Madison Bumgarner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Madison Bumgarner
Bumgarner with the Giants in 2013
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1989-08-01) August 1, 1989 (age 35) Hickory, North Carolina, U.S.
Bats: Right Throws: Left
debut
September 8, 2009, for the San Francisco Giants
MLB statistics (through 2023 season)
Win–loss record	134–124
Earned run average	3.47
Strikeouts	2,070
Teams
San Francisco Giants (2009–2019) Arizona Diamondbacks (2020–2023)
Career highlights and awards
4× All-Star (2013–2016) 3× World Series champion (2010, 2012, 2014) World Series MVP (2014) NLCS MVP (2014) 2× Silver Slugger Award (2014, 2015)

Madison Kyle Bumgarner (born August 1, 1989), often called "MadBum", is an American professional baseball pitcher. He used to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants (2009–2019) and Arizona Diamondbacks (2020–2023).

Bumgarner has won three World Series championships (2010, 2012, 2014). He also won two Silver Slugger Awards (2014, 2015) for his hitting. He was chosen for four National League (NL) All-Star teams. Many people think he is one of the best World Series pitchers ever.

Bumgarner played high school baseball in Hudson, North Carolina. He helped his team win the 2007 4A State Championship. The San Francisco Giants picked him tenth overall in the 2007 MLB draft. He and Buster Posey started playing in the Major Leagues in 2009. They became known as a great pitcher-catcher team.

In Game 4 of the 2010 World Series, Bumgarner pitched eight innings without giving up any runs. This helped the Giants win their first World Series in San Francisco since 1954. Two years later, he pitched seven more scoreless innings in Game 2 of the 2012 World Series.

In 2014, Bumgarner started the Wild Card game for the Giants. He pitched a shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He set a World Series record in 2014 with a very low earned run average (ERA) of 0.43. He won the Most Valuable Player award as the Giants won their third World Series with him.

Bumgarner won 18 games in both 2014 and 2015, which was his career high. In 2016, he had a 15–9 record and a career-high 251 strikeouts. He started his second Wild Card game against the New York Mets, pitching another shutout. Injuries affected his next two seasons. He was released by the Diamondbacks in 2023.

Growing Up and High School Baseball

Bumgarner was born on August 1, 1989, in Hickory, North Carolina. He grew up in an area called "Bumtown" because many people with his last name lived there. His father built their log house, and Madison slept in a loft. He started playing youth baseball at age four. His dad had to sign a special paper because the league was for older kids. His father did not let him throw curveballs until he was sixteen. His parents, Kevin and Debbie, separated when he was in high school.

Bumgarner playing for South Caldwell High School in 2007

Bumgarner went to South Caldwell High School in Hudson, North Carolina. He played on the school's baseball team. In his junior year, he had a 12–2 win–loss record and a 0.99 earned run average (ERA). He also had 120 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched. His team finished second in the 2006 4A State Championship. The next year, he went 11–2 with a 1.05 ERA and 143 strikeouts. His team won the state championship. He also hit .424 with 11 home runs and 38 runs batted in (RBIs).

He was named the MVP of the playoffs. He also won the Gatorade North Carolina Player of the Year award. Scouts and agents paid a lot of attention to him. His father even built a wall around the bullpen at his high school field. This was to keep them from bothering him while he warmed up. Bumgarner planned to play college baseball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 2013, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association put him on their "100 To Remember" list of male athletes. This list included famous athletes like Michael Jordan.

Starting His Professional Career

Drafted by the Giants

The San Francisco Giants chose Bumgarner in the first round of the 2007 MLB draft. He was the tenth player picked overall. Baseball America magazine had ranked him as the 14th-best new player. He was the first high school pitcher the Giants picked in the first round since Matt Cain in 2002.

Playing in the Minor Leagues

In 2008, Bumgarner pitched for the Augusta Greenjackets. This was a Low-A team for the Giants. He worked on his changeup, slider, and pitching inside to batters. He won the South Atlantic League "pitchers' Triple Crown". This means he led the league in wins (15), ERA (1.46), and strikeouts (164).

He started 2009 with the Giants' High-A team, the San Jose Giants. After five good starts, he moved up to the Double-A team, the Connecticut Defenders. He went 9–1 with a 1.93 ERA there. In 2008, Baseball America said he was the third-best player in the Giants' system. Before the 2009 season, they ranked him the ninth-best player in all of baseball.

In 2010, Bumgarner went to spring training with the Giants. He was trying to become the fifth starting pitcher. He struggled and was sent to the Triple-A team, the Fresno Grizzlies. He went 7–1 with a 3.16 ERA there.

