Jonathan Papelbon

Papelbon was a three-time All-City honoree while playing in high school for Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Florida.[3] He was primarily a first baseman in high school, but he also pitched when needed, throwing two no-hitters as a senior.[4] In his senior year, he committed to play college baseball for Mississippi State University.[5]

Papelbon was a closer for the Mississippi State Bulldogs 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 and 2003 NCAA Tournaments and won the 2001 SEC Tournament. During the summer after his freshman year, Papelbon played with the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts in suburban D.C., a summertime collegiate baseball team in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. During the subsequent summers of his college career Papelbon played for the Danville Dans, a summer baseball team in Danville, Illinois. Soon after arriving in Danville, he led the team to a CICL championship.

In the 2002 MLB draft, the Oakland Athletics selected Papelbon with a 40th-round draft pick.[6] Oakland's 2002 draft became known as the "Moneyball draft" after the team's scouting 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.[7]

Papelbon was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft.[8] Papelbon began his minor league career as a starting pitcher for the Lowell Spinners of the New York–Penn League. In 13 games (6 started), he had a 1–2 record, a 6.34 ERA, 43 hits, 36 strikeouts, and 9 walks in ​32 ²⁄₃ innings pitched.[9]

After a 13–10 record for Class-A Lowell Spinners and Sarasota Red Sox from 2003–04, Papelbon was 5–2 in 14 starts for Double-A Portland in 2005. Promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket, he went 1–2 with a 3.57 ERA in four starts, walking two and striking out 21 in 22​¹⁄₃ innings.[10]

Papelbon made his major league debut with the Red Sox on July 31, 2005 against the Minnesota Twins, in which he went 5​¹⁄₃ innings, struck out seven batters and issued five walks in Boston's 4–3 victory.[11] He did not receive a decision.[12] He earned his first major league win on September 12, pitching three scoreless innings in an extra-inning game against the Toronto Blue Jays.[12] In two postseason appearances in 2005, he pitched four scoreless innings against the eventual World Series Champion Chicago White Sox. The Red Sox had plans of slotting Papelbon into their starting rotation prior to the regular season in 2006.[13] However, the incumbent closer, Keith Foulke, proved to be ineffective trying to come back from an injury-plagued 2005.[14]

In April 2006, he changed his hair to a Mohawk style, after Charlie Sheen's character Ricky Vaughn from the film Major League due to a wager with teammate Kevin Youkilis in which they bet whether he could start the season with 10 scoreless innings.[15]

On April 5, the second game of the 2006 season, Papelbon recorded his first career save against the Texas Rangers.[9] On April 29, he set a major league record with his 10th save, against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, becoming the first rookie in major league history to record double-digit saves in the month of April.[16] 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.[17] Papelbon in 2006 saved 35 games, struck out 75 batters in 68 innings, and held opposing batters to a .167 batting average.[9]

On October 11, 2007, Papelbon was named the 2007 winner of the "DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award."[9] Papelbon garnered 39,043 votes out of almost 125,000 votes cast.[18]

Papelbon celebrates the Red Sox victory in the 2007 World Series.

In Game 2 of the World Series, 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. 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 threw the game-winning strikeout for the Red Sox as they clinched the 2007 Championship.[19]

Papelbon during a pregame warmup in 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, topping Mariano Rivera's previous record by $25,000. Boston was under no obligation to pay Papelbon more than the league minimum of $390,000.[20] 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.[21] Papelbon recorded his 100th career save on July 13, 2008.[22] Among pitchers who had thrown at least 200 innings, Papelbon's 0.930 WHIP through 2008 was the lowest in major league history.[23]

Papelbon criticized former teammate Manny Ramirez in the April 2009 issue of Esquire magazine, citing his selfishness and incapability of working with his teammates.[24][25]

On June 29, 2009, Papelbon gained his 132nd save, in a 4–0 shut out against the Baltimore Orioles, tying Bob Stanley's team record for saves which had stood for 20 years. Stanley prophetically commented to the Boston Herald 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.”[26] 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.[27]

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 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."[28]

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.[29] His difficulties continued into the next season.

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.

On June 7, 2011, Papelbon recorded his 200th career save against the New York Yankees, and achieved the mark in the fewest appearances (359), beating Mariano Rivera's mark in 382 appearances.[30] For the 2011 season, Papelbon recorded 31 saves in 34 opportunities. He blew just 3 saves all season long, but 2 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 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.

In November 2011 Papelbon agreed with the Philadelphia Phillies on a four-year, $50 million contract with a vesting option for a fifth year, bringing the total contract value to $60 million.[31] He was signed to fill the role of former closer Ryan Madson, who left to join the Reds.[32][33]

Papelbon pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2012

During April, Papelbon started using Metallica's song "For Whom the Bell Tolls" as his entrance music.[34] On May 7, Papelbon gave up a three run homer to Jordany Valdespin in the top of the 9th, giving the rival New York Mets a 5-2 lead. The home run was Valdespin's first major league hit.[35] Papelbon finished the season with a career high 64 games finished, 38 saves, 92 strikeouts, and a 2.44 ERA over 70 innings pitched.[9]

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.[36] 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.[37]

On June 10, Papelbon earned his 300th career save against the San Diego Padres, becoming the 26th member of the 300 save club. On August 26, Papelbon recorded his 100th save with the Philadelphia Phillies becoming tied for 4th 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.

On September 14, 2014, Papelbon blew a save against the Miami Marlins, and was booed by the hometown Phillies fans at Citizens Bank Park. He then made an obscene gesture 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.[38] His high school coach said: "The persona that I think he exhibits makes ... fans ... dislike [him]. Unless you're a Phillies fan ... and even some of them don't like him."[39]

In April 2015, he had a heated argument with radio/TV commentator Howard Eskin in the Phillies clubhouse, and the two needed to be separated and restrained.[40] On May 13, Papelbon became the Phillies all-time saves leader with 113 saves.[41]

Papelbon with the Nationals

Papelbon began to express discontent with being on the Phillies as the trade deadline inched closer.[42] On July 28, 2015, the Phillies traded Papelbon to the Washington Nationals for Nick Pivetta.[43] Papelbon assumed the role of Nationals' closer from Drew Storen.[44]

On September 23, Papelbon intentionally threw a pitch at Manny Machado's head. Two days later MLB suspended Papelbon for three games and fined him; he initially appealed the suspension.[45][46]

Papelbon initiated an argument with teammate Bryce Harper during their September 27 game, as Harper was returning to the dugout following his at bat. 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.[47] 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.[48] The Nationals suspended Papelbon for four games without pay for attacking Harper, costing Papelbon $284,153.[48][49] Papelbon dropped his appeal of his suspension for hitting Machado. With seven games remaining for the Nationals, the pair of suspensions ended his season.[50] Papelbon finished the season with 7 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.[51]

During the offseason, Storen was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, 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 strain, the first stint on the disabled list in his career.[52] The team acquired Mark Melancon to supplant him as closer in late July.[53][54]

On August 13, Papelbon requested and was granted his release from the Nationals.[55] The Nats released Papelbon despite still being obligated to pay him $3.3 million over the remainder of the season.[56] In 2016, Papelbon was 2-4 with a career-high 4.37 ERA and 19 saves for the Nationals.[57]