Jon Lester
Jon Lester | ||
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Strikeouts | 2,488 | |
Teams | ||
Career highlights and awards | ||
Jonathan Tyler Lester (born January 7, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals, and St. Louis Cardinals. Less than two years after being diagnosed with lymphoma, Lester started and won the final game of the 2007 World Series for the Red Sox and, in May 2008, pitched a no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals. He helped lead the Red Sox to another championship in 2013, and he won the 2016 World Series with the Cubs. Lester started the opening game of a playoff series 12 times, which was a record for the most in baseball history until Justin Verlander passed him in 2023.[1][2]
Early life
Lester attended Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, Washington. Playing for the school's baseball team, Lester was a three-time MVP and three-time All-Area selection. In addition, he was named Gatorade State Player of the Year for Washington in 2000.[3]
Professional career
Draft and minor leagues
The Red Sox selected Lester in the second round, with the 57th overall selection, of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft and gave him the highest signing bonus of any second-rounder that year, $1 million.[citation needed]
Lester quickly moved through the Red Sox organization, posting an 11–7
Lester was one of the Red Sox' top-rated prospects while in the minors, and other major league teams made efforts to acquire him. The
Boston Red Sox (2006–2014)
2006
With a rash of injuries and general ineffectiveness of several Red Sox starters, the team recalled Lester on June 10 to make his major league debut against the Texas Rangers. He put up a 7–2 record and a 4.76 ERA in 81+1⁄3 innings pitched in his rookie year.
On August 27, 2006, Lester was scratched from his scheduled start against the Oakland Athletics due to a sore back. The following day he was placed on the 15-day
2007
Following the successful treatment of his lymphoma, Lester was able to return to the Red Sox midway through the 2007 season. Lester attended spring training in 2007, and started the season for the class A Greenville Drive. Lester then started for Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox in late April 2007. In June, Lester was removed from the disabled list, and sent to Pawtucket for further rehab outings.[9]
Lester made his first 2007 start for the Boston Red Sox on July 23 against the
To honor Lester's comeback from lymphoma, the Boston Baseball Writers' Association of America voted him the 2007 Tony Conigliaro Award.[12]
2008
On May 19, 2008, Lester threw a no-hitter in a 7–0 win against the Kansas City Royals.[13] It was the 18th no-hitter in Red Sox history. Lester threw 130 pitches in the game, allowing only two walks and striking out nine batters, and was charged with a throwing error on a pickoff attempt in the second inning. It was the first no-hitter thrown by a Red Sox left-handed pitcher since Mel Parnell in 1956, the first in MLB since teammate Clay Buchholz in September 2007, and the MLB-record fourth no-hitter caught by Jason Varitek. It was also only the second no-hitter ever pitched against the Royals; Nolan Ryan pitched the other in 1973.[14][15]
In 2008, Lester went 16–6 with a 3.21 ERA. Along with his no-hitter, he pitched a five-hit shutout in his first start at Yankee Stadium. He was named the AL Pitcher of the Month in July and September. Lester was also a key figure in the Red Sox' victory over the Angels in the American League Divisional Series, pitching 14 innings without allowing an earned run. Lester had the second highest winning percentage of all starting pitchers over the last three years (27–8, .771), and led the Red Sox in innings pitched in 2008 with 210+1⁄3.[16]
Lester's losses in Games 3 and 7 of the
Lester also received the 2008 Hutch Award, given to the Major League player who "best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire" of Hutchinson.[18][19]
2009
On March 8, Lester agreed to a five-year, $30 million contract extension with a $14 million team option in 2014.[20]
The season started poorly, with him allowing 11 runs and getting losses in his first two starts.[21] This was the first time he lost in consecutive regular season starts. He began to pitch very well in late May, going 12–3 with a 2.31 ERA in his final 22 starts. On June 6, Lester made his bid for a second no-hitter against the
Lester started Game 1 of the
2010
In 2010, Lester won his final start in April, then won five of the six games he started in May. Lester went 5–0 with a 1.84 ERA and 45 strikeouts and was named the American League Pitcher of the Month, winning the award for the third time.
On June 16, he got his 50th career win, against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lester was selected to the American League All-Star team on July 1, this was his first selection. At the time of the break he was 11–3 with a 2.78 ERA and 124 strikeouts. He pitched the sixth inning for the AL allowing no baserunners.