Playing for the San Francisco Giants (2009–2019)

First Major League Games (2009)

The Giants called Bumgarner up to the major leagues on September 8, 2009. He made his first start against the San Diego Padres. He was only 20 years old. He became the second-youngest pitcher to start a game for the Giants. In his first game, he got his first career strikeout. Bumgarner played in four games in 2009. He had a 1.80 ERA and struck out ten batters.

Becoming a World Series Champion (2010)

On June 26, 2010, Bumgarner was called up to the Giants again. He got his first major league hit the next day. On July 6, he earned his first major league win. He pitched eight innings without giving up a run. He also got his first career run batted in (RBI). Bumgarner pitched so well that he stayed in the starting group.

In September, he had a great ERA of 1.13. After the season, Baseball America named him a starting pitcher on their 2010 All-Rookie Team.

Bumgarner played in his first postseason game on October 11, 2010. He helped the Giants win against the Atlanta Braves. He became the youngest pitcher in Giants history to start and win a playoff game. In Game 4 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers, Bumgarner pitched eight shutout innings. He allowed only three hits. This was his first World Series win. He and Buster Posey were the first rookie pitcher-catcher team to start a World Series game since 1947. The Giants won the World Series, their first since 1954.

Continuing Success (2011)

Bumgarner pitching on June 21, 2011

On April 11, 2011, Bumgarner got his 100th career strikeout. He struggled early in the season, but then started pitching very well. By June 9, he had a 1.93 ERA over nine starts. On September 5, Bumgarner struck out thirteen batters. He finished the season with a 13–13 record and a 3.21 ERA. He pitched 204 innings and had 191 strikeouts.

Another World Series Title (2012)

On April 17, 2012, Bumgarner signed a six-year contract extension with the Giants. He started the season well, going 5–1 with a 2.31 ERA. On June 12, he hit his first major league home run. He also struck out twelve batters in that game. On June 28, Bumgarner pitched his first career regular-season complete game and shutout. This helped the Giants set a new record of 36 straight scoreless innings. He finished the year with a 16–7 record and a 3.37 ERA.

Bumgarner started Game 2 of the NLDS. He struggled in that game, but the Giants came back to win the series. In Game 1 of the NLCS, he lost again. But the Giants won that series too. On October 25, in Game 2 of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers, Bumgarner pitched seven scoreless innings. He struck out eight batters and allowed only two hits. The Giants swept the Series, winning their second championship in three seasons.

All-Star Seasons (2013–2016)

Bumgarner pitching at Petco Park in 2013

In his first start of 2013, Bumgarner pitched eight shutout innings. On April 19, he got his 500th career strikeout. He was chosen for the 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, his first All-Star selection. He finished 2013 with a 13–9 record and a career-best 2.77 ERA. He also had 199 strikeouts.

In 2014, Bumgarner started for the Giants on Opening Day for the first time. On April 11, he hit his first career grand slam and had five RBIs. He was named NL Pitcher of the Month for May. He was also chosen for his second straight All-Star team. On July 13, Bumgarner and Posey both hit grand slams in the same game. This was the first time in MLB history that a pitcher and catcher on the same team hit grand slams in one game. Bumgarner also tied the MLB record for grand slams by a pitcher with two in one season.

On August 26, Bumgarner pitched his second career one-hit shutout. He pitched seven perfect innings to start the game. He was named NL Pitcher of the Month for August. On September 12, he became the fifth left-handed pitcher in Giants history to strike out over 200 batters. He set a new Giants single-season strikeout record for a left-handed pitcher. He finished the 2014 season with 18 wins, a 2.98 ERA, and 219 strikeouts.

The Giants made the postseason as a wild card team. In the NL Wild Card Game, Bumgarner pitched a four-hit shutout. This helped the Giants move on. He set a major league postseason record with 262⁄3 straight scoreless innings on the road. In Game 5 of the NLCS, he limited the Cardinals to three runs. The Giants won the game and the series. Bumgarner was named the NLCS MVP.

In the 2014 World Series, Bumgarner started Game 1 and won. In Game 5, he pitched his second postseason complete-game shutout. He set MLB records for the lowest World Series ERA (0.29) and was the first pitcher to throw a shutout with at least eight strikeouts and no walks. In Game 7, on only two days of rest, Bumgarner pitched five scoreless innings in relief. He earned the save as the Giants won their third title in five seasons.

Bumgarner was named the 2014 World Series MVP. He had a 2–0 record and a 0.43 ERA in the series. He pitched 522⁄3 total innings in the postseason. He also won the Babe Ruth Award as the postseason MVP. He was named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year and Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year.

