second most among all big league relievers) and ranked fifth in the Majors with 32 holds. His 2.85 ERA placed him as one of nine Major League pitchers with more than 75 innings pitched and an era below 3.78.
Broxton recorded 96 2/3 consecutive no-home run innings from July 23, 2006 to August 21, 2007. That was the longest streak in team history since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958.
On July 19, 2008, Saito was placed on DL and Broxton inherited the closer role for the remainder of the season. He allowed a pinch hit two run homer to Matt Stairs
of the Philadelphia Phillies
in the 8th inning of Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS
.
In his first season as the full-time closer for the Dodgers, Broxton was selected to the National League All-Star team
. However, he was unable to play in the Game due to injury. His final regular season record was 7–2 with a 2.61 ERA, 36 saves and 114 strikeouts. Despite his accomplished season, he suffered a costly blown save in Game 4 of the 2009 National League Championship Series
against the Philadelphia Phillies
when he walked Matt Stairs
, hit Carlos Ruiz with a pitch and then allowed a two out/two run walk off hit by Jimmy Rollins
.
Broxton had a good first half of the season and was selected to the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
, but struggled in the second half and was replaced as the closer at the end of the season by Hong-Chih Kuo
.
Broxton returned to the closer role at the start of the 2011 season and appeared in 14 games in March and April, with a 5.68 ERA and 7 saves. On May 4, he admitted that he had been feeling some pain in his elbow and he was placed on the disabled list. After a couple of months off he made two rehab appearances with the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
on June 21 and 23 but felt tightness in his shoulder when throwing on June 25 and was shut down again. He had hoped to return in September but Manager Don Mattingly
said that it would be late if he returned, if at all. He had another setback after testing his elbow off a mound in September and was shut down for the season. He became a free agent at the conclusion of the season.
.
during March 2009.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe 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 a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He spent seven seasons playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
A prototypical fireballer
Fireballer
In baseball, a fireballer is a pitcher who throws at a notably high velocity. Generally, this term is reserved for pitchers with the ability to throw a fastball in excess of...
, the 6'4", 295-pound Broxton features an overwhelming fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
as well as a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
.
High school years
Broxton attended Burke County High School in Waynesboro, GA. As a senior for the Bears, he posted a 9–2 record and a 1.21 earned run averageEarned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
as a pitcher.
He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in the 2nd round in 2002
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
and signed with them on June 30, .
Minor leagues
In the minor leagues, from 2002–06, Broxton was 23–11 with 12 saves and a 3.03 ERA in 303 innings. He struck out 332 batters, while walking 115 and giving up 244 hits.His minor league teams were the Great Falls Dodgers of the Pioneer League, the South Georgia Waves
South Georgia Waves
The South Georgia Waves was a Low-A class minor league baseball team in Albany, Georgia for one season before relocating to Columbus, Georgia where they operated under the same name for the 2003 season before being rebranded the Columbus Catfish...
of the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
, the Vero Beach Dodgers of the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
, and the "AA" Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
of the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Broxton made his big leagueMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
debut on July 29, 2005 against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, pitching one inning in relief, allowing one run, and striking out two. His first strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
victim was Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
great Albert Pujols
Albert Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a Dominican-American professional baseball player, who is currently a free agent...
. During the 2005 campaign, he appeared in 14 games, all in relief, striking out 22 batters in only 13 and two-third innings.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
. After allowing no runs in 11 appearances (with 18 strikeouts), on May 1, 2006, Broxton was recalled from the minors
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
after the demotion of veteran Lance Carter
Lance Carter
Lance David Carter is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He has pitched in Major League Baseball with the Kansas City Royals Tampa Bay Devil Rays , and Los Angeles Dodgers . He bats and throws right-handed...
.
After gradually gaining the confidence of manager Grady Little
Grady Little
William Grady Little is a former manager in Major League Baseball. He managed the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003 and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006 to 2007...
