James Alston Paxton…born Nov. 6, 1988 in Ladner, British Columbia…married to wife Katie…played baseball at the University of Kentucky (2007-09)...ranked third in the NCAA in SO/9.0 IP in 2009 (13.22)...selected by TOR in the first round (37th overall) of the 2009 June Draft but did not sign...became the first Kentucky player selected in the first round of the MLB Draft since Joe Blanton in 2002 (OAK)...pitched for Anchorage in the Alaska Baseball League in 2008, making four starts for the Glacier Pilots...pitched for Team Canada’s bronze medal-winning U18 squad in the 2006 World Junior Championships in Cuba.
2023
Made 19 starts in his only season with Boston, posting a 7-5 record with a 4.50 ERA (48 ER/96.0 IP)...Recorded 101 strikeouts while allowing 33 walks in his first full season since 2019...Spent time on the injured list again, sustaining a right hamstring strain (March 30-May 10) and right knee inflammation from Sept. 10 until the end of the season...In a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester, went 2-3 with a 6.23 ERA (15 ER/21.2) in six games (five starts)...Notched a 3-0 record in June with a 1.74 ERA (6 ER/31.0 IP) in five starts with 34 strikeouts against six walks…boasted at least three strikeouts in 18 of his 19 outings with Boston and a season-high nine strikeouts twice (May 12 vs. STL and June 6 at CLE)…went 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA (8 ER/18.0 IP) in four starts at home with Triple-A Worcester compared to 0-1 with a 17.18 ERA (7 ER/3.2 IP) on the road.
2022
Missed the entire season on the Injured List recovering from Tommy John surgery performed on 4/13/21. Placed on the 60-Day Injured List on 3/16/22. Made one rehab appearance for the Rookie-level FCL Red Sox on 8/18 vs. the FCL Rays...Exited due to a left lat strain after retiring both batters faced (0.2 IP).
2021
Attended Spring Training with SEA after signing with the club as a free agent in February...Made two Cactus League starts, posting a 1.08 ERA (1 ER/8.1 IP) with 17 SO and four BB...Started the Mariners’ 5th game of the season on 4/6 vs. CWS...Did not allow a hit in 1.1 IP with two SO before leaving the game due to injury...Underwent Tommy John surgery on 4/13 and missed the remainder of the season.
2020
Made five starts for the Yankees, going 1-1 with a 6.64 ERA (15 ER, 20.1 IP) with seven walks and 26 strikeouts...Was placed on the 10-day Injured List on 8/24 (retroactive to 8/21) with a left flexor strain… was transferred to the 45-day IL on 9/16, missing the remainder of the season (missed the final 35 team games).
2019
In his first season with the Yankees, went 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA (64 ER, 150.2 IP) with 55 walks and 186 strikeouts in a career-high 29 starts...finished 8th in the AL in wins...on the 10-day IL with left knee inflammation from 5/4-29…won a career-best 10 consecutive starts from 8/2-9/21, posting a 2.25 E R A (15 ER, 60.0 IP) with 20 walks and 65 strikeouts during the streak... made his first postseason start in ALDS Game 1 vs. Minnesota...earned his first career postseason win in ALCS Game 5 vs. Houston.