Bumgarner batting in 2015, his second Silver Slugger season

Bumgarner started Opening Day again in 2015. On May 21, he became the first pitcher to hit a home run off of Clayton Kershaw. On June 23, he struck out a career-high fourteen batters. This tied a Giants record for most strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher. Five days later, he hit a solo home run and got his 1,000th career strikeout. He was the third-youngest pitcher in Giants history to reach this. For the third year in a row, Bumgarner was an NL All-Star.

On August 11, Bumgarner pitched a complete game. He struck out 12 batters, including seven in a row. On August 16, he tied his career-high with 14 strikeouts. He also hit his tenth career home run and pitched a complete game shutout. He became one of only two pitchers in modern baseball history to hit a home run and strike out 14 batters in a complete game shutout. He won the National League Player of the Week Award. On August 18, he got his first career pinch-hit single. On September 1, Bumgarner became the first left-handed pitcher in the live-ball era to hit five home runs and strike out 200 batters in one season. On September 12, he pitched his third career one-hit shutout.

Bumgarner tied his career high with 18 wins in 2015. He had an 18–9 record, a 2.93 ERA, and 234 strikeouts. He won the 2015 National League Silver Slugger Award for pitchers.

For the third year in a row, Bumgarner made the Opening Day start in 2016. On April 9, he hit another home run off of Kershaw. On June 30, the Giants used him as a hitter instead of a designated hitter. This was unusual for a pitcher. He was an All-Star for the fourth year in a row. On July 10, he pitched a one-hit shutout, striking out 14. This was his fourth career one-hit game.

On August 18, Bumgarner allowed a grand slam but then hit a go-ahead home run in the same inning. This was a very rare event. On August 23, he got his 200th strikeout of the season. He became the first left-handed pitcher in Giants history to do this for three straight seasons. On September 20, he broke the Giants' record for strikeouts in a single season by a left-handed pitcher. On September 30, Bumgarner got his 100th career win. He finished 2016 with a 15–9 record, a 2.74 ERA, and 251 strikeouts. His 251 strikeouts ranked third in the league.

The Giants made the NL Wild Card Game. Bumgarner started and pitched his third career complete game shutout. This gave the Giants a 3–0 win. The Giants lost in the next round to the Cubs.

Injuries and Last Giants Seasons (2017–2019)

In his fourth straight Opening Day start in 2017, Bumgarner hit two home runs. This made him the Giants' record-holder for home runs by a pitcher. However, he suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder and ribs in an accident. He was out for almost three months. He finished the year with a 4–9 record.

In 2018, Bumgarner missed much of the first half with a finger injury. He picked up his first win of the year on June 21. On June 27, he got his 1,500th career strikeout. He became the fourth-fastest left-handed pitcher since 1920 to reach this. On July 8, he got his 106th career win. This made him the left-handed pitcher with the most wins in the San Francisco Era. On September 25, Bumgarner hit his first career walk-off single. This was the first by a Giants pitcher in 28 years. He finished 2018 with a 6–7 record and a 3.26 ERA.

In his fifth career Opening Day start in 2019, Bumgarner joined Juan Marichal as the only pitchers to make at least five Opening Day starts for the San Francisco Giants. On June 15, he passed Carl Hubbell for career strikeouts. He led the NL with 34 starts. He had a 9–9 record, a 3.90 ERA, and 203 strikeouts. After the season, he became a free agent for the first time.

Playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks (2020–2023)

On December 17, 2019, Bumgarner signed a five-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was worth $85 million.

Shortened Season (2020)

On July 24, 2020, Bumgarner made his Diamondbacks debut as the Opening Day starting pitcher. He struggled in his first season with Arizona. The season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He finished with a 1–4 record and a 6.48 ERA.

No-Hit Bid and More (2021)

On April 25, 2021, Bumgarner pitched seven no-hit innings in a game against the Atlanta Braves. Because the game was only seven innings long, he was not officially credited with a no-hitter. He won the National League Player of the Week Award for that week. He finished the season with a 7–10 record and a 4.67 ERA. He struck out 124 batters.

Reaching 2,000 Strikeouts (2022)

On June 22, 2022, Bumgarner got his 2,000th career strikeout. He became the 86th pitcher in major league history to reach this milestone. For the season, he was 7–15 with a 4.88 ERA.

Leaving the Diamondbacks (2023)

Bumgarner made four starts for the Diamondbacks in 2023. He had an 0–3 record and a 10.26 ERA. The Diamondbacks released him on April 26.

Career Statistics

How He Pitches

Bumgarner is left-handed when he throws a baseball. But he does other things right-handed. He has a special way of pitching. When he throws, it looks like he is throwing toward first base.