On July 25, Lester took a perfect game into the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners, but lost it in that inning due to an error made by Eric Patterson. A home run by Michael Saunders broke up the no-hit bid, and the Red Sox eventually lost the game.[24] The loss was the second of four losses in a row Lester took after the All-Star break. He would eventually turn it around throwing six shutout innings against the Yankees and then eight shutout innings, despite feeling sick, against the Rangers. Lester finished the season strong and developed an excellent pickoff move, but fell just short of 20 wins.
Lester finished the season T-4th in
2011
In 2011, Lester was the opening day starter for the Red Sox, on the road against Texas. He had a solid season, leading Boston's rotation in wins for the second year in a row and strikeouts for the third year in a row. He was named to the American League All-Star team, replacing Félix Hernández, but did not pitch due to a lat injury.
Lester struggled along with the rest of the team, losing his last three decisions, including giving up eight runs in a start against the New York Yankees. He pitched the season finale against the Baltimore Orioles, pitching six innings and giving up just two runs. The bullpen was unable to hold onto the lead, and the Red Sox were eliminated. Lester finished the season 15–9 with a 3.41 ERA. He finished in the top 20 in strikeouts (11th), wins (10th) and ERA (17th).
In the end of the 2011 season, Lester, Josh Beckett, and John Lackey were at the center of a controversy about players drinking alcohol during games. Many people[who?] hypothesized that this was part of the reason why the Red Sox went 7–20 in September and were eliminated on the last day of the season. Lester later admitted that he and teammates occasionally drank during off-days.[25]
2012
In 2012, Lester was again the opening day starter for the Red Sox. Lester had a disappointing season, posting a 9–14 record, a sub-par 4.82 ERA, and a .273 batting average against.
2013
On May 10, 2013, Lester threw a complete game one-hitter, with no walks, against the Toronto Blue Jays, facing just 28 batters.[26]
On October 3, 2013, Lester was named as the starting pitcher for Game 1 of the
After the Red Sox victory in the ALCS, Lester was selected to start Game 1 of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Lester pitched to an 8–1 victory over St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright.[31] Lester then went on to a Game 5 win again over Wainwright giving the Red Sox a series lead of 3–2.[32] The Red Sox won the series in six games.
2014
On May 3, 2014, Lester pitched eight one-hit innings against the Oakland Athletics, where he had a career-high 15 strikeouts.[33] It was the most by a Red Sox pitcher since Josh Beckett in 2010.
He was elected to his third All-Star Game in July 2014 after posting a 2.73 ERA over his first 18 starts of the season.[34]
Oakland Athletics (2014)
On July 31, 2014, Lester and Jonny Gomes were traded to the Oakland Athletics for Yoenis Céspedes and a competitive round 2015 draft pick. The move reunited Lester with former teammates Jed Lowrie, Coco Crisp, Brandon Moss and Josh Reddick.[35] He won his debut start against the Kansas City Royals on August 2.[36] He had a 6–4 record and a 2.35 ERA, while pitching for the A's.
Lester was the starting pitcher for the A's in the Wild Card game, against the Kansas City Royals. He left the game after pitched 7+1⁄3 innings with the Athletics leading 7–4. Lester, however, received a no decision, as the bullpen blew the lead, and the Royals made a dramatic comeback to win the game in 12 innings.[37]
Lester had a 16–11 record with a 2.46 ERA and finished fourth in the AL Cy Young voting.[38]
Chicago Cubs (2015–2020)
In December 2014, Lester agreed to a six-year, $155 million deal with the Chicago Cubs with a vesting option for a seventh year at $15 million.[39][40]
2015
Lester made his first start for the Cubs during opening night on April 5, 2015 against the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched 4.1 innings allowing 3 runs as the Cubs were shut out by the Cardinals 3–0.[41] He finished the month of April with a record of 0–2 and an ERA of 6.23 in 21.2 innings pitched with 24 strikeouts and five base-on balls.[42]
On May 27, 2015, matchup with the
Lester posted an 11–13 record, logging 205 innings pitched with an ERA of 3.34 in his first year with the Chicago Cubs. He led the major leagues in stolen bases allowed, with 44.[45]
On October 9, he was the losing pitcher in Game 1 of the
2016
On July 31, 2016, against the
In 2016, Lester finished second in the NL with 19 wins, matching his career high. He was also second in ERA (2.44). He led all major league pitchers in
Lester started Game 1 of the 2016 NLDS against the San Francisco Giants. He earned the win after tossing eight scoreless innings.[50] The Cubs would go on to win the series in four games.