2018
Made 28 starts for Seattle, going 11-6 with 2CG and a 3.76 ERA (160.1IP, 134H, 67ER, 42BB, 208K, 23HR)…held opponents to a .224 BA (134-for-598); LH .330 (34-for-103), RH .202 (100-for-495)…set career highs in innings pitched, strikeouts and starts…had a 3.24 FIP (FanGraphs)...Ranked ninth in the AL in strikeouts…was the sixth Mariners pitcher to reach 200K in a season…his 42BB were the fewest by a Mariners pitcher in a 200-strikeout season…was the seventh Canadian-born pitcher to record a 200-strikeout season...Logged eight double-digit-strikeout efforts, tied for sixth in the Majors (tied for fourth in the AL)…was the third Mariners pitcher to have eight such outings in one season (Randy Johnson-6x, Mark Langston-2x)...Among pitchers with 150.0IP, his 11.68 K/9.0IP ratio and 32.2% strikeout rate ranked fifth in the Majors (fourth in the AL), and his 4.95 K/BB ratio was 10th in the Majors (fifth in the AL)…his 1.10 WHIP was eighth-lowest in the AL among that group...His 3.8 WAR was 10th among AL pitchers (FanGraphs)...Limited right-handed batters to a .202 BA, third-lowest among Major League left-handers (min. 500BF) behind Boston's Chris Sale (.183) and Tampa Bay's Blake Snell (.188)...On 5/2 vs. Oakland, recorded a career-high 16K over 7.0 shutout innings (5H, 1BB)…was tied for the highest strikeout total in the Majors in 2018 (also Houston's Gerrit Cole on 5/4 at Arizona)…marked the most strikeouts by a Seattle pitcher since Randy Johnson had 19K on 8/8/97 vs. Chicago-AL…joined Johnson (twice) as the only Mariners to record at least 16K in a scoreless outing of 7.0IP-or-longer…had at least 2K in all seven frames, the first Mariners pitcher to record multiple strikeouts in the first seven innings of a game...On 5/8 at Toronto, threw the sixth no-hitter in Mariners history (9.0IP, 3BB, 7K) in Seattle's 5-0 win…was the fifth by an individual pitcher, joining Hisashi Iwakuma, Félix Hernández (perfect game), Chris Bosio and Randy Johnson…completed the feat in 99 pitches, becoming the 12th pitcher to throw a no-hitter in fewer than 100 pitches since 1988 (the first year that pitch counts are complete)…marked his first career complete game...Was the second Canadian-born pitcher to throw a no-hitter, also Philadelphia-AL's Dick Fowler on 9/9/45 (G2) vs. St. Louis-AL…marked the sixth no-hitter to take place in Canada...According to STATS, Inc., was the first AL pitcher to record at least 16K and throw a no-hitter in the same season since Texas' Nolan Ryan accomplished both in the same game on 5/1/91 vs. Toronto...Was named AL co-"Player of the Week" for 5/7-13 with Cleveland's Francisco Lindor…went 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA (15.0IP, 6H, 3ER, 3BB, 11K, 1HR) in two starts, including his no-hitter on 5/8 at Toronto…marked his third career weekly award...In 5/19 win vs. Detroit, tossed his second career complete game (9.0IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 8K, 1HR)...Was placed on the 10-day disabled list on 7/13 with lower back inflammation…left 7/12 start at Los Angeles-AL with lower back stiffness…was reinstated on 7/30...Was placed on the 10- day disabled list on 8/15 with a left forearm contusion…lef t 8/14 start at Oakland after being struck on the left forearm by a line drive hit by Jed Lowrie…was reinstated on 9/1. 4 Made his 100th career start in 9/7 loss vs. the Yankees (6.0IP, 4ER)...Missed two starts from 9/12-23 while recovering from pneumonia...Made five spring training starts, going 1-0 with an 8.27 ERA (16.1IP, 22H, 16R/15ER, 5BB, 17K, 5HR)...Was acquired by the Yankees in a four-player trade on 11/19/18.
