John Berton Axford ... Drafted by Seattle in 2001 but chose to attend the University of Notre Dame where he pitched in the 2002 College World Series as a freshman ... Did not pitch in 2004 after he underwent "Tommy John" surgery on his right elbow ... Returned to Notre Dame but pitched just 3.0 innings during the 2005 season ... Drafted by Cincinnati in 2005 but chose to attend Canisius College for the 2006 season where he earned a Master's Degree in Sports Administration ... Pitched for the Melville Millionaires of the Western Major Baseball League (a Canadian summer league) in 2006 ... Played for Team Canada in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, allowing a run on two hits over 1.2 innings ... Supports the Movember Foundation through which he helps raise awareness for prostate cancer with his facial hair.
2017
Started the season on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder...Marked his 1st career stint on the DL...Did not allow a run during a three-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville...Joined the A's bullpen on May 20 ... Made his 2017 debut on May 21 vs. BOS (1.0 IP, 1H, 1ER) ... Allowed six earned runs over his first five appearances (4.2 IP) ... Did not allow a run over his next five games (5.1 IP, 2H, 3BB, 7K) ... Surrendered a home run in consecutive outings for the 5th time in his career on June 15 vs. NYY and June 19 vs. HOU ... Walked a career-high four batters in one inning on July 3 vs. CWS ... Was designated for assignment on July 27 and released on July 30 ... Allowed runs in 12 of his 22 outings for a career-high 6.43 ERA...Struck out 21 batters over 21.0 innings pitched.
2016
Went 6-4 with three saves and a 3.97 ERA in 68 relief appearances in his first season with the A's…struck out 60 batters in 65.2 innings and his average of 8.22 strikeouts per nine innings was the lowest mark of his career…had a 2.70 ERA over his first 26 games and a 2.19 ERA over his final 24 but logged a 9.42 ERA in 18 games in between (June 15 to July 25)…tied for second among American League relievers in blown saves (7), but only one came in the ninth inning or later…tied for fourth in most walks (30) and has now issued 215 free passes since the start of the 2010 season, which are the most in the majors by a reliever…tied for seventh among AL relievers in 2016 in wins (6)…allowed 8-of-16 (50.0%) inherited runners to score…first batters faced hit .281 but he issued just three walks (.324 on-base percentage) and allowed just two doubles (.313 slugging percentage)…opponents hit .258, including .256 (30-for-117) by left-handed hitters and .259 (35-for-135) by right-handers…surrendered four of his six home runs with two outs…four came with runners on base …yielded a .305 average with runners in scoring position, including .387 with RISP and two outs…had a .211 career average with RISP, including .185 with RISP and two outs entering the season…opponents were 4-for-6 (.667) with a walk and a grand slam with the bases loaded…compiled a 5.09 ERA and .293 opponents batting average in 39 games before the All-Star Break, a 2.67 ERA and .214 opponents average after the break…surrendered five home runs in 35.1 innings before the break, one in 30.1 innings after the break…logged a 5.14 ERA in 32 games on zero or one day of rest compared to a 3.11 ERA in 36 games on three days rest or more…allowed 11 of his 30 runs over innings three through six (18.56 ERA)…has a 2.68 ERA from the seventh inning on…had a 3.48 ERA in 34 games at home, 4.50 in 34 contests on the road…compiled a 7.56 ERA in 11 interleague outings compared to 3.45 in 57 games against AL opponents…induced a career-high seven grounded into double plays…opponents were successful in each of their four stolen bases attempts off him and are 34-for-43 (79.1%) with him on the mound in his career…tossed 1194 pitches, which were ninth most among AL relievers…tossed one inning or fewer in 59 of his 68 appearances.
