John Axford
Encyclopedia
John Berton "The Ax Man" Axford (born April 1, 1983, in Simcoe, Ontario
, Canada) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Milwaukee Brewers
.
, Canada, Axford attended Assumption College School
in nearby Brantford. Because the school didn't have an interscholastic baseball
program, he played for Port Dover Minor Baseball, Team Ontario and Team Canada. His combined four-year
totals with the three clubs were a 37–12 record, a 1.88 earned run average (ERA)
, 278 innings
pitched, 432 strikeout
s and 173 walk
s.
He was originally selected by the Seattle Mariners
in the seventh round (219th overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft
, but accepted an athletic scholarship
to the University of Notre Dame
instead. He was inactive during his junior
year after undergoing Tommy John surgery
in December 2003. Used as a starting pitcher
in 26 of 36 games, his record in three seasons with the Fighting Irish was 14–6. Despite losing his scholarship as a redshirt
senior
in 2005, he still earned a bachelor's degree
in film, television and theatre.
Axford was selected by the Cincinnati Reds
in the 42nd round (1,259th overall) of the 2005 MLB Draft
. He spent the spring of 2006, his one remaining year of collegiate athletic eligibility, at Canisius College
where he went 3–8 in fourteen starts. After watching him in action with the Golden Griffins once, the Reds declined to offer a contract
. By that summer, he was pitching for the Melville
Millionaires of the Western Major Baseball League
. A nineteen-strikeout performance in a seven-inning contest caught the attention of the New York Yankees
, who signed him as a minor-league
free agent on August 11, 2006. His 2007 campaign was divided between three Class A farm team
s (Staten Island Yankees
, Charleston RiverDogs
and Tampa Yankees
) and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, where he appeared in only one game. A combined 1–4 in 27 games, he was released by New York on December 14, 2007.
sales
man for Telus
in the Toronto area, he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers
on March 4, 2008. A 5–10 campaign with a 4.55 ERA for the Brevard County Manatees
was followed by an offseason employed as a bartender
at an East Side Mario's
in Hamilton, Ontario
. Used exclusively out of the bullpen
in 2009
, he improved to a combined 9–1 with the Manatees, Huntsville Stars
and Nashville Sounds
. He was called up to the Brewers on September 7, and made his major league debut eight nights later as the last Brewers pitcher in a 13–7 loss to the Chicago Cubs
at Wrigley Field
. He surrendered an earned run
, a hit
and three walk
s in one inning
pitched.
Axford started 2010 in Nashville before being promoted by the Brewers on May 15, 2010. With Trevor Hoffman
struggling in save situations, Axford, even though he had never been a closer in his career, was given the job. Axford became a big success as a Brewer closer and gained popularity with Brewer fans as he sported a handlebar mustache in many of his early appearances, bringing back memories of legendary reliever Rollie Fingers
. Axford finished his first full season with an 8–2 record, a 2.48 ERA, pitched in 50 games, was 24 out of 27 in save attempts, and struck out 76 batters in 58 innings pitched.
He was named a relief pitcher on Baseball Americas 2010 All-Rookie Team.
Axford went into 2011 as the Brewers closer and continued to repeat much of the success he had in 2010. As of September 29, Axford is 2–2 with a 1.95 ERA and is 46 out of 48 in save attempts, which currently places him second for most saves this season, with both blown saves coming in the first week of the 2011 season. Axford has struck out 75 batters in just over 64 innings pitched. He is currently 2nd in major league save percentage since May of 2010, and has become one of the most dominant closers in baseball.
In a game against the Chicago Cubs
on July 27, Axford converted his 26th consecutive save opportunity, breaking Doug Jones
's Brewers franchise record. Axford has still continued his consecutive saves streak, having now converted 43 consecutive saves, which is the second longest streak this season behind Detroit's Jose Valverde. The 40th, against the Cincinnati Reds
on September 16, made him the 9th pitcher to convert at least that number of saves in a row.
Axford was named DHL Delivery Man Award winner for the month of July 2011, in which he recorded 11 saves with a 2.57 ERA.
On September 24, Axford set the Brewers franchise record for most saves in a single season, saving his 45th against the Florida Marlins
. For the season, he led the National League in saves (46), and was second in games finished (63), as he was 2–2 with a 1.95 ERA.
On October 1, Axford saved his first postseason game, pitching a perfect inning with a strikeout in a 4 to 1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks
On October 28, Axford was named the recipient of the 2011 Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year Award by the American Mustache Institute
.
