Josh Lindblom
Encyclopedia
Joshua William Lindblom (born June 15, 1987 in Lafayette, Indiana
) is an American
professional baseball pitcher
for the Los Angeles Dodgers
.
Lindblom attended high school at Harrison High School. He was drafted in the third round of the 2005 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros
after being listed by Baseball America
as the top prospect in the state of Indiana
. He was 8-2 as a High School senior with a 2.30 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 76 innings. Rather than sign with the Astros, Lindblom chose to attend the University of Tennessee
.
After one season with the Volunteers, Lindblom transferred to Purdue University
for the 2007 season. He was a starter with Tennessee, but became the closer
for Purdue in 2007-2008. Lindblom was listed as being among the top college baseball players
He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 2nd round of the 2008 MLB Draft and made his professional baseball debut that same year with the Single-A Great Lakes Loons
in the Midwest League
. He started eight games for the Loons, finishing 0-0 with a 1.86 ERA in 29 innings worked. He struck out 33 batters, while walking only 4. He got a late season call-up to the AA Jacksonville Suns
, where he made one start.
In 2009, he pitched in several spring training games for the Major League Dodgers and there was some speculation that he could even make the big league club to start the season. However, he was instead assigned to start the year with the Dodgers new AA affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts
. He made 14 appearances for the Lookouts, including 11 starts and had a record of 3-5 and an ERA of 4.71 when he was promoted to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
. With the Isotopes, Lindblom made 3 starts and then was transferred to the bullpen. He had a 2.54 ERA in 20 games and was 3-0.
In 2010, he spent the entire season with Albuquerque. He made 10 starts with the Isotopes, before they decided to return him to being a relief pitcher. He finished the season 3-2 with a 6.54 ERA in 40 appearances. He was demoted to Chattanooga in 2011, where he started the season with seven saves and a 2.96 ERA in 19 games. On May 29, 2011, he was called up to the Dodgers. He made his Major League debut in relief on June 1, 2011 against the Colorado Rockies
, allowing two hits in a scoreless seventh inning during a 3-0 Dodgers loss. On August 12, 2011, he won his first game, pitching a scoreless tenth inning against the Houston Astros
in a game the Dodgers won 1-0 in the bottom of that inning. He pitched in 29.2 innings for the Dodgers in 2011, with a 2.73 ERA and 28 strikeouts.
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball 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 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...
.
Lindblom attended high school at Harrison High School. He was drafted in the third round of the 2005 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
after being listed by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
as the top prospect in the state of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. He was 8-2 as a High School senior with a 2.30 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 76 innings. Rather than sign with the Astros, Lindblom chose to attend the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
.
After one season with the Volunteers, Lindblom transferred to Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
for the 2007 season. He was a starter with Tennessee, but became the 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...
for Purdue in 2007-2008. Lindblom was listed as being among the top college baseball players
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 of the 2008 MLB Draft and made his professional baseball debut that same year with the Single-A Great Lakes Loons
Great Lakes Loons
The Great Lakes Loons, based in Midland, Michigan, is a Low Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team plays in the Midwest League and their home park is Dow Diamond, which opened in April 2007.-History:...
in the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
. He started eight games for the Loons, finishing 0-0 with a 1.86 ERA in 29 innings worked. He struck out 33 batters, while walking only 4. He got a late season call-up to 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...
, where he made one start.
In 2009, he pitched in several spring training games for the Major League Dodgers and there was some speculation that he could even make the big league club to start the season. However, he was instead assigned to start the year with the Dodgers new AA affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
. He made 14 appearances for the Lookouts, including 11 starts and had a record of 3-5 and an ERA of 4.71 when he was promoted to 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...
. With the Isotopes, Lindblom made 3 starts and then was transferred to the bullpen. He had a 2.54 ERA in 20 games and was 3-0.
In 2010, he spent the entire season with Albuquerque. He made 10 starts with the Isotopes, before they decided to return him to being a relief pitcher. He finished the season 3-2 with a 6.54 ERA in 40 appearances. He was demoted to Chattanooga in 2011, where he started the season with seven saves and a 2.96 ERA in 19 games. On May 29, 2011, he was called up to the Dodgers. He made his Major League debut in relief on June 1, 2011 against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, allowing two hits in a scoreless seventh inning during a 3-0 Dodgers loss. On August 12, 2011, he won his first game, pitching a scoreless tenth inning against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in a game the Dodgers won 1-0 in the bottom of that inning. He pitched in 29.2 innings for the Dodgers in 2011, with a 2.73 ERA and 28 strikeouts.