James Paxton, Starting Pitcher, Boston Red Sox
Date of Birth: 11/6/1988
Birthplace: Ladner, British Columbia, Canada
College: University of Kentucky
James Paxton, starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, was first drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2009 but he didn't sign with them. A year later, he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners. He played in the Mariners' minor league system from 2010 through part of 2013.
Paxton first joined the Mariners in 2013, pitching 24.0 innings in 4 games. In 2014, he pitched a career high 74.0 innings in 13 games with the Mariners. He finished with a 6-4 record and a 3.04 ERA. He again pitched in 13 games in 2015, this time finishing with a 3-4 record and a 3.90 ERA in 67.0 innings.
In 2016, Paxton pitched in 20 games as a starter for the Mariners. He finished the season with a 3.79 ERA, 6 wins to 7 losses, and 117 strikeouts to 24 walks in 121.0 innings.
Paxton finished the 2017 season with 12 wins and 5 losses, 156 strikeouts to 37 walks, and a 2.98 ERA in 136.0 innings in 24 games.
Paxton pitched in 28 games in 2018. He finished the season with 11 wins and 6 losses, 208 strikeouts to 42 walks, and a 3.76 ERA in 160.1 innings.
The Mariners traded Paxton to the New York Yankees on November 19, 2018. Paxton spent time on the DL in 2019 with left knee inflammation. He finished the season with 15 wins and 6 losses, 186 strikeouts to 55 walks, and a 3.82 ERA in 150.2 innings in 29 games. In the postseason, he pitched 13.0 innings in 3 games and he gave up 13 hits, 2 home runs, and 5 runs. He struck out 20 batters and walked 7, and he had 1 win and no losses and a 3.46 ERA.
Paxton pitched in just five games in 2020. He finished the season with 1 win and 1 loss and a 6.64 ERA in 20.1 innings. He didn't pitch in the postseason.
Paxton became a free agent on October 28, 2020. He returned to the Mariners on February 18, 2021. He spent most of the 2021 season on the IL with left forearm strain. He pitched in just 1 game with the Mariners.
Paxton became a free agent on November 3, 2021. He signed with the Red Sox on December 1st.
Career pitching statistics for Paxton through 2021 include:
- 137 games played
- 754.2 innings pitched
- 57-33 win-loss record
- 831 strikeouts to 231 walks
- 3.59 ERA
Sources for Information
Wikipedia - James Paxton
ESPN - James Paxton
Baseball Reference - James Paxton