John Axford
From BR Bullpen
John B. Axford
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 5", Weight 195 lb.
- School University of Notre Dame, Canisius College
- Debut September 15, 2009
- Born April 1, 1983 in Simcoe, ON, Canada
[edit] Biographical Information
John Axford took a circuitous route to the major leagues.
Axford began his college career at University of Notre Dame, but had Tommy John surgery in December 2003. He sat out 2004, and most of 2005 before transferring to Canisius College. He went undrafted after a so-so senior season. He dominated a collegiate summer league in Canada and was signed by scout Mike Gibbons for the New York Yankees.
Axford spent one season in the Yankees' chain at 4 different levels, including AAA but was released after the season. He hooked on with the Milwaukee Brewers the next spring, 2008, and was sent to the Brevard County Manatees, making his major league debut with the Brewers at the tail end of the 2009 season.
Axford became the closer of the Brewers as a rookie in 2010, replacing a struggling Trevor Hoffman. He went 8-2, 2.48, saving 24 games while striking out 76 in 58 innings. In 2011, he had an even more outstanding season, saving a National League-leading 46 games as the Brewers were NL Central champions. He pitched 74 games with a record of 2-2, 1.95, and struck out 86 in 76 1/3 innings. He won a game and recorded a save in three appearances against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS, then had a pair of saves when the Brewers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. Overall in the postseason, he gave up a single run in 7 innigs, giving up 5 hits and 2 walks and striking out 9. After the season, he was named co-winner of the Tip O'Neill Award, given to the most outstanding Canadian baseball player; he shared the honor with Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds.
Axford converted 49 consecutive save opportunities in 2011 and early 2012, the fourth-longest streak in the history of the save statistic. The streak ended on May 11th, when he blew a one-run lead against the Chicago Cubs. The game would go on for a number of innings yet, with the Brewers winning, 8-7, in 13 innings, but John immediately left the ballpark after hearing that his wife Nicole had gone into labor, six weeks before the due date of the couple's second child. She had been watching the game from the stands (luckily, with her physician nearby). She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors were able to stop her contractions and prevent a premature birth. John left a hand-written note to reporters that became a sensation across the continent: "I put my wife into contractions with my performance tonight! The streak is over so now you can talk about it. The luck I've had in the past didn't show up tonight! All I can do is start another streak and keep my head up! Cliché... cliché... cliché... another cliché. Gotta go! Love, Ax."
[edit] Notable Achievements
- NL Rolaids Relief Award Winner (2011)
- NL Saves Leader (2011)
- 30 Saves Seasons: 1 (2011)
- 40 Saves Seasons: 1 (2011)