Recognition of Axford's success in 2011 continued into the offseason, where he was ninth overall in voting for the NL Cy Young Award, and 17th overall for the NL MVP award.
, which is generally thrown around 95–98, but can reach as high as 99. Because of his height, the pitch is delivered on a downward plane, and is thrown with a peculiar arm snapping motion. Since then, his breaking pitches have become nearly as dominant as his fastball, and he now regularly throws a very good curveball
at 79–80 mph with a sharp 12 to 6 break, as well as an 83–86 mph slider
with a late, sharp break.
Simcoe, Ontario
Simcoe is an unincorporated community and former town in Southwestern Ontario, Canada located near Lake Erie. It is the county seat and largest community of Norfolk County....
, Canada) is a 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...
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 Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
Path to the majors
Raised in Port Dover, OntarioPort Dover, Ontario
Port Dover is an unincorporated community and former town located in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada on the north shore of Lake Erie.The community was the subject of an American raid during the War of 1812, on May 14, 1814....
, Canada, Axford attended Assumption College School
Assumption College School (Brantford)
Assumption College is a Roman Catholic Secondary School in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.-Mission Statement:"Assumption College Schoolis our catholic learning communityWhere we strive for exellenceand we work to BecomeRespectful,Responsible Individuals...
in nearby Brantford. Because the school didn't have an interscholastic baseball
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...
program, he played for Port Dover Minor Baseball, Team Ontario and Team Canada. His combined four-year
Year
A year is the orbital period of the Earth moving around the Sun. For an observer on Earth, this corresponds to the period it takes the Sun to complete one course throughout the zodiac along the ecliptic....
totals with the three clubs were a 37–12 record, a 1.88 earned run average (ERA)
Earned 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...
, 278 innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
pitched, 432 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....
s and 173 walk
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
s.
He was originally selected by the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in the seventh round (219th overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
, but accepted an athletic scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
instead. He was inactive during his junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
year after undergoing Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
in December 2003. Used as a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in 26 of 36 games, his record in three seasons with the Fighting Irish was 14–6. Despite losing his scholarship as a redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
in 2005, he still earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in film, television and theatre.
Axford was selected by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in the 42nd round (1,259th overall) of the 2005 MLB Draft
2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
. He spent the spring of 2006, his one remaining year of collegiate athletic eligibility, at Canisius College
Canisius College
Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
where he went 3–8 in fourteen starts. After watching him in action with the Golden Griffins once, the Reds declined to offer a contract
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
. By that summer, he was pitching for the Melville
Melville, Saskatchewan
Melville is a small Canadian city located in the east-central portion of Saskatchewan. It was declared a city by the province in 1960. The city is north east of the provincial capital of Regina and south west of Yorkton. According to The World Gazetteer, it has a 2004 population of approximately...
Millionaires of the Western Major Baseball League
Western Major Baseball League
The Western Major Baseball League or WMBL is a collegiate summer baseball league. The league can trace its roots back to 1948, as it has gone by many names over the years, including the Alberta-Saskatchewan Baseball league, Western Canadian Baseball League and Saskatchewan Baseball League before...
. A nineteen-strikeout performance in a seven-inning contest caught the attention of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, who signed him as a minor-league
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...
free agent on August 11, 2006. His 2007 campaign was divided between three Class A farm team
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
s (Staten Island Yankees
Staten Island Yankees
The Staten Island Yankees are a minor league baseball team, located in the New York City borough of Staten Island. Nicknamed the "Baby Bombers," the Yankees are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the New York Yankees and play in the New York - Penn League at Richmond County Bank Ballpark...
, Charleston RiverDogs
Charleston RiverDogs
The Charleston RiverDogs are a Minor League Baseball team based in Charleston, South Carolina. They play in the class A South Atlantic League and are an affiliate of the New York Yankees. Their home stadium is at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park...
and Tampa Yankees
Tampa Yankees
The Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
) and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, where he appeared in only one game. A combined 1–4 in 27 games, he was released by New York on December 14, 2007.