2015
Was 4-5 with a 4.20 ERA and a team-leading 25 saves in 60 relief appearances in his first season with Colorado…tied for second in the National League with six blown saves and his save percentage of 80.6% was second lowest in the NL to the Phillies Ken Giles (75.0%)…tied for fourth among NL relievers in walks (32)…struck out 62 batters in 55.2 innings, an average of 10.02 per nine innings…compiled a 2.70 ERA and .216 opponents batting average in 28 games on the road compared to a 5.59 ERA and .298 opponents average in 32 games at Coors Field…did not allow a run (14.0 ip) and converted all 11 of his save opportunities in 14 outings on no days rest…had a 4.12 ERA in 20 games on one day of rest and a 6.95 ERA in 26 appearances with two days rest or more…converted 16-of-17 (94.1%) save opportunities and had a 2.36 ERA and .218 opponents batting average in 29 appearances before the All-Star Break…then went 9-for-14 (64.3%) with a 5.90 ERA and .296 opponents average in 31 games after the break…allowed a .259 opponents batting average, which included a .258 (25-for-97) mark against left-handed hitters compared to .261 (31-for-119) against right-handers…yielded a .160 average with runners in scoring position and two outs and has a .185 (37-for-200) career opponents average in that situation…first batters faced hit .185 with one extra base hit (double) and six walks (.267 on-base percentage)…his .204 slugging percentage against first batters was fourth lowest in the NL…allowed 3-of-5 (60.0%) inherited runners to score…had a 2.11 ERA during the day and was successful each of his 11 save chances…logged a 5.50 ERA at night…was 1-2 with two saves, an 8.64 ERA and .395 opponents batting average in nine interleague appearances…opponents were successful in 8-of-10 (80.0%) stolen base attempts off him and he tied for fifth among NL relievers in most stolen bases allowed…had the first pickoff of his career…tossed exactly 1.0 inning in 49 of his 60 appearances.
2014
Went 2-4 with a 3.95 ERA (54.2 IP, 24 ER) in 62 total games between Cleveland and Pittsburgh...Began season as Cleveland's closer and posted 10 saves in 11 chances thru May 4...Went 0-1 with 10 saves and a 2.31 ERA (11.2 IP, 3 ER) in his first 13 games thru May 4...Was charged with just two earned runs in 13.2 IP over a 15-game span from June 22 thru Aug. 4...Was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh on Aug. 14...was scored upon three times in his 11 games with Pirates.
2013
?he hard-throwing right-hander split the 2013 season between Milwaukee and St. Louis, going a combined 7-7 with a 4.02 ERA in 75 relief appearances (65.0IP, 73H, 29ER, 26BB, 65K)...He finished tied for 4th in the NL in games pitched and recorded a Postseason ERA of 1.59 in 6 games for the National League Champion Cardinals (5.2IP, 2H, 1ER, 9K, .105AVG) after posting scoreless outings over his final nine regular season appearances (7.2IP, 11K) for St. Louis...After recording an April ERA of 8.44, Axford enjoyed a stretch from May 15-July 24 where he allowed just 1 run (1ER/28.0IP) over 32 outings... Had a career high 20.1 IP scoreless streak spanning 23 games during that span. Won his 7th game overall on 9/20 at MIL, tied for 3rd among National League relief pitchers in wins...Had 19 holds (T13th, NL) and seven blown saves (T2nd, NL)...He has never been on the Disabled List over his five-year big league career.
2012
Went 5-8 with a 4.67 ERA and 35 saves in a career-high 75 relief appearances ... Struck out a career-high 93 batters in just 69.1 innings while opponents batted .229 Went 35-for-44 in save opportunities (79.5%) ... ranked sixth in the National League in saves. Led the Major Leagues in blown saves (9) but converted 17 of his last 18 opportunities. Had a streak of 49 consecutive saves converted snapped on 5/11 vs. Chicago-NL ... his streak
ranked fourth in Major League history, trailing only Eric Gagne (84), Tom Gordon (54) and
Jose Valverde (51). Notched his 100th career save on 9/16 vs. New York-NL and joined Dan Plesac (133) as the only pitchers in franchise history to reach that total. Joined Dan Plesac (1988-89) as the only pitchers in franchise history to produce 30+ saves in consecutive seasons. Retired 48 of 75 fi rst batters faced (64%). Stranded 17 of 23 inherited runners (73.9%). Signed a 1-year contract on 1/18/13, avoiding arbitration. Was selected to the Canadian provisional roster for the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
2011
Went 2-2 with a 1.95 ERA and a franchise-record 46 saves in 74 relief appearances during his
first full season in the Major Leagues.....made his first career Opening Day roster ... Struck out 86 batters in just 73.2 innings while holding opponents to a .212 batting average ... Was named Brewers Most Valuable Pitcher as voted on by members of the Milwaukee
Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America ... Was named National League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year.....joined Rollie Fingers (1981) as
