Josh Beckett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Josh Beckett |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg)
Beckett with the Red Sox in 2011
|
|||
| Pitcher | |||
| Born: May 15, 1980 Spring, Texas, U.S. |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| September 4, 2001, for the Florida Marlins | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 3, 2014, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 138–106 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.88 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,901 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
Joshua Patrick Beckett (born May 15, 1980) is a former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was a three-time MLB All-Star. Josh played for the Florida Marlins, the Boston Red Sox, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He had a fantastic high school career and was one of the best young baseball players in the U.S. The Marlins chose him as the second overall pick in the 1999 MLB draft. Josh helped the Marlins win the 2003 World Series and the Red Sox win the 2007 World Series. He was named the MVP in 2003 and the ALCS MVP in 2007.
Beckett was traded from the Marlins to the Red Sox in 2006. Later, he moved from the Red Sox to the Dodgers in 2012. After missing most of the 2013 season due to injury, he made a great comeback. On May 25, 2014, he pitched a no-hitter for the Dodgers against the Philadelphia Phillies. This made him the 19th pitcher in Dodgers history to throw a no-hitter. However, another injury ended his 2014 season early, and he announced his retirement on October 7, 2014.
Contents
Early Life and High School Baseball
Josh Beckett grew up in Texas and looked up to famous pitchers like Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens. As a kid, he was a star on his Little League teams. He went to Spring High School in Spring, Texas.
During his freshman year, Josh had some trouble with his grades and listening to his coach. Because of this, his coach temporarily removed him from the team. Before his sophomore year, Josh grew taller and his fastball became much faster. He also improved his grades and was able to rejoin the team. As a sophomore, he had a 9–3 record with a 1.18 earned run average (ERA). He even threw three no-hitters that year!
When he was a junior, Baseball America magazine ranked Josh as the best high school baseball player in the country. His team was also ranked as the top high school baseball team. In his junior year, he had a 13–2 record and struck out many batters. His high school coach said he had never seen a pitcher with so much talent.
In his senior year, Josh was nicknamed "Kid Heat." He was named the High School Player of the Year by USA Today. Josh had planned to pitch for Texas A&M University. However, he and Josh Hamilton were considered the top two players available in the 1999 Major League Baseball draft. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays chose Hamilton first. The Florida Marlins then picked Beckett second. A Marlins scouting director said Josh had "an overpowering fastball." Josh was confident, predicting he would reach the major leagues within two years.
Professional Baseball Career
Florida Marlins (1999–2005)
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Josh had long talks with the Marlins about his contract. He even briefly attended Blinn Junior College. But on August 28, 1999, he signed a four-year, $7 million contract. This included a $3.625 million signing bonus.
In March 2000, Josh impressed the Marlins during his first spring training. His fastball was very fast, and he had a good curveball. He started his professional career with the Kane County Cougars in the Class A Midwest League. He faced some injuries that season, including shoulder problems. He finished with a 2–3 record and a 2.12 ERA. Baseball America named him the Marlins' best young player.
In 2001, the Marlins sent Josh to the Brevard County Manatees. He pitched incredibly well, not allowing any earned runs in his first 38 innings. He had a 6–0 record with a 1.23 ERA. This led to him being promoted to the Double A Portland Sea Dogs. In 13 games there, he had an 8–1 record and a 1.82 ERA. He even helped pitch a no-hitter for the Sea Dogs.
Josh was named Minor League Player of the Year by several major sports publications. Baseball America also ranked him as the third best young player in all of baseball.
Major League Debut and World Series Win
Josh Beckett made his MLB debut on September 4, 2001, against the Chicago Cubs. He pitched six shutout innings and earned his first MLB win. He also hit a double and scored a run in the game. He finished 2001 with a 2–2 record and a 1.50 ERA.
In 2002, Josh had some blister problems. But on July 21, he struck out 12 batters in one game. In 23 games, he had a 6–7 record with a 4.10 ERA.
In 2003, Josh was the youngest opening day starting pitcher in Marlins history. He later went on the disabled list (DL) with an elbow injury. He returned in July and finished the season with a 9–8 record and a 3.04 ERA.
Josh made his first postseason appearance in the 2003 National League Division Series. He pitched well, helping the Marlins win the series. In the 2003 National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs, Josh had a tough start in Game 1. But in Game 5, with his team facing elimination, he pitched a complete-game shutout to keep the Marlins' hopes alive. The Marlins won Game 6, and in Game 7, Josh came out of the bullpen to pitch four innings, helping the Marlins win the National League championship.
Josh Beckett was named the 2003 World Series MVP Award! He had two amazing performances as the Marlins beat the New York Yankees. In Game 3, he struck out 10 batters. Then, in Game 6 at Yankee Stadium, he pitched a complete-game shutout. He struck out nine batters and made the final tag to win the series for the Marlins.
