John Sawruk

Jonathan Papelbum
Boston Red Sox – No. 58
Relief pitcher
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
July 31, 2005, for the Boston Red Sox
Career statistics (through 2008)
Win-Loss	13-10
Saves	113
Earned run average	94.84
Strikeouts	270
Teams
Boston Red Sox (2005-present)
Career highlights and awards
3x All-Star selection: (2006-2008) World Series Champion (2007) Major League record for most consecutive scoreless innings to start a postseason career (20 2/3).

Jonathan Robert Papelbon (born November 23, 1980 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is a Major League Baseball closer for the Boston Red Sox. He bats and throws right-handed.

Papelbon graduated from Mississippi State in 2003. He throws a fastball in the mid to high 90s with exceptional command. He complements his fastball with a splitter and also throws an occasional slider or changeup with far less frequency.

He was the Red Sox closer during most of 2006. In early September, Papelbon injured his shoulder. When the Red Sox were eliminated from playoff contention, he was shut down for the rest of the season to rest. Papelbon was being groomed to be part of the Red Sox starting rotation because of his shoulder problems, but was later moved back to the bullpen before the start of the season and remained the team's closer. On August 21, 2007, Papelbon had his 30th save of the season making him the first Boston pitcher to ever have two 30-save seasons.

Jonathan is the older brother of twins Josh Papelbon, pitcher for the Lancaster Jethawks, Single-A advanced affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, and Jeremy Papelbon, pitcher for the Iowa Cubs, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

Career

High school

Papelbon was a three-time All-City honoree while playing in high school for Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, FL.

College: Mississippi State

Papelbon was a closer for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He had a 9-6 record, 13 saves, and 2.90 ERA in his three years on the team in relief.

Minor leagues

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 innings.

Major Leagues

Papelbon was drafted in the 17th round in 2003, a year after the Oakland Athletics picked him in the 62nd round. He did not sign because he wanted one more year in college to pitch and a chance to get to the College World Series, which his team failed to do. The Philadelphia Phillies had called him in round six to ask if he’d sign if they drafted him, but he rejected the offer. Finally, the Red Sox drafted him the next year in the eighteenth round.

Papelbon made his major league debut with the Red Sox on July 31, 2005 against the Minnesota Twins, in which he went 5⅓ innings, struck out seven batters, and issued five walks in Boston's 4–3 victory. He did not receive a decision. He earned his first major league win on September 12, 2005, pitching three scoreless innings in an extra-inning game against the Toronto Blue Jays. 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. However, the incumbent closer, Keith Foulke, proved to be ineffective trying to come back from an injury-plagued 2005.

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.

On April 5, the second game of the 2006 season, Papelbon recorded his first career save in Texas. On April 29, 2006, he set a major league record with his 10th save, against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. No rookie in major league baseball history had recorded that many saves in the month of April.

The 25-year-old closer finished 2006 with one of the most dominant seasons ever for a rookie reliever. Papelbon saved 35 games, struck out 75 batters in 68 innings, and held opposing batters to a .167 batting average.

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

Papelbon dancing after 2007 American League Championship Series.

After the Boston Red Sox clinched the American League East title in 2007, Papelbon celebrated the victory by Irish step dancing in the middle of the Fenway Park diamond to the Dropkick Murphys' song "I'm Shipping Up to Boston." Following the Red Sox American League Championship Series victory, he repeated his dance performance on the field with members of the band. For a third time, Papelbon did his dance on a flat bed truck with the World Series trophy over his head along with the Dropkick Murphys playing live during the Sox' Championship "Rolling Rally" Parade.

In late 2007 on Dan Patrick's radio show, David Ortiz revealed a friendly clubhouse wager that stated that Papelbon must perform his signature celebratory dance on demand for people wearing Boston Red Sox apparel. Terms of the bet were not disclosed, but it is rumored that Ortiz wagered 20 cases of Vitamin Water against Papelbon's offer of 1 free car from The Westville Motorsports Megastore, a local dealership he endorses. In Game 2 of the World Series Papelbon was brought in with the bases empty and 2 outs in the eight with the Red Sox leading 2-1 to face the Rockies best hitter, Matt Holliday. Papelbon gave up a single to Holliday before picking off Holliday to end the inning. Papelbon pitched a one-two-three ninth for the save.

In Game 4 of the 2007 World Series, he entered in the 8th inning to shut down the Colorado Rockies comeback, and pitched until the 9th where he threw the game-winning strikeout for the Red Sox as they clinched the 2007 Championship.

Papelbon recorded his 100th career save on July 13th, 2008.

Contract

On March 6, 2008 Papelbon agreed to terms with the Boston 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.

Personal life

Papelbon and his wife Ashley call Hattiesburg, Mississippi their home. Jonathan met Ashley while she was working as a hostess at Hooters in Mobile, Alabama in the winter of 2006. They are expecting their first child on Dec. 31, 2008. His mother, Sheila, played softball at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and his father, John, is the Deputy Director of the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame in St. Petersburg, Florida. He appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman on October 31, 2007, after the Red Sox won the 2007 World Series. He currently resides in Wayland, Massachusetts. On December 20, 2007, Papelbon claimed that his dog "Boss," chewed up the ball that recorded the final out of the 2007 World Series.However upon further questioning Papelbon admitted to never having a dog and it was indeed Papelbon who ate the ball, shortly after admitting this to the reporter Papelbon began sobbing like a woman and demanded that the interview be deemed over. The cameras remained rolling just long enough to capture his wife Ashley beating him with a sock of hot pennies.

Achievements

• Selected to the 2006 American League All-Star Team
• Selected to the 2007 American League All-Star Team
• Selected to the 2008 American League All-Star Team
• Holds the single-season record for most saves in a season by a Red Sox rookie (2006).
• Second in 2006 American League Rookie of the Year voting to Justin Verlander.
• First pitcher in Red Sox franchise history to have three 30 save seasons.
• Holds the Major League record for most consecutive scoreless innings to start a postseason career (20 2/3).
• Voted most typical senior in high school.

Career statistics

Year	Team	League	G/GS	W-L	ERA	IP	SV/SVO	R	ER	BB	K
2005	BOS	AL	17/3	3-1	2.65	34.0	0/1	11	10	17	34
2006	BOS	AL	59/0	4-2	0.92	68.1	35/41	8	7	13	75
2007	BOS	AL	59/0	1-3	1.85	58.1	37/40	12	12	15	84
2008	BOS	AL	67/0	5-4	2.34	69.1	41/46	24	18	8	77
Career			202/3	13-10	1.84	230.0	113/128	55	47	53	270

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference
• ESPN: "Red Sox believe Papelbon is the real deal"
• Sports Illustrated: "Late & Great" by Tom Verducci
• Jonathan Papelbon Video at FoxSports Video Archive