the only Brewers to win the award.....Fingers won in the American League ... Finished ninth in National League Cy Young Award voting (two fifth-place votes) ... Was co-winner with the Reds' Joey Votto of the Tip O'Neill Award, which is presented by
the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to the player judged to have excelled in individual
achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball's highest ideals ... Tied the Braves' Craig Kimbrel for the National League lead in saves.....joined Ken Sanders
(1971) and Rollie Fingers (1981) as the only Brewers ever to lead their league in saves ... His 46 saves broke the single-season franchise record held by Francisco Cordero (44 in 2007) ... Went 46-for-48 in save opportunities (95.8%), including 43 in a row to end the season ... His 43 consecutive saves set a new franchise record (Doug Jones, 25 in a row in 1997) ... Led the National League in save percentage (minimum 20 saves) and trailed only the Tigers'
Jose Valverde (49-for-49) for the Major League lead ... Suffered his only blown saves on 3/31 at Cincinnati and 4/18 at Philadelphia ... Posted a 0.59 ERA over his final 30 appearances (30.1ip, 2er) ... Retired 56 of 74 first batters faced (75.7%) ... Was named MLB Delivery Man of the Month for July (11-for-11 saves with 2.57 ERA) ... Was named Brewers Pitcher of the Month for June and September ... Appeared in 6 games during the postseason, going 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 3 saves ... Earned the win in the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS vs. Arizona on 10/7 despite recording his
only blown save of the postseason (2ip, 3h, 1r, 1er, 0bb, 2k)
2010
Was named Brewers Top Newcomer as voted on by members of the Milwaukee Chapter of the
Baseball Writers Association of America
... Was named to Baseball America's All-Rookie team
... Began the season at Triple-A Nashville, where he went 3-2 with a 2.03 ERA and 2 saves in
12 relief appearances
... Was recalled by Milwaukee on 5/15
... Went 8-2 with a 2.48 ERA and 24 saves in 50 relief appearances as he enjoyed one of the best
rookie seasons ever by a Brewers pitcher
... Struck out 76 batters in just 58.0 innings while holding opponents to a .204 batting average
... Retired 34 of 50 first batters faced (68%)
... Stranded 11 of 14 inherited runners (78.6%)
... His 24 saves were the most ever by a Brewers rookie ... the previous record of 15 was held
by Doug Henry in 1991
... Went 24-for-27 in save opportunities (88.9%) ... his blown saves came on 7/24 vs. Washington,
8/9 vs. Arizona and 9/28 vs. New York-NL ... converted each of his first 14 chances
... His 88.9 save percentage ranked fifth in the National League (minimum 20 save opportunities)
... Had 9 saves of 4+ outs, trailing only the Giants' Brian Wilson (10) for the Major League lead
... His first save of the season came on 5/23 at Minnesota ... was seventh in the National League
in saves following the date of his first save
... Ranked third in the Major Leagues in wins as a reliever (8), trailing only the Nationals' Tyler
Clippard (11) and Mariners' Brandon League (9)
... Notched his first Major League victory in the 4-3, 10-inning win on 5/27 vs. Houston
... His 7-game winning streak from 6/8-9/15 was the longest of the season by a Brewers pitcher.
2009
Climbed the ladder from Class-A Brevard County to
Double-A Huntsville to Triple-A Nashville to the majors...Went a combined 9-1 with a 2.77 ERA and 1 save in 45 relief appearances between Brevard County, Huntsville and Nashville...Struck out 89 batters in just 68.1 innings in the minors while holding opponents to a .185 batting average...Was a Florida State League All-Star...Contract was purchased by Milwaukee on 9/7...Went 0-0 with a 3.52 ERA and 1 save in 7 relief outings with the Brewers...opponents batted just .179 (5-for-28)...Made his Major League debut on 9/15 at Chicago-NL (1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 WP).....his first career strikeout was Kosuke Fukudome...His first Major League save came on the final day of the season as he preserved a 9-7, 10-inning victory on 10/4 at St. Louis for all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman.
2008
Signed with Milwaukee on 3/4 ... Went 5-10 with a 4.55 ERA in 26 games (14 starts) at Class-A
Brevard County
2007
Pitched for four minor-league affiliates during his first pro season in
the Yankees organization and combined to go 1-4 with a 3.29 ERA
and 4 saves in 27 games (5 starts) ... Struck out 67 batters in just 63.0 innings while holding opponents
to a .216 batting average ... Was released on 12/4
2006
Pitched for the Melville Millionaires of the Western Major Baseball
League, a Canadian summer league.....posted a 2.27 ERA while
striking out 85 batters in just 46.0 innings, including a 19-strikeout
performance (7ip) ... Signed with New York-AL as a non-drafted free agent on 8/11