In 2004, Josh made three trips to the DL but still pitched a career-high 26 games. He was 9–9 with a 3.79 ERA. In 2005, he had a strong season with a 15–8 record and a 3.38 ERA.
Over his five seasons with the Marlins, Josh had a 41–34 record and a 3.46 ERA.
Boston Red Sox (2006–2012)
On Thanksgiving Day 2005, Josh Beckett was traded to the Boston Red Sox. He went with Mike Lowell and Guillermo Mota in a big trade. In his first game with the Red Sox, Josh allowed only one run and earned the win.
On May 20, 2006, Josh became the first Red Sox pitcher in 35 years to hit a home run. He signed a three-year contract extension in July. He finished his first Red Sox season with a 16–11 record and a 5.01 ERA.
In 2007, Josh changed his pitching style, using more breaking pitches and focusing on placing his pitches better. This helped him have a fantastic season. He became one of only six Red Sox pitchers to win their first seven starts of a season. He was selected for the 2007 MLB All-Star Game and earned the win in that game. Josh became the first pitcher since 2005 to win 20 games in a season, finishing with a 20–7 record and a 3.27 ERA. He finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting.
Josh started the 2007 American League Division Series with a shutout. Nine days later, he started Game 1 of the 2007 American League Championship Series (ALCS) and won. He struck out 11 batters in Game 5. His great performance earned him the 2007 ALCS MVP Award. He then started and won Game 1 of the 2007 World Series against the Colorado Rockies. The Red Sox went on to sweep the Rockies and win the World Series!
On May 8, 2008, Josh recorded his 1,000th career strikeout. He finished the season with a 12–10 record. In 2009, he was the Opening Day starter for the Red Sox. On June 20, 2009, he threw his first complete-game shutout as a Red Sox player. He was selected for the 2009 MLB All Star Game in July.
Josh recorded his 100th career win on July 12, 2009, with another complete-game shutout. He finished the season with a 17–6 record and a career-high 199 strikeouts.
In 2010, the Red Sox and Josh agreed to a four-year contract extension. He struggled with a lower back injury that season, finishing with a 6–6 record.
In 2011, Josh had some of his best career stats, including a 2.89 ERA. He was 13–7 and was selected for his third All-Star Game. At the end of the 2011 season, the Red Sox did not make the playoffs.
Josh struggled in the 2012 season, with a 5–11 record and a 5.23 ERA. He was traded from the Red Sox on August 25, 2012. Over seven seasons with the Red Sox, he had an 89–58 record.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2012–2014)
On August 25, 2012, Josh Beckett was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a big trade. He started seven games for the Dodgers after the trade and had a 2–3 record with a 2.93 ERA.
Josh had a tough start to the 2013 season and was placed on the disabled list with a groin injury. He later experienced numbness in his hand. He was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, which required surgery on July 10, 2013. This surgery ended his 2013 season.
After his surgery, which involved removing a rib, it was uncertain if Josh would pitch again. But he returned to the Dodgers on April 9, 2014. On May 13, he earned his first win since 2012.
On May 25, 2014, Josh Beckett pitched a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies! This was the 21st no-hitter in Dodgers history. He threw 128 pitches, struck out six batters, and walked three. Josh became the oldest pitcher (34) to throw a no-hitter since 2004. He was honored as the National League Player of the Week for this amazing game.
On July 8, 2014, Josh went back on the disabled list with a hip injury. He returned to pitch on July 22 but continued to struggle. An MRI showed that his hip injury was serious, possibly needing surgery. He was placed back on the disabled list on August 8. On September 3, 2014, his manager said Josh's season was likely over. A few days later, Josh confirmed he would not pitch again in 2014 and was thinking about retiring. Josh Beckett officially announced his retirement on October 7, 2014.
Pitching Style
Josh Beckett used five main pitches:
- A four-seam fastball (91–95 mph)
- A two-seam fastball (91–94 mph)
- A cutter (89–91 mph)
- A curveball (73–79 mph)
- A changeup (86–88 mph)
He used all five pitches against left-handed batters. He often used his curveball when he was ahead in the count. In 2012, he also started trying out a slider and splitter.
Personal Life
Josh Beckett married Holly Fisher, an aeronautics engineer and former high school classmate, on January 22, 2011. They have three children together. Josh owns homes in Manhattan Beach, California, and Boerne, Texas.
Josh is a big deer hunter and has been since he was a child. He won the Muy Grande Deer Contest in 2002 for catching the largest buck during the Texas deer hunting season. He owns Herradura Ranch, a 7,000-acre (28 km2) deer-hunting ranch in Texas.
He appeared in a Kevin Fowler music video with his teammates John Lackey, Tim Wakefield, Jon Lester, and Clay Buchholz.
See also
In Spanish: Josh Beckett para niños
- List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
