John Lannan

John Edward Lannan (born September 27, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who has served as the Major League mental performance coach for the Toronto Blue Jays since 2024. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies.

Lannan made his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals in 2007 against the Philadelphia Phillies; he was ejected from his first MLB game. He pitched with the Nationals for six seasons through 2012 and was the opening day starter in 2009 and 2010. He was relegated out of the rotation in 2012, and was eventually non-tendered making him a free agent. In December 2012, he signed with the division rival Phillies, with whom he was the fifth starter during the 2013 season. He played with the New York Mets in 2014.

Early life Lannan was born in Long Beach, New York. Following his time as captain of the baseball team at Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York, Lannan pitched for the Siena Saints of Siena College. He was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 11th round (324th overall) of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft.

Minor leagues He pitched for the low Single-A Vermont Expos in 2005 and the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats in 2006, compiling earned run averages of 5.26 and 4.76 respectively. In 2007, however, he blazed through the minors. He began the year for the high-A Potomac Nationals going 6–0 with an earned run average of 2.13 and was promoted to the Double-A Harrisburg. He went 3–2 with a 3.25 earned run average and got promoted to Triple-A Columbus, where he started six games, and went 3–1 with a 1.75 earned run average. In July 2007, he was called up to the MLB team following his impressive numbers.

MLB career

Washington Nationals The Nationals, decimated by injuries to their starting pitchers, purchased his contract on July 26, 2007, for Lannan to start against the Philadelphia Phillies. In his debut, behind 3–2 with one out in the fifth inning, Lannan hit Chase Utley with a fastball (breaking Utley's hand) and then hit Ryan Howard on the next pitch, whereupon umpire Hunter Wendelstedt immediately ejected Lannan from the game; Lannan was the first Major Leaguer since Aaron Boone in 1997 to be tossed from his debut. The next would be former Astros pitcher Kyle Weiland who was ejected in his debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2011. Lannan picked up his first Major League win, in his second start, six days later, in which he held the Cincinnati Reds hitless through three and scoreless through five inning before allowing two runs in the sixth.

On August 6, 2007, in just his third major league start, found himself on the national stage as he faced the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in Barry Bonds's first start after tying Hank Aaron's Major League Baseball's home run record. The 22-year-old Lannan held Bonds to no hits; in four plate appearances Bonds fouled out to third, walked, grounded into a double play, and, as Lannan's last batter, struck out on a 3–2 curveball with two out and one on in the seventh. Lannan finished with seven innings of one-run ball pitched, although the Nats went on to lose 3–2 in 11 innings.

He ended the year with a 2–2 record and an earned run average of 4.15 in six starts, becoming one of the Nationals best starters. Over the next two years, he pitched more than 385 total innings with an earned run average under 3.90. Only 22 other pitchers did that, earning him the starter position for opening day in 2009 and 2010. After a stretch of two weeks in June, where in three games, he compiled a 10.38 earned run average while allowing 38 base runners in 13 innings, on June 21, 2010, Lannan was optioned to the class AA Harrisburg Senators. He was called up to the Nationals on July 21 to start against the Atlanta Braves. Lannan made a minor change in his mechanics in AAA, resulting in a sharper downward angle on his throwing motion. The tweak appeared to have a positive effect, as Lannan's last two starts in the minors were complete-game shutouts.

Lannan was called up again as part of the Nationals' 2012 September call-ups, filling the starting rotation job of Stephen Strasburg after Strasburg was shut down in early September.

Philadelphia Phillies On December 18, 2012, Lannan signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies that included up to an additional $2.5 million in performance bonuses. Lannan initially was hesitant to sign with the Phillies, but after chatting with former Nationals' teammate Laynce Nix, who was with the Phillies, he was excited to sign. Phillies general manager Rubén Amaro, Jr. commented, Lannan was happy to sign with a northeast team due to their hard-nosed mentality, but previously, he had a "unique" history with the Phillies including being ejected in his major league debut, which he made at Citizens Bank Park, during which he hit Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in consecutive at bats. In starts against the Phillies after that incident, he had a career record of 3 wins, 13 losses and a 5.53 earned run average. He made the Phillies rotation out of spring training as the fifth starter, and pitched reliably for the Phillies including one stretch in July during which he allowed only one earned run in 16 innings pitched.

During his 14th start of the season, Lannan exited in the second inning with a left knee injury. Later, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to tendinosis in his left knee. At that point in the season, he had a three win, six loss season with an earned run average of 5.33. On August 20, 2013, the Phillies announced that Lannan would miss the remainder of the season with what their assistant general manager Scott Proefrock called a "ruptured tendon", which the team physician said would require surgery.

In October 2013, the Phillies outrighted Lannan, which he refused, making him a free agent.

New York Mets On January 18, 2014, the Mets signed Lannan to a minor league contract, with an invitation to major league spring training. Out of camp, he earned a job in the bullpen. However, he was subsequently outrighted off the roster when Daisuke Matsuzaka was called up from the minor leagues. Lannan elected free agency in October 2014.

Colorado Rockies On November 18, 2014, the Colorado Rockies signed Lannan to a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training.

Kansas City Royals On December 14, 2015, Lannan signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. He made 25 appearances (19 starts) for the Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers in 2016, compiling a 7–8 record and 5.24 ERA with 55 strikeouts across innings pitched. Lannan elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2016.

Washington Nationals (second stint) On February 27, 2017, Lannan signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals. He was released on June 8.

Long Island Ducks On June 19, 2017, Lannan signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He announced his retirement on August 13, 2017.

Coaching career On March 8, 2021, Lannan was announced as the mental performance coach for the Buffalo Bisons, the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

On January 12, 2024, Lannan was promoted to the major league coaching staff when he was announced as the Major League mental performance coach for the team.