Jonathan Papelbon — 58 | CL

Fast Facts about Jonathan Papelbon

Jonathan Papelbon

Date of Birth: 23 November 1980

Place of Birth: Baton Rouge, LA

Height: 6-4 Weight: 230

College: Mississippi State University

Drafted: 2003 (Boston Red Sox)

Years Pro: 4

Years with Red Sox: 4

Bats: R

Throws: R

SEASON W L SV IP H ER SO ERA

2005 — BOS 3 1 0 34.0 33 10 34 2.65

2006 — BOS 4 2 35 68.3 40 7 75 0.92

2007 — BOS 1 3 37 58.3 30 12 84 1.85

2008 — BOS 5 4 41 69.3 58 18 77 2.34

TOTAL 13 10 113 230.0 161 47 270 1.84

At Mississippi State University, Papelbon went 9-6 with 13 saves and a 2.90 ERA in 61 relief appearances over three seasons. After passing up the opportunity to sign with Oakland after being drafted in 2002, Papelbon signed with Boston after the team selected him in the fourth round on the 2003 amateur draft.
Papelbon set a major league record for saves in the month of April when he recorded his tenth save of the season on 29 April 2006.
Before allowing a solo home run to Jermaine Dye in Chicago on 09 July 2006, Papelbon had not allowed a single run on the road all season.
Jonathan's younger brother, Josh Papelbon, was drafted by the Red Sox in the June 2006 amateur draft; Josh's twin brother, Jeremy, was also picked by the Chicago Cubs.
With 26 saves in 29 chances, Papelbon was selected to represent the American League at the 2006 All-Star game in Pittsburgh but did not appear during the contest.
After posting 35 saves in 2006, Papelbon was penciled in as a starter for 2007 before the decision was made to keep him in the closer role for 2007. He rewarded the Red Sox with another 37 saves and made another four in the post-season, including three in the World Series against Colorado. He also made his second All-Star roster and pitched one scoreless inning, striking out two.

29 April 2006 - In a 9-6 win over Tampa Bay, Boston rookie closer Jonathan Papelbon earns his 10th save in 10 chances; he became the first big league pitcher to get 10 saves in April after entering that season without a save. He also sets a major league rookie record and the Red Sox team mark for saves during April.
19 July 2006 - Josh Beckett and Jonathan Papelbon combine for Boston's second consecutive 1-0 shutout over Kansas City, the first time since 1916 that the Red Sox had won back-to-back 1-0 wins at Fenway Park. Rookie pitcher Jon Lester had allowed just one hit in eight innings of work the previous day against the Royals and Papelbon had worked a perfect ninth.
13 July 2008 - Closer Jonathan Papelbon saves his 100th career game, only the third Boston pitcher to reach the century mark, as the Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 at Fenway Park.
22 July 2008 - Jonathan Papelbon notches save number 30 on the season, the first Boston pitcher to save at least 30 games in three separate seasons, as the Red Sox double up the Seattle Mariners, 4-2.