Justin Masterson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Justin Masterson |
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Masterson with the Cleveland Indians in 2012
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: March 22, 1985 Kingston, Jamaica |
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| debut | |||
| April 24, 2008, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 9, 2015, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 64–74 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.31 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,004 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Justin Daniel Masterson (born March 22, 1985) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, and St. Louis Cardinals. Justin was chosen by the Red Sox in the 2006 MLB draft. He made his big league debut just two years later.
Masterson was known for throwing a special pitch called a sinking fastball. He was quite tall at 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm) and weighed 250 pounds (113 kg). In 2013, he was picked for the All-Star Game. That year, he was one of the best pitchers in the American League in several areas. These included wins, strikeouts, and complete games.
Contents
Early Life and College Baseball
Justin Masterson was born in Kingston, Jamaica. His father worked there as a dean at a seminary. A few years later, his family moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana. He went to Beavercreek High School in Beavercreek, Ohio. There, he played both basketball and baseball. In baseball, he played as a catcher, pitcher, and first baseman. His mother is a teacher, and his father is a pastor.
Masterson first played college baseball at Bethel College. He was a starting pitcher there. During his second year, he hit 10 home runs. Later, he went to San Diego State University. In 2005, Justin played summer baseball for the Wareham Gatemen. This was part of the famous Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). He pitched very well, with a low 1.15 ERA. In 2017, he was honored in the CCBL Hall of Fame.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting with the Boston Red Sox
Baseball America magazine thought Masterson was a top prospect in 2006. The Boston Red Sox picked him in the second round of the draft. He started his minor league career as both a starter and a reliever. In 2007, he moved up from Class A to Double-A. He won twelve games that season. This was the second-most among all Red Sox minor league pitchers.
Justin was invited to spring training with the Red Sox in 2008. On April 24, he made his first ever Major League start. He pitched six innings and only gave up one run. After the game, he was sent back to the minor leagues. But he returned in May and got his first big league win.
After a few starts, the Red Sox decided to keep him in the majors. Later, he was sent back to the minor leagues to become a relief pitcher. He was called back up in July. In his first game as a reliever, he pitched very well. He threw nearly three scoreless innings.
Masterson earned his first postseason win in 2008. This was during Game 5 of the 2008 American League Championship Series. He pitched a scoreless inning to help the Red Sox win. In 2009, he started the season in the bullpen. He also made six starts before being traded.
Playing for the Cleveland Indians
On July 31, 2009, the Red Sox traded Masterson to the Cleveland Indians. Two other minor league players went with him. In return, the Red Sox received Victor Martinez.
When Justin joined the Indians, he became a regular starter. He started 10 games for the rest of 2009. In 2010, he had his first full season as a starter. He pitched his first career shutout on June 9. This was a great game against his old team, the Red Sox.
In 2011, Masterson had his best season yet. He finished with a 12–10 record and a low 3.21 ERA. On August 4, he did something very rare in baseball. He struck out four batters in one inning! This has only happened 72 times in Major League history. After the season, he had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder. This was to fix an old injury.
In 2012, Masterson was the Opening Day starter for the Indians. He pitched eight strong innings. However, he didn't get the win in that long 16-inning game. He had a tougher season that year. In October, his old manager, Terry Francona, became the Indians' manager.
Masterson was again the Opening Day starter in 2013. He beat two reigning Cy Young Award winners in his first two starts. This was a very rare achievement. He was only the third player in MLB history to do this.
In 2014, Masterson signed a one-year contract with the Indians. He was the Opening Day starter for the third time. On June 2, he threw an immaculate inning against the Red Sox. This means he struck out three batters on just nine pitches. This is another very rare feat in baseball.
Time with the St. Louis Cardinals
On July 30, 2014, the Indians traded Masterson to the St. Louis Cardinals. He had been on the disabled list with a knee injury. The Cardinals activated him on August 1. He won his first game with the Cardinals the next day. All his former Indians teammates wore his high-sock style in their next game to honor him.
Returning to the Boston Red Sox
After the 2014 season, Masterson became a free agent. He signed a one-year deal to return to the Boston Red Sox. However, he was released by the Red Sox on August 19, 2015.
Later Career and Retirement
In 2016, Masterson signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played in 25 games for their Triple-A team. In 2017, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched in Triple-A all year, with a record of 11–6. On December 11, 2018, Justin Masterson announced his retirement from professional baseball.
Pitching Style
Justin Masterson pitched with a low arm angle, almost sidearm. His pitching style was sometimes compared to Dennis Eckersley's. He threw several types of pitches:
- A fastball that could reach 97 miles per hour (156 km/h).
- A sinker, which was considered his best pitch. It had a heavy drop.
- A slider.
- An occasional change-up.
His fastballs varied in speed from the upper 80s to the mid 90s. His slider was in the low 80s. His change-up ranged from 77–81 miles per hour (124–130 km/h). His sinker varied in speed from 84–96 miles per hour (135–154 km/h). This often kept batters guessing.
Personal Life and Community Work
Justin Masterson married Meryl Ham on November 3, 2007. Justin is a Christian and often talks about how important his faith is to him. He has spoken at events like the Pentagon's weekly prayer breakfast.
He has also volunteered as a coach at local high schools. He enjoys helping and guiding young athletes.
Helping Others: Philanthropy
Justin and his wife Meryl started a non-profit organization called the Fortress Foundation in 2013. They worked with other groups to help people. In 2013, they partnered with the Feed Their Future campaign. This campaign helped people in Nairobi, Kenya. They continued this partnership in 2014 and 2015.
Justin and Meryl have also supported other non-profits. These include Ascent 121 and International Justice Mission. Justin has also helped start other non-profit groups like PHARE Warrior and Wayfinders.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball pitchers who have thrown an immaculate inning
- List of people from Kingston, Jamaica
