J.J. Putz

Lore & Background

Born in Trenton, Michigan, Putz led Trenton High School to the 1995 Class B state championship. He attended the University of Michigan and played summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League. Drafted by the Mariners in the 6th round in 1999, he made his MLB debut on August 11, 2003. In 2006, he became the Mariners' closer after learning a splitter from Eddie Guardado. He converted 36 of 43 save opportunities with a 2.30 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 78.1 innings. In 2007, he made an All-Star appearance, converted 40 saves in 42 opportunities with a 1.38 ERA, 0.698 WHIP, 82 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 71+2⁄3 innings. He broke Guardado's Mariners' consecutive saves record with 30 consecutive saves and won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, though he was not the first Mariner to do so—Kazuhiro Sasaki won it in 2000. He was traded to the Mets in a three-team, twelve-player deal on December 10, 2008. After a disappointing 2009 season, the Mets declined his 2010 option. He signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Chicago White Sox on December 11, 2009. On December 7, 2010, he signed a 2-year, $10 million deal with the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks exercised his $6.5 million option on October 20, 2012. He was designated for assignment on June 20, 2014, and released on June 27. He retired after the 2014 season.

Reader's Guide

Putz threw a mix of five pitches: four-seam and two-seam fastballs (90–94 mph), a splitter in the mid 80s, and occasional cutters and sliders to right-handed hitters.

Did You Know?

• Putz shared a dorm with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady at the University of Michigan.
• He was nicknamed 'The Big Guy' by Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus.
• He married Kelsey Kollen-Putz in 2002 and has four children: twin daughters Lauren and Kaelyn, son Ethan, and daughter Addison.