2017
Was 12-5 with 2.98 ERA (45 ER, 136.0 IP) in 24 starts... Worthy - Named Mariners Pitcher of the Year by Seattle chapter of Baseball Writers Association of America... The Bar - Set career bests in wins (12), starts (24), innings (136.0), strikeouts (156) and ERA (2.98)... Injuries - Had two stints on 10-day DL: May 5 (retro to 5/3)-May 31 with left forearm strain (1 rehab start with AA Arkansas May 26 vs. Frisco)… and Aug. 11-Sept. 14 with strained left pectoral muscle (suffered in 7th Aug. 10 vs. LAA)... The Streak - Earned win in 7 consecutive starts, July 2-Aug. 4, equaling club record (also: Jamie Moyer, 5/6-6/8/03, and Scott Bankhead, 6/18-7/20/89)…the 7-game win streak is tied for longest streak of career (also: Sept. 23, 2016 - June 6, 2017 in 7 decisions)... Good Run - Tossed 6.0+ innings while allowing 2-or-fewer runs in 7 consecutive starts (7/2-8/4)…T4th-longest in club history (also: Félix Hernández, 6/26-8/1/13, Jamie Moyer, 8/14-9/19/01, Dave Fleming, 5/10-6/9/92)... Blanks - Was only pitcher in Majors with 2 streaks of at least 18.0 consecutive scoreless innings…tossed 23.0 consecutive ShO IP, April 5-20, the 7th-longest streak in MLB… posted 21.0 straight scoreless innings, July 19-August 4, the 14th-longest streak…3rd pitcher in club history to post multiple scoreless streaks of 20.0+ innings in a single season: Hisashi Iwakuma (2013) and Freddy Garcia (2001)... Award Worthy - Named American League Pitcher of the Month for July on Aug. 2 after going 6-0 with a 1.37 ERA (6 ER, 39.1 IP) with 46 strikeouts and 6 walks in 6 starts in July…became the first Mariners pitcher to win 6 games in a single month... Dealing in July - Went 6-0 with 1.37 ERA (6 ER, 39.1 IP) with 46 strikeouts in 6 starts in July…in July, ranked 1st in wins (6), T3rd in innings pitched (39.1), 4th in ERA (1.37) and T4th in strikeouts (46)…one of 10 left-handers in MLB history (done 12x) to record at least 6 wins, an ERA of 1.40-or-better and at least 40 strikeouts in any calendar month... Weekly Honors - Co-American League Player of the Week on July 31 (with Adrian Beltre) after going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER, 13.0 IP) with 18 strikeouts and 0 walks in 2 starts vs. BOS (7/24) and New York-NL (7/30) for the week of July 24-30…Player of the Week April 10-16 after going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER, 15.0 IP) with 17 strikeouts in two starts…first pitcher in club history to earn 2 AL Player of the Week honors in single season... Long Distance - Allowed 0.60 home-runs-per-9.0-innings (9 HR, 136.0 IP), tops among MLB starters (min. 130 IP)…did not give up longball in 7 straight outings (45.1 IP), July 2-Aug. 4…did not allow a longball in first 7 GS in April/May... Ring 'Em Up - Recorded 11 outings with at least 8 strikeouts; T6th-most in AL…among AL left-handers, his 11 games with 8+ strikeouts trail only Chris Sale (26)…is 3rd lefty in club history with 10+ games of 8+ strikeouts, joining Mark Langston (4x, 1984, '86-'88) and Randy Johnson (8x, 1990-95, '97-'98)... Fast Start - Was 4-0 with 1.26 ERA (6 ER, 43.0 IP) with 51 strikeouts in first 7 starts... Streak - Won first 5 decisions over first 8 starts, going 5-0 with 1.69 ERA (9 ER, 48.0 IP)... Home Sweet Home - Posted 2.45 ERA (21 ER, 77.0 IP) with 90 strikeouts in 13 starts at home, the 4th-best home ERA in the Majors (min. 75 IP)... 300 - 300th career strikeout May 31 vs. Colorado…304 strikeouts in first 57 career starts, 3rd in club history behind Félix Hernández (333 K) and Erik Hanson (330 K) in that span. April To Remember - Went 3-0 with 1.39 ERA (5 ER, 32.1 IP) with 39 strikeouts in 5 starts in month of April…his 39 strikeouts ranked T7th by a Mariners pitcher in the month of April (also: Mark Langston, 1989 and Randy Johnson, 1997)…his 39 strikeouts were the most by a Mariner in April since Félix Hernández struck out 44 in April, 2013... Elite Company - Became 18th different pitcher (done 27x) in MLB history since 1913 to record at least 3 wins without taking a loss while posting an ERA of 1.39 or lower and at least 35 strikeouts and 6-or-fewer walks in any single month…one of 11 AL pitchers (done 13x) to do so (last: Chicago-AL's Chris Sale in July of 2014)... First Streak - Posted 23.0 consecutive scoreless innings to open the season (through 2nd inning on April 20)…the longest streak to start the season in Mariners history (Mark Lowe, 17.2 in 2006)…previous best by Seattle starter to start season was Félix Hernández (17.0 in 2007)…the streak ranks T11th-longest overall streak in club history... That's Three - Three straight scoreless starts to begin the season (6.0 ShO IP on 4/5 at HOU, 7.0 ShO IP on 4/10 vs. HOU, 8.0 ShO IP on 4/15 vs. TEX)…10th pitcher in MLB history since 1900 to begin season with 3 straight starts of 6.0+ scoreless innings, joining George McQuillan-PHI (1907), Lefty Leifield-PIT (1907), Ray Caldwell-NYY (1914), George Mogridge-NYY (1916), Harry Brecheen-STL (1948), Luis Tiant-CLE (1966), Tommy Greene-PHI (1991), Woody Williams-STL (2003) & Jordan Zimmerman-DET (2016).
