Jon Lester's Perfect Game Bid (2013)

Lore & Background

Lester attended Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, Washington. Playing for the school's baseball team, Lester was a three-time MVP and three-time All-Area selection. In addition, he was named Gatorade State Player of the Year for Washington in 2000. The Red Sox selected Lester in the second round, with the 57th overall selection, of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft and gave him the highest signing bonus of any second-rounder that year, $1 million.

Lester quickly moved through the Red Sox organization, posting an 11–7 win–loss record, a league-leading 2.61 earned run average (ERA) and a league-best 163 strikeouts for the Portland Sea Dogs of the Class AA Eastern League in 2005. He was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year and Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year and was selected as the left-handed pitcher on the Eastern League's year-end All-Star team and on the year-end Topps Class AA All-Star squad.

Reader's Guide

Lester made his major league debut on June 10, 2006 against the Texas Rangers. He put up a 7–2 record and a 4.76 ERA in his rookie year. In August 2006, he was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy. He returned in 2007 and won the clinching Game 4 of the 2007 World Series, pitching shutout innings. On May 19, 2008, he threw a no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals. In 2008, he went 16–6 with a 3.21 ERA and was named AL Pitcher of the Month in July and September. In 2009, he agreed to a five-year, $30 million contract extension. He started 32 games in 2009, going 15–8 with a 3.41 ERA. In 2010, he was selected to his first All-Star team, finished 19–8 with a 3.25 ERA, and finished fourth in Cy Young Award voting. In 2011, he was the opening day starter for the Red Sox.