Milwaukee Brewers
After spending the winter working as a cell phoneMobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
sales
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
man for Telus
TELUS
Telus is a national telecommunications company in Canada that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services including internet access, voice, entertainment, video, and satellite television. The company is based in Burnaby, British Columbia, part of Greater Vancouver...
in the Toronto area, he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on March 4, 2008. A 5–10 campaign with a 4.55 ERA for the Brevard County Manatees
Brevard County Manatees
The Brevard County Manatees are a minor league baseball team of the Florida State League, and are the A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers...
was followed by an offseason employed as a bartender
Bartender
A bartender is a person who serves beverages behind a counter in a bar, pub, tavern, or similar establishment. A bartender, in short, "tends the bar". The term barkeeper may carry a connotation of being the bar's owner...
at an East Side Mario's
East Side Mario's
East Side Mario's is a Canadian casual dining restaurant, managed by its parent holding company Prime Restaurants, which operates in Canada and the United States. The restaurant specializes in Italian-American cuisine. Individual locations claim to recreate the historic ambiance found at the corner...
in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
. Used exclusively out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
in 2009
2009 Milwaukee Brewers season
The Milwaukee Brewers' 2009 season was the 40th season for the franchise in Milwaukee and 41st overall. It was Ken Macha's first season as manager of the team...
, he improved to a combined 9–1 with the Manatees, Huntsville Stars
Huntsville Stars
The Huntsville Stars are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Huntsville, Alabama and are named for the space industry with which Huntsville is economically tied .The Stars play their home games at Joe W...
and Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
. He was called up to the Brewers on September 7, and made his major league debut eight nights later as the last Brewers pitcher in a 13–7 loss to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
. He surrendered an earned run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, a hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and three walk
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
s in one inning
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
pitched.
Axford started 2010 in Nashville before being promoted by the Brewers on May 15, 2010. With Trevor Hoffman
Trevor Hoffman
Trevor William Hoffman is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During his 18-year career from 1993 to 2010, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers, spending years of his career with the Padres. A long-time closer, he is the Major...
struggling in save situations, Axford, even though he had never been a closer in his career, was given the job. Axford became a big success as a Brewer closer and gained popularity with Brewer fans as he sported a handlebar mustache in many of his early appearances, bringing back memories of legendary reliever Rollie Fingers
Rollie Fingers
Roland Glen Fingers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During his 18-year baseball career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . He became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992...
. Axford finished his first full season with an 8–2 record, a 2.48 ERA, pitched in 50 games, was 24 out of 27 in save attempts, and struck out 76 batters in 58 innings pitched.
He was named a relief pitcher on Baseball Americas 2010 All-Rookie Team.
Axford went into 2011 as the Brewers closer and continued to repeat much of the success he had in 2010. As of September 29, Axford is 2–2 with a 1.95 ERA and is 46 out of 48 in save attempts, which currently places him second for most saves this season, with both blown saves coming in the first week of the 2011 season. Axford has struck out 75 batters in just over 64 innings pitched. He is currently 2nd in major league save percentage since May of 2010, and has become one of the most dominant closers in baseball.
In a game against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
on July 27, Axford converted his 26th consecutive save opportunity, breaking Doug Jones
Doug Jones (baseball)
Douglas Reid Jones is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During a 16-year career, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers , Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles , and Oakland Athletics , all of the American League, and the Houston Astros , Philadelphia Phillies , and...
's Brewers franchise record. Axford has still continued his consecutive saves streak, having now converted 43 consecutive saves, which is the second longest streak this season behind Detroit's Jose Valverde. The 40th, against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
on September 16, made him the 9th pitcher to convert at least that number of saves in a row.
Axford was named DHL Delivery Man Award winner for the month of July 2011, in which he recorded 11 saves with a 2.57 ERA.
On September 24, Axford set the Brewers franchise record for most saves in a single season, saving his 45th against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. For the season, he led the National League in saves (46), and was second in games finished (63), as he was 2–2 with a 1.95 ERA.
On October 1, Axford saved his first postseason game, pitching a perfect inning with a strikeout in a 4 to 1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
On October 28, Axford was named the recipient of the 2011 Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year Award by the American Mustache Institute
American Mustache Institute
The American Mustache Institute is an advocacy organization and registered 501 not-for-profit based in St. Louis, Missouri. When founded in 1965, by Dr. SCHNURRBART SNOR, AMI was the only organization in the world working towards facial hair advocacy...
.
Recognition of Axford's success in 2011 continued into the offseason, where he was ninth overall in voting for the NL Cy Young Award, and 17th overall for the NL MVP award.
Scouting report
When Axford first entered the Majors as the Brewers everyday closer, he relied heavily (almost exclusively) on his power fastballFour-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...
, which is generally thrown around 95–98, but can reach as high as 99. Because of his height, the pitch is delivered on a downward plane, and is thrown with a peculiar arm snapping motion. Since then, his breaking pitches have become nearly as dominant as his fastball, and he now regularly throws a very good curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
at 79–80 mph with a sharp 12 to 6 break, as well as an 83–86 mph 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....
with a late, sharp break.