, Broxton became Takashi Saito
Takashi Saito
is a Japanese professional baseball player.Saito previously pitched for the Yokohama BayStars in the Japanese Central League, compiling a record of 87–80 over 13 seasons...
's primary setup man, and the team's backup closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
.
He held batters to a .159 Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position
Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position
Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position is a baseball statistic derived by dividing a players hits with runners in scoring positions by his at bats with runners in scoring position...
, and held right-handed batters to a .196 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.
Appeared in a career high 83 games for the Dodgers, third most in the National League and fourth most in franchise history. He threw 99 strikeouts (second most among all big league relievers) and ranked fifth in the Majors with 32 holds. His 2.85 ERA placed him as one of nine Major League pitchers with more than 75 innings pitched and an era below 3.78.
Broxton recorded 96 2/3 consecutive no-home run innings from July 23, 2006 to August 21, 2007. That was the longest streak in team history since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958.
On July 19, 2008, Saito was placed on DL and Broxton inherited the closer role for the remainder of the season. He allowed a pinch hit two run homer to Matt Stairs
Matt Stairs
Matthew Wade Stairs is a former Canadian professional Major League baseball outfielder, first baseman, designated hitter, and pinch hitter. He played for 12 different teams, a major league record he shares with Octavio Dotel, Mike Morgan and Ron Villone...
of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the 8th inning of Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS
2008 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Thursday, October 9, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDerek Lowe and Cole Hamels faced each other at Citizens Bank Park for Game 1. In the first inning, Manny Ramírez missed a home run by mere feet to center field and settled for an RBI double to give LA a 1–0 lead,...
.
In his first season as the full-time closer for the Dodgers, Broxton was selected to the National League All-Star team
2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 80th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 14, 2009, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, the home of the...
. However, he was unable to play in the Game due to injury. His final regular season record was 7–2 with a 2.61 ERA, 36 saves and 114 strikeouts. Despite his accomplished season, he suffered a costly blown save in Game 4 of the 2009 National League Championship Series
2009 National League Championship Series
The National League Championship Series was a best-of-seven baseball game series pitting the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Philadelphia Phillies for the National League Championship and the right to represent the National League in the 2009 World Series. The Phillies defeated the Dodgers four...
against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
when he walked Matt Stairs
Matt Stairs
Matthew Wade Stairs is a former Canadian professional Major League baseball outfielder, first baseman, designated hitter, and pinch hitter. He played for 12 different teams, a major league record he shares with Octavio Dotel, Mike Morgan and Ron Villone...
, hit Carlos Ruiz with a pitch and then allowed a two out/two run walk off hit by Jimmy Rollins
Jimmy Rollins
James Calvin "Jimmy" Rollins , nicknamed "J-Roll", is an All-Star and former MVP shortstop, who most recently played for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball's National League....
.
Broxton had a good first half of the season and was selected to the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 81st midseason exhibition between the All-Stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
, but struggled in the second half and was replaced as the closer at the end of the season by Hong-Chih Kuo
Hong-Chih Kuo
Hong-Chih Kuo is a Major League Baseball pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers. When Kuo made his debut in , he became the fourth MLB player from Taiwan ....
.
Broxton returned to the closer role at the start of the 2011 season and appeared in 14 games in March and April, with a 5.68 ERA and 7 saves. On May 4, he admitted that he had been feeling some pain in his elbow and he was placed on the disabled list. After a couple of months off he made two rehab appearances with the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
on June 21 and 23 but felt tightness in his shoulder when throwing on June 25 and was shut down again. He had hoped to return in September but Manager Don Mattingly
Don Mattingly
Donald Arthur "Don" Mattingly is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nicknamed "The Hit Man" and "Donnie Baseball", he played his entire 14-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
said that it would be late if he returned, if at all. He had another setback after testing his elbow off a mound in September and was shut down for the season. He became a free agent at the conclusion of the season.
Kansas City Royals
On November 29, 2011, Broxton signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
.
International career
Broxton was a member of the United States team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
during March 2009.