James Paxton

James Alston Paxton (born November 6, 1988), nicknamed "Big Maple", is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Paxton played college baseball for the Kentucky Wildcats. He was selected by the Mariners in the fourth round of the 2010 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with them in 2013. On May 8, 2018, Paxton pitched a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays, becoming the first Canadian major league pitcher to throw a no-hitter in Canada. Seattle traded Paxton to the Yankees after the 2018 season, though injuries limited him, particularly later in his career. He retired from MLB after the 2024 season.

Paxton pitched for the Canada national team in international competitions.

Amateur career North Delta Blue Jays Paxton attended Delta Secondary School in Ladner, British Columbia. He played for the North Delta Blue Jays of the British Columbia Premier Baseball League (PBL) and for Team Canada at the under-18 level, earning a bronze medal at the 2006 World Junior Baseball Championship in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. In his junior year, Paxton won 10 games and had a 1.51 earned run average (ERA) to go along with 100 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched. This led to him being named the top pitcher of the PBL and a first-team All-Star. After starting his senior year injured, Paxton finished the year with a 7–1 win–loss record and 65 strikeouts and 32 walks in 50 innings pitched. Both years, Paxton's team won the league title and the B.C.'s Best Tournament. Although Paxton had intended to return to Kentucky for his senior season, Blue Jays' president Paul Beeston had told the press that he had been negotiating with agent Scott Boras instead of Paxton's family, which violated the NCAA rules. Paxton was subsequently ruled ineligible after an investigation. He sued the NCAA in an attempt to be reinstated, but lost the lawsuit in January 2010, and withdrew from school, one semester shy of graduation. There, he went 1–2 with a 4.08 ERA and 18 strikeouts in innings.

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners selected Paxton in the fourth round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. After a lengthy negotiation, Paxton signed with the Mariners on March 4, 2011, for a $942,500 signing bonus. He began his professional career in 2011 with the Clinton LumberKings of the Single-A Midwest League, before earning a June promotion to the Double-A Jackson Generals of the Southern League.

Paxton was invited to attend the Mariners' main spring training camp in 2012, but did not make the opening day roster and returned to Jackson,

On September 3, 2013, Paxton was promoted to the major leagues for the first time and debuted on September 7 in a start against the Tampa Bay Rays. He allowed two runs on four hits and one walk in six innings to earn the win. His first major league strikeout was of Desmond Jennings in the third inning.

Paxton began the 2014 season in the Mariners rotation, but after his second start of the season, he was placed on the disabled list with a left lat strain. After a difficult rehab he finally rejoined the Mariners on August 2 and finished the season with 13 starts, a 3–4 record and a 3.04 ERA. Paxton's injury woes would continue into the 2015 season, as he hurt himself during agility drills in spring training and then was shut down on May 29 with a strained tendon on the middle finger of his pitching hand. After another long rehab he didn't rejoin the Mariners until September 13. Paxton made 13 starts for the second straight year, with a 3–4 record and 3.90 ERA. He made 11 starts in the minors, posting a 3.73 ERA, Paxton made 20 starts for the Mariners the rest of the season, finishing with a 6–7 record and 3.79 ERA.

Paxton started the 2017 season for the Mariners by not allowing a run over his first three starts, winning the American League (AL) Player of the Week Award for April 10–16. On May 5, he was placed on the disabled list due to a left forearm strain, returning on May 31. He pitched exceedingly well in July, going 6–0 and earning a share of the AL Player of the Week Award for July 24–30 and the AL Pitcher of the Month for July. However, on August 10, Paxton strained his left pectoral muscle pitching against the Los Angeles Angels, putting him on the disabled list once again. He returned on September 15 and finished the season with a 12–5 record and 2.98 ERA in 24 starts

Mariners fans created a rooting section for Paxton called the Maple Grove in the left field bleachers of Safeco Field. The section, based on Paxton's Big Maple nickname and Canadian heritage, included an artificial tree and fans holding sigs and chanting "eh" when Paxton reached two strikes facing a batter. Paxton met some fans from the section before a game, giving them maple bars. Paxton and the Mariners commemorated the section for one game in 2025, following his retirement.