Lester also started Game 1 of the 2016 National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he pitched six innings and allowed just one run and had a no-decision.[51] He also started Game 5 of the series and pitched seven innings of one run ball, earning his third win of the postseason.[52] The Cubs would go on and win the series in six games. Lester was named Co-MVP of the 2016 NLCS along with Javier Báez.[53] Lester's performance helped propel the Cubs to the World Series for the first time since 1945.
Lester was named the Game 1 starter of the
2017
On August 1, Lester recorded his 2,000th career strikeout, and also hit his first career home run.[58] On August 18, Lester was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to left shoulder fatigue.[59]
2018
During spring training, Lester was announced as the Opening Day starter for the Cubs.[60] On July 1, 2018, Lester hit his 2nd career home run, a three-run shot, off of Lance Lynn in an 11–10 win over the Minnesota Twins.[61]
Owning an 11–2 record with a 2.25 ERA, Lester was named to the
2019
Lester was named the Opening Day starter for the third consecutive year and the eighth time in his career. He earned the win in a 12–4 Cubs victory against the Texas Rangers. On August 6, 2019, he called himself the "weakest link" in the Cubs rotation after giving up a career high 11 runs in a 11–4 loss to the Oakland Athletics.[63]
2020
Lester endured the worst season of his Cubs career in 2020, finishing with a 3–3 record and 5.16 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 61.0 innings pitched.[64] He became a free agent after the season.
Washington Nationals (2021)
On January 27, 2021, Lester signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Washington Nationals for the 2021 season.[65] He was the first player to wear 34 on the team since Bryce Harper left in 2019.[citation needed]
St. Louis Cardinals (2021)
On July 30, 2021, Lester was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Lane Thomas.[66] He earned his 200th career victory on September 20, 2021, against the Milwaukee Brewers, making him one of only three active pitchers (at that time) to achieve that mark. Lester made 12 appearances for St. Louis, going 4–1 with a 4.36 ERA and 40 strikeouts. Lester became a free agent following the season.
On January 12, 2022, Lester announced his retirement. At the time of his retirement, he was the last active player from the 2007 Boston Red Sox's World Series-winning roster.[67]
The yips
Lester has had well-documented problems throwing the ball to first base, normally a routine task for a professional pitcher. This is a phenomenon known as the yips. In 2015, it was noted that Lester had not attempted a pickoff for more than one year, before creating wild throws in his latest attempts.[68] In 2018, it was reported that Lester tried to get around his problems by bouncing his throws to first base.[69]
Personal life
As of June 11, 2019, Forbes estimated that Lester's annual income was $25.3 million.[70]
Lester grew up in Puyallup, Washington and attended All Saints School. He later attended Bellarmine Preparatory School where he was a three-time MVP and three-time All-Area selection. On January 9, 2009, Lester married Farrah Stone Johnson,[71][72] who he met in 2007 while making rehab starts in single-A Greenville.[73] Together, they have two sons[74] and one daughter.[75] During the season, they resided in the Graceland West neighborhood of Chicago in a $3.8 million home, but sold it in 2021 after Lester left the Cubs.[76] They reside in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta during the offseason, and Lester owns 1,500 acres in the southwest part of Georgia.[77]
In March 2011, Lester partnered with Charity Wines to release his own wine label under the Longball Cellars brand. Proceeds from sales of his CabernAce cabernet support the Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the place where Lester himself was treated, to aid the development of targeted immunotherapies. Funds raised from this initiative will help researchers maximize the body's own ability to strike out and eliminate disease so lymphoma patients can extend their life. He is partnering with former teammate
Lester and his wife Farrah established NVRQT, short for "Never Quit", in 2011 to support children with cancer and researchers working towards a cure.[79][80] Lester has written guest columns about his cause on Boston.com[81] and CNN.com.[82]
In his free time, Lester is an avid hunter and a wine aficionado. During the 2015 offseason, in an attempt to woo him, the Chicago Cubs sent Lester fine wines and camouflage Cubs shirts.[83]
See also
- Chicago Cubs award winners and league leaders
- List of Boston Red Sox no-hitters
- List of Major League Baseball annual shutout leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career games started leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
- List of World Series starting pitchers
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External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- SoxProspects.com Bio
- Interview With Lester