2016
Went 6-7 with a 3.79 ERA (51 ER, 121.0 IP) with 117 strikeouts and 24 walks in 20 starts with Seattle...Strong Finish - Was 3-2 with 3.23 ERA (20 ER, 55.2 IP) with 56 strikeouts in final 9 starts (8/1-9/28)… in 11 starts (6/1-7/27), was 3-5 with 4.27 ERA (31 ER, 65.1 IP)...Strikeout Rates - Struck out 8.70 batters per 9.0 innings (117 K, 121.0 IP), highest of career (7.88 in 2013, 7.18 in 2014 & 7.52 in 2015)…his 4.74 K/BB rate (109 K, 23 BB) is also best of career (3.00 in 2013, 2.03 in 2014 & 1.93 in 2015)... Throwing Strikes - Walked 2 or fewer in 19 of 20 starts this season…had 4.88 SO/BB ratio (117 K, 24 BB) and an 8.70 K/9.0 IP ratio (117 K, 121.0 IP)...Limiting Damage - Allowed 3 earned runs or fewer in 15 of his 20 starts this season…left the game with the lead in 7 of his last 14 games (7/2-9/28)... Four K's - Struck out four Rangers batters in the first inning on Sept. 6 vs. Texas, becoming the 4th pitcher in club history to record 4 strikeouts in 1 inning (also: Felix Hernandez - 2010, Kazuhiro Sasaki - 2003 & Matt Young - 1990)... Injury & Rehab - Placed on 15-day disabled list on Aug. 16 (retroactive to Aug. 8) with a left elbow contusion…made 1 rehab start on Aug. 20 with AAA Tacoma vs. Las Vegas (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) before being activated on Aug. 25...Career Game - Earned win in 3-1 win vs. Los Angeles on Aug. 7…career-high 8.1 innings…was lifted in 9th inning with 1 out after being hit by line drive on pitching elbow...Distance - 8.0+ innings in back-to-back starts Aug. 1 vs. BOS (8.0 IP) & Aug. 7 vs. LAA (8.1 IP)... Ring 'Em Up - Career-high with 10 strikeouts June 6 vs. Cleveland (also: 9/24/13 vs. KC)...Efficient - Got through 8.0 innings on just 78 pitches on July 7 at Kansas City (no-decision)... AAA - Began year with AAA Tacoma, going 4-3 with 3.97 ERA (21 ER, 47.2 IP) in 10 starts.
2015
Was 3-4 with 3.90 ERA (29 ER, 67.0 IP) in 13 starts. ... Strong Finish - Was 3-3 with a 2.60 ERA (15 ER, 52.0 IP) with 44 strikeouts in his final 10 starts of the season; was 0-1 with an 8.40 ERA (14 ER, 15.0 IP) with 12 strikeouts in his first three starts of the year. ... Rehab Recap - Made 3 rehab starts in Aug. & Sept. with AAA Tacoma… allowed 6 runs in 6.2 innings. ... Season Ender - Left last start of the season on Sept. 24 at Kansas City with a torn fingernail on his left hand. ... The Injury - Suffered strained left middle finger and was placed on disabled list May 29. ... Zeroes For You - Recorded a career-high scoreless streak of 20.0 innings spanning May 5-17…the 20.0 inning scoreless streak was tied for longest by a Mariners pitcher in 2014 (also: Mike Montgomery)…was the 29th scoreless streak of at least 20.0 innings in club history, and longest by a lefty starter since Erik Bedard (20.0, May 8-31, 2011). ... MISP-ing In Action - In last 9 starts (April 30-end of season), limited opponents to .029 average (1x34) with RISP, including no hits with RISP in 8 of 9 starts during this span. ... Arizona Fall League - Pitched for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.