On May 8, 2018, Paxton threw a no-hitter against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. He threw 99 pitches while issuing three walks in a 5–0 victory, becoming the second Canadian to throw a no-hitter (the first was Dick Fowler of the Philadelphia Athletics in 1945). He was also the first Canadian major league pitcher to throw a no-hitter in Canada and the first Mariners pitcher to throw a no-hitter in a road game. On April 21, 2019, Paxton became the second Yankees pitcher to strike out at least 12 batters in consecutive starts, following David Cone in 1998. In 2019, Paxton was 15–6 with a 3.82 ERA in 29 starts, in which he struck out 186 batters in innings. but due to the season being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic made it back for opening day. He made five starts, pitching to a 1–1 record with a 6.64 ERA and 26 strikeouts over innings pitched. He became a free agent after the season.

Seattle Mariners (second stint) On February 18, 2021, Paxton agreed to a one-year, $8.5 million contract to return to the Mariners. In his first start of the season on April 6 against the Chicago White Sox, Paxton threw only 24 pitches before being removed from the game with left elbow discomfort. Two days later, it was announced that he would undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his season after only one game.

Boston Red Sox On December 1, 2021, Paxton signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Boston Red Sox that included a two-year club option and lower-value, one-year player option. He made one rehab start in the Florida Complex League on August 18, but suffered a lateral muscle tear and was shut down for the season. Following the season, Paxton exercised his $4 million player option to return to the Red Sox in 2023.

Paxton began the 2023 season on the injured list with a right hamstring strain and made his season debut on May 12 against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for June after posting a 1.74 ERA and a 3–0 record in five starts during the month. However, pushing for a wild card spot, as well as having injuries within the starting rotation, the Red Sox held onto Paxton. After the trade deadline, Paxton struggled, posting a 1–3 record and 7.62 ERA after the deadline, in sharp contrast to his 6–2 record and 3.34 ERA prior. On September 10, he was placed on the injured list due to right knee inflammation, ending his season. Overall, Paxton had a 7–5 record with a 4.50 ERA in 96 innings pitched.

Los Angeles Dodgers On January 29, 2024, Paxton signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, that also contained performance bonuses based on number of starts. The original deal was for $11 million but was reworked due to unspecified health issues. Paxton started 18 games for the Dodgers, compiling an 8–2 record and 4.43 ERA with 64 strikeouts

Boston Red Sox (second stint) On July 26, 2024, Paxton was traded back to the Red Sox in exchange for minor-league infielder Moises Bolivar. On July 30, Paxton recorded his 1,000th career strikeout against the team that drafted and signed him, the Mariners. On August 11, Paxton exited a game against the Houston Astros in the first inning after sustaining a right calf strain. On August 23, he was moved to the 60-day injured list, and was expected to miss the rest of the season due to the calf injury, which was reclassified as a partial tear. Overall between both the Dodgers and Red Sox, Paxton finished the season with a 9–3 record in 21 starts. He surpassed 100 innings pitched for the first time since 2019.

Paxton announced on September 11 that he would retire at the end of the year.

International career

Paxton pitched for Canada in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He took the loss and a blown save against Panama, making a throwing error and allowing three unearned runs in innings. He threw scoreless innings against Cuba in their pool-clinching win, and later said that he plans to remain retired and spend time with his family, despite his strong performance in the tournament.

Pitching style A power pitcher with a long stride and a release from a closed position that hides most of his deliveries, comparable to a faster version of Andy Petitte, Paxton relied on a four-seam fastball that ranged in velocities in the high 90s miles per hour (MPH). He complemented his four-seam fastball with a cutter (high 80s MPH) and a knuckle curve (low 80s MPH). He decreased the use of his sinker/changeup. His strikeout pitches were high fastballs and a low inside knuckle curve against right-handers. His increased usage of knuckle curves on the first pitch of at bats limited the number of hits and runs that he allowed during the end of the 2019 season.

Personal life Paxton and his wife resided in Kirkland, Washington during the offseason.

Paxton co-hosted a podcast for one year following his retirement as a player.