He uses four main pitches:

• A four-seam fastball: This is his fastest pitch, averaging about 92 miles per hour.
• A cutter: This pitch moves slightly and averages around 88 miles per hour.
• A curveball: He throws this at two different speeds. One is around 77 mph with a sharp downward break. The other is slower, around 70 mph, with more sideways movement.
• A change-up: This pitch averages about 84 miles per hour.

He throws his fastball and cutter most often. His curveball and change-up are used less.

His Legacy in Baseball

Many people consider Bumgarner to be one of the best World Series pitchers ever. In his World Series career, he started four games and appeared in five. He had a 4–0 win–loss record. His earned run average (ERA) in the World Series was an amazing 0.25. This is a World Series record for pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched. He also had a complete game shutout and a save. He struck out 31 batters in 36 innings. His 31 World Series strikeouts are the second most by a left-handed pitcher in Giants history.

He is also seen as one of the greatest postseason pitchers of all time.

Career Highlights and Awards

Bumgarner has hit 19 career home runs as a pitcher. This is the most by any active pitcher. It is the second-most hit by a pitcher since 1973. The Giants have not given his number 40 to another player.

Awards and Honors

Bumgarner with the Giants at the White House in 2013

Bumgarner with the Giants at the White House in 2015

Personal Life

Bumgarner's parents are Kevin and Debbie. Kevin works at a food company, and Debbie is an accountant. Madison has a stepsister and two older half-brothers. He has been a Baptist since he was a child. A reporter who covers the Giants said Bumgarner is "smart, well spoken and polite. He is deeply Christian and seems to be very grounded."

Bumgarner married his high school sweetheart, Ali Saunders, on February 14, 2010. They live on a farm in North Carolina during the offseason. During the baseball season, he lived near his teammate Hunter Pence in San Francisco. Bumgarner is also a cowboy, a farmer, and a rancher. He runs a family business called 4440 Ranch & Cattle Company. He sometimes plays catch with his wife Ali, who played softball.

Appearances Outside of Baseball

Bumgarner has been a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He has also appeared in TV commercials for Carhartt and Ford.

In 2015, a musician named Tim Hall dedicated a song to Bumgarner called "Outlaw Southpaw." Hall knew Bumgarner's father and coached Madison as a child.

Bumgarner wrote an article called All In a Day's Work for The Players' Tribune in 2016.

In 2020, Bumgarner shared that he has competed in rodeo events as a team roper. He used the name Mason Saunders, combining part of his first name with his wife's maiden name. He said he has been roping since he was a teenager. He even won over $26,000 in a competition before signing with the Diamondbacks. He said he might do more roping after his baseball career.

MLB Records

San Francisco Giants Team Records

• Most career postseason wins: 8
• Most wins by a pitcher in a single postseason: 4, 2014 (tied)
• Most career postseason strikeouts: 87
• Most strikeouts by a pitcher in a single postseason: 45, 2014
• Lowest career walks and hits per innings pitched in a single World Series: .476 in 21 innings pitched, 2014
• Most career strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher: 1,794
• Most strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher in a single season: 251 (2016)
• Most career wins by a left-handed pitcher in the San Francisco Era: 119

Regular Season Records

• Most grand slams hit by a pitcher in a single season: 2 in 2014 (tied)
• Most career grand slams hit by a pitcher: 2 (tied)
• Most home runs hit by a pitcher on Opening Day: 2 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks on April 2, 2017

Postseason Records

• Most innings pitched in a single postseason: 522⁄3, 2014
• Most starts in a single postseason: 6, 2014 (tied)
• Most career postseason starts of at least 7 shutout innings: 6

World Series Records

• Lowest career World Series ERA (minimum 20 innings): 0.25 in 36 innings pitched
• Highest career win–loss percentage: 1.000 in 36 innings pitched
• Highest win–loss percentage in a single World Series: 1.000 in 21 innings pitched, 2014
• Lowest career walks and hits per innings pitched: 0.528 in 36 innings pitched
• Lowest career hits per nine innings pitched: 3.500 in 36 innings pitched
• Fewest hits allowed in a single World Series (at least 20 innings pitched): 9 in 21 innings, 2014
• Most shutout innings in relief in a World Series Game 7: 5 (tied)
• Longest save in a World Series game: 5 innings in Game 7, 2014
• Longest save in a winner-take-all game: 5 innings in Game 7, 2014
• Most World Series games won through age 25: 4
• First MLB pitcher in a single World Series to earn at least two wins, throw a shutout, and earn a save – in 2014
• First MLB pitcher in a World Series to pitch a shutout with no walks and at least eight strikeouts – Game 5 in 2014