2014
Opened career 6-0 with 1.88 ERA in first nine career starts; longest win streak to open career in Mariners history…in first 15 starts had 2.01 ERA (20 ER, 89.2 IP), 5th-lowest ERA in first 15 to begin career (all starts) dating back to 1914…on IL April 9-Aug. 2 with strain of left latissimus dorsi muscle…transferred to 60-day IL on June 9.
2013
Made Major League debut Sept. 7 vs. Tampa Bay (6.0,4,2,1,1,3,HR), recording the win. Was the 7th Mariners pitcher to allow 4 hits or fewer, while tossing at least 6.0 innings in Major League debut. Recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts Sept. 24 vs. Kansas City in fourth career start (7.0,4,0,0,0,10)…joined Oakland's Dan Straily (11 K's, 0 BB 4/5 vs. HOU) as the only other AL rookie pitcher to record 10+ K's in a start in 2013 without issuing a walk. Became the first Mariners pitcher to open a MLB career with a 3-game win streak (all appearances being starts) since Freddy Garcia in 1999. His 1.50 ERA was the 2nd-lowest mark for a pitcher in first 4 starts with the Mariners (not necessarily first four career starts)…Felix Hernandez tops the list, with a 1.24 ERA (4 ER, 29.0 IP) in his first 4 career starts Aug. 4-20, 2005. Limited opponents to a .172 (15x87) avg, including .141 (10x71) vs. right-handed batters. Spent majority of season with AAA Tacoma…finished tied for the team lead with 8 wins, going 8-11 with a 4.45 ERA (70 ER, 145.2 IP) in 28 games/26 starts. Ranked Third in the PCL in strikeouts and games started, while ranking 5th among league starters averaging 8.04 strikeouts per 9.0 innings
2012
Spent the entire season with AA Jackson in the Southern League...went 9-4 with a 3.05 ERA (36 ER, 106.1 IP) in 21 starts...also went 2-0, 0.00 in 2 playoff starts, allowing just 1 unearned run in 13.0 innings (19 K)...named the Southern League Pitcher of the Week for April 5-15 after allowing 1 run in 10.1 innings (2 starts)...on the disabled list May 26-July 2 with right knee soreness...went 6-1, 2.40 ERA in 11 starts following return from DL, tying for the league lead in wins...played for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League (1-1, 5.68, 5 GS, 16 K)...ranked as Mariners No. 4 prospect by Baseball America following the season...also the No. 5 left-handed pitching prospect by MLB.com.
2011
Combined to go 6-3 with a 2.37 ERA (25 ER, 95.0 IP) in 17 starts with A Clinton and AA Jackson...recorded 131 strikeouts, T2nd-most among Mariners farmhands ... among all minor league players with at least 90.0 IP, ranked 2nd averaging 12.41 K/9.0 IP...tallied 6 games with 10+ strikeouts ... selected as the No. 8 prospect in the Midwest League ... pitched a scoreless inning for the World squad in the All-Star Futures Game ...also selected a Midwest League All-Star ... made season debut April 27 vs. Peoria ... went 3-3, 2.73 (17 ER, 56.0 IP) in 10 starts with Clinton...recorded season-high 13 strikeouts June 16 vs. Quad Cities (6.1,4,1,1,2,13)...made AA debut July 3 vs. Chattanooga ... went 3-0, 1.85 (8 ER, 39.0 IP) in 7 starts for Jackson.
2010
Did not immediately sign after being selected in the 4th round of the 2010 June draft ... made four starts for Grand Prairie in the independent American Association (1-2 4.08 ERA, 18 SO, 7 BB) prior to the 2010 draft.
