Jon Lester
From BR Bullpen
Jonathan Tyler Lester
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lbs.
- High School Bellarmine Preparatory School
[edit] Biographical Information
Pitcher Jon Lester was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 2002 amateur draft. He had gone 4-2 with a 1.50 ERA his senior year of high school, striking out 86, walking 12 and allowing 19 hits in 42 innings. He signed for a $1 million bonus and made his pro debut later that summer with the GCL Red Sox, allowing five hits and six runs in 2/3 of an inning.
Lester went 6-9 with a 3.65 ERA for the 2003 Augusta GreenJackets. The next year, the southpaw had a 7-6, 4.28 line for the Sarasota Red Sox. At age 21, the Washingtonian hurler established himself as a prospect by going 11-6 with a 2.61 ERA and 9.89 K/9 for the Portland Sea Dogs. Baseball America named him the Red Sox minor league player of the year and the #4 prospect in the Eastern League, between Hanley Ramirez and Ryan Zimmerman. Lester led the EL in ERA by .30, struck out the most hitters in the league and tied for the lead with three complete games. He made the EL All-Star team, as the lefty pitcher and was named the league's Pitcher of the Year.
After a 3-4, 2.70 start to 2006 with the Pawtucket Red Sox, he made his big league debut as a member of the Boston rotation in June 2006. He went 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA in 15 starts with the club but was sidelined late in the season when he was diagnosed as having lymphoma.
After successful chemotherapy treatment, Lester was ready to return for the 2007 season, but with Boston's rotation adding Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jonathan Papelbon, Lester was presumed to be out of the running for a starting spot. He started the year in the low minors to regain his strength, then was promoted to AAA Pawtucket after three starts in A ball and one in AA. He went 4-5 with a 3.89 ERA in 14 starts for the PawSox before heading back to Boston, where he started another 11 games, with a 4-0 record and a 4.57 ERA. He made the postseason roster as a long reliever, pitching in two games against the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS. Starter Tim Wakefield was injured during that series, and Lester took his place in the rotation in the 2007 World Series. He started Game 4 in Coors Field, with the Red Sox leading the Colorado Rockies by three games to none. He pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing only three hits, and was credited with the win as the Sox completed the sweep.
After spending the off-season hearing his name tossed about in a rumored trade which never materialized with the Minnesota Twins for ace left-hander Johan Santana, Lester made the Red Sox 2008 starting rotation out of spring training. In his 11th start, he threw a no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals on May 19, which was both the first complete game and shutout of his major league career.
Lester's repertoire includes a 94-97 mph fastball, 88-92 mph cutter, mid 70's curveball, occasional slider or changeup
Sources include 2003-2006 Baseball Almanacs
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 2005 Pitcher of the Year Eastern League Portland Sea Dogs
- AL Shutouts Leader (2008)
- 15 Wins Seasons: 2 (2008 & 2009)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (2008 & 2009)
- 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (2009)
- Won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2007
