John Lannan
Encyclopedia
John Edward Lannan is a left-handed
starting pitcher
in the Washington Nationals
organization.
Following his time as captain of the Chaminade High School
baseball team, Lannan was selected by the Washington Nationals out of Siena College
in the 11th round (324th overall) of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft.
in 2006, compiling ERA's of 5.26 and 4.76 respectively. In 2007, however, he blazed through the minors. He began the year for the high-A Potomac Nationals
going 6-0 with an ERA of 2.13 and was promoted to the Double-A Harrisburg
. He went 3–2 with a 3.25 ERA and got bumped up to Triple-A Columbus
, where he started six games, and went 3–1 with a 1.75 ERA—and all of this before July ended.
The Nationals, decimated by starting injuries to their pitching staff, purchased his contract on July 26, 2007, for Lannan to start against the Philadelphia Phillies
. In his debut, behind 3–2 with one out in the fifth inning, Lannan hit Chase Utley
with a fastball (breaking Utley's hand) and then hit Ryan Howard
on the next pitch, whereupon umpire Hunter Wendelstedt
immediately ejected Lannan from the game; Lannan was the first Major Leaguer in a decade to be tossed from his debut. Lannan picked up his first Major League win, in his second start, six days later, in which he held the Cincinnati Reds
hitless through three and scoreless through five inning before allowing two runs in the sixth.
On August 6, 2007, in just his third major league start, found himself on the national stage as he faced the San Francisco Giants
at AT&T Park in Barry Bonds
's first start after tying Hank Aaron's Major League Baseball's home run record. The 22-year old Lannan held Bonds to no hits; in four plate appearances Bonds fouled out to third, walked, grounded into a double play, and, as Lannan's last batter, struck out on a 3-2 curveball with two out and one on in the seventh. Lannan finished with seven innings of one-run ball pitched, although the Nats went on to lose 3-2 in 11 innings.
He ended the year with a 2-2 record and an ERA of 4.15 in six starts, becoming one of the Nationals best starters. Over the next two years, he pitched more than 385 total innings with an ERA under 3.90. Only 22 other pitchers did that, earning him the starter position for opening day in 2009 and 2010.
Lannan threw his first complete game on June 6, 2009, a 7-1 win over the New York Mets
, and a month and a half later threw his first complete game shutout on July 21, 2009, a 4-0 shutout of the Mets.
His 2010 season started off poorly, allowing seven hits, three walks, and five runs in only 3-2/2 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies
on Opening Day. After a stretch of two weeks in June, where in three games, he compiled a 10.38 ERA while allowing 38 base runners in 13 innings, on June 21, 2010, Lannan was optioned to the class AA Harrisburg Senators
. He was sent to AA rather than AAA because he had previously worked well with Harrisburg pitching coach Randy Tomlin
.
On July 22, 2011, Lannan hit his first career home run off Hiroki Kuroda
of the Los Angeles Dodgers
. It was a two-run home run, giving the Nationals a 3-0 lead, en route to a 7-2 win at Dodger Stadium
.
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
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 the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
organization.
Following his time as captain of the Chaminade High School
Chaminade High School
Chaminade High School is a Roman Catholic college preparatory high school for young men. Located in Mineola, New York, the school was founded in 1930 by the Society of Mary , an international Roman Catholic teaching order of priests and religious Brothers. The school is named for Father William...
baseball team, Lannan was selected by the Washington Nationals out of Siena College
Siena College
Siena College is an independent Roman Catholic liberal arts college in Loudonville, in the town of Colonie, New York, United States. Siena is a four-year, coeducational, independent college in the Franciscan tradition, founded by the Franciscan Friars in 1937. It has 3,000 full-time students and...
in the 11th round (324th overall) of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft.
Minor Leagues
He pitched for the low Single-A Vermont Expos in 2005 and the Single-A Savannah Sand GnatsSavannah Sand Gnats
The Savannah Sand Gnats are a minor league baseball team in Savannah, Georgia and are a member of the A-level South Atlantic League. Since the 2007 season, the Sand Gnats have been an affiliate of the New York Mets.-History:...
in 2006, compiling ERA's of 5.26 and 4.76 respectively. In 2007, however, he blazed through the minors. He began the year for the high-A Potomac Nationals
Potomac Nationals
The Potomac Nationals are a Minor League Baseball team located in Woodbridge, Virginia. The Nationals play in the Class A Advanced Carolina League, and are an affiliate of the Washington Nationals.-History:...
going 6-0 with an ERA of 2.13 and was promoted to the Double-A Harrisburg
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
. He went 3–2 with a 3.25 ERA and got bumped up to Triple-A Columbus
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
, where he started six games, and went 3–1 with a 1.75 ERA—and all of this before July ended.
Major Leagues
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 his debut, behind 3–2 with one out in the fifth inning, Lannan hit Chase Utley
Chase Utley
Chase Cameron Utley is a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. A native of the Greater Los Angeles area, he was raised in the city of Long Beach. He was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, before moving on to UCLA...
with a fastball (breaking Utley's hand) and then hit Ryan Howard
Ryan Howard
Ryan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nicknamed "The Big Piece", Howard stands and weighs . He bats and throws left-handed....
on the next pitch, whereupon umpire Hunter Wendelstedt
Hunter Wendelstedt
Harry Hunter Wendelstedt III is a baseball umpire who has worked in the National League in 1998-1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. His father Harry Hunter Wendelstedt, Jr. was an NL umpire from 1966 to 1998...
immediately ejected Lannan from the game; Lannan was the first Major Leaguer in a decade to be tossed from his debut. Lannan picked up his first Major League win, in his second start, six days later, in which he held 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....
hitless through three and scoreless through five inning before allowing two runs in the sixth.
On August 6, 2007, in just his third major league start, found himself on the national stage as he faced the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
at AT&T Park in Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
's first start after tying Hank Aaron's Major League Baseball's home run record. The 22-year old Lannan held Bonds to no hits; in four plate appearances Bonds fouled out to third, walked, grounded into a double play, and, as Lannan's last batter, struck out on a 3-2 curveball with two out and one on in the seventh. Lannan finished with seven innings of one-run ball pitched, although the Nats went on to lose 3-2 in 11 innings.
He ended the year with a 2-2 record and an ERA of 4.15 in six starts, becoming one of the Nationals best starters. Over the next two years, he pitched more than 385 total innings with an ERA under 3.90. Only 22 other pitchers did that, earning him the starter position for opening day in 2009 and 2010.
Lannan threw his first complete game on June 6, 2009, a 7-1 win over the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, and a month and a half later threw his first complete game shutout on July 21, 2009, a 4-0 shutout of the Mets.
His 2010 season started off poorly, allowing seven hits, three walks, and five runs in only 3-2/2 innings 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...
on Opening Day. After a stretch of two weeks in June, where in three games, he compiled a 10.38 ERA while allowing 38 base runners in 13 innings, on June 21, 2010, Lannan was optioned to the class AA Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
. He was sent to AA rather than AAA because he had previously worked well with Harrisburg pitching coach Randy Tomlin
Randy Tomlin
Randy Leon Tomlin is a former left-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who attended Liberty University. Tomlin played from 1990 to 1994 and batted and threw left-handed. He went 30-31 in 94 career starts with 297 career strikeouts...
.
On July 22, 2011, Lannan hit his first career home run off Hiroki Kuroda
Hiroki Kuroda
is a professional baseball player from Osaka, Japan who is currently a free agent. He is a starting pitcher, who most recently pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers .-Early days:...
of 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...
. It was a two-run home run, giving the Nationals a 3-0 lead, en route to a 7-2 win at Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
.