Justin Masterson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Justin Masterson |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Masterson with the Cleveland Indians in 2012
|
|||
| Pitcher | |||
| Born: March 22, 1985 Kingston, Jamaica |
|||
|
|||
| 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 | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
Justin Daniel Masterson (born March 22, 1985) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. He was chosen by the Boston Red Sox in the 2006 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. Justin made his MLB debut two years later. He also played for the Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Cardinals. Justin was known for throwing a special type of fastball called a "sinker." He is quite tall, standing 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm) and weighing 250 pounds (113 kg).
Justin was chosen as an All-Star in 2013. That year, he was one of the top pitchers in the American League. He ranked high in wins, strikeouts, and how few hits he allowed. He was also the first Red Sox pitcher since 1912 to start four games at Fenway Park without losing any of them.
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, Justin's 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.
Justin first attended Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana. He played as a starting pitcher there. During his second year, he hit 10 home runs. He then went to San Diego State University. In 2005, Justin played summer baseball for the Wareham Gatemen. He had a very low ERA (Earned Run Average) of 1.15. He also struck out 39 batters in just over 31 innings. In 2017, he was honored by being added to the CCBL Hall of Fame.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting with the Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox picked Justin in the second round of the 2006 MLB draft. He started his minor league career as both a starter and a relief pitcher. In 2007, he was promoted to higher minor league teams. His 12 wins that season were the second most among all Red Sox minor league pitchers.
Justin was invited to spring training with the Red Sox before the 2008 season. On April 24, he made his first ever Major League Baseball game start. He pitched six full innings and only allowed one run. After this game, he was sent back to the minor leagues. However, he returned to the MLB team the next month. On May 20, he pitched well again and earned his first Major League win.
Justin later became a relief pitcher for the Red Sox. In 2008, he earned his first postseason win. This happened in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. In 2009, Justin started the season in the bullpen. He also started six games before being traded.
Playing for the Cleveland Indians
On July 31, 2009, the Red Sox traded Justin to the Cleveland Indians. He was traded along with two other players for Victor Martinez. When he joined the Indians, Justin became a regular starting pitcher.
In 2010, Justin had his first full season as a starter. On June 9, he pitched his first complete game shutout. This means he pitched the entire game and didn't let the other team score any runs. It was a big 11–0 win against his former team, the Boston Red Sox.
Justin had a great season in 2011. He had his best ERA (3.21) and pitched 216 innings. On August 4, he did something very rare in baseball. He struck out four batters in a single inning! This has only happened 72 times in Major League history. After the season, he had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder.
In 2012, Justin was chosen to be the Opening Day starter for the Indians. This is a big honor for a pitcher. He pitched well, but the team lost in a very long game. In 2013, he was again the Opening Day starter. He beat two pitchers who had won the Cy Young Award, which is given to the best pitcher in each league.
Justin and the Indians agreed to a one-year contract for the 2014 season. On June 2, 2014, he pitched an "immaculate inning" against the Red Sox. This means he struck out three batters in a row using only nine pitches. This is also a very rare achievement in baseball.
Time with the St. Louis Cardinals
On July 30, 2014, the Indians traded Justin to the St. Louis Cardinals. He had been on the disabled list with a knee injury before the trade. He won his first game with the Cardinals on August 2. His former teammates on the Indians wore his high-sock style in their next game to honor him.
Back to the Boston Red Sox
After the 2014 season, Justin became a free agent. He signed a one-year deal to return to the Boston Red Sox. However, he was released by the team on August 19, 2015.
Later Career and Retirement
Justin later signed minor league deals with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017. He played in Triple-A for both teams. On December 11, 2018, Justin Masterson announced that he was retiring from professional baseball.
How Justin Pitched
Justin Masterson pitched with a low arm angle, almost like he was throwing sidearm. This made his pitches move in a unique way. His main pitches included a fastball that could reach 97 miles per hour (156 km/h), a sinker, and a slider. He also sometimes threw a change-up. Many people thought his best pitch was his sinker, which had a lot of downward movement.
His fastballs varied in speed, from the upper 80s to the mid 90s (miles per hour). His slider was in the low 80s, and his change-up was between 77–81 mph (124–130 km/h). His sinker also varied in speed, sometimes catching batters off balance.
Personal Life
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 also volunteered as a coach at high schools. He helps to guide young athletes.
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
In 2013, Justin and his wife Meryl started a non-profit organization called the Fortress Foundation. They worked with other groups to help people in need. For example, they partnered with the "Feed Their Future" campaign to help people in Nairobi, Kenya. They also supported other non-profits like Ascent 121 and International Justice Mission. Justin has also helped start other non-profit groups.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball pitchers who have thrown an immaculate inning
- List of people from Kingston, Jamaica
