Josh Lindblom

Joshua William Lindblom (born June 15, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and Pittsburgh Pirates[1] and in the KBO League Lotte Giants and Doosan Bears.[2]

Josh Lindblom
Lindblom with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2011
Milwaukee Brewers – No. 29
Pitcher
Born: (1987-06-15) June 15, 1987
Lafayette, Indiana
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: June 1, 2011, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
KBO: March 31, 2015, for the Lotte Giants
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record7–12
Earned run average4.35
Strikeouts183
KBO statistics
(through 2019 season)
Win–loss record63–34
Earned run average3.55
Strikeouts750
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Career

Amateur and minor league career

Lindblom attended high school at Harrison High School. He was drafted in the third round of the 2005 MLB draft by the Houston Astros after being listed by Baseball America as the top prospect in the state of Indiana. He was 8–2 as a high school senior with a 2.30 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 76 innings. Rather than sign with the Astros, Lindblom chose to attend the University of Tennessee.[3]

After one season with the Tennessee Volunteers, Lindblom transferred to Purdue University for the 2007 season.[4] He was a starter with Tennessee, but became the closer for Purdue in 2007–2008. Lindblom was listed as being among the 75 top college baseball players by USA Baseball.[5][6] In 2007, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[7]

Los Angeles Dodgers

Lindblom was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2nd round of the 2008 MLB draft and made his professional baseball debut that same year with the Single-A Great Lakes Loons in the Midwest League.[8] He started eight games for the Loons, finishing 0–0 with a 1.86 ERA in 29 innings worked. He struck out 33 batters, while walking only 4. He got a late season call-up to the AA Jacksonville Suns, where he made one start.

In 2009, Lindblom pitched in several spring training games for the Major League Dodgers, and there was some speculation that he could even make the big league club to start the season.[9] However, he was instead assigned to start the year with the Dodgers new AA affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts. He made 14 appearances for the Lookouts, including 11 starts and had a record of 3–5 and an ERA of 4.71 when he was promoted to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes. With the Isotopes, Lindblom made three starts and then was transferred to the bullpen. He had a 2.54 ERA in 20 games and was 3–0.

In 2010, Lindblom spent the entire season with Albuquerque. He made 10 starts with the Isotopes, before they decided to return him to being a relief pitcher. He finished the season 3–2 with a 6.54 ERA in 40 appearances. He was demoted to Chattanooga in 2011, where he started the season with seven saves and a 2.96 ERA in 19 games.

On May 29, 2011, Lindblom was called up to the Dodgers. He made his Major League debut in relief on June 1, 2011, against the Colorado Rockies, allowing two hits in a scoreless seventh inning during a 3–0 Dodgers loss. On August 12, 2011, he won his first game, pitching a scoreless tenth inning against the Houston Astros in a game the Dodgers won 1–0 in the bottom of that inning. He pitched in 29.2 innings for the Dodgers in 2011, with a 2.73 ERA and 28 strikeouts.

Philadelphia Phillies

On July 31, 2012, Lindblom was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies along with prospect Ethan Martin for outfielder Shane Victorino.[10] He appeared in 26 games for the Phillies, with a 1-3 record and 4.63 ERA.

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers acquired Lindblom and minor league pitching prospect Lisalverto Bonilla on December 9, 2012, from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Michael Young.[11] Lindblom was called up on May 20 when Derek Lowe was designated for assignment and optioned back to the Triple-A Round Rock Express on May 21. He was recalled again on June 9.[12]

Oakland Athletics

On December 3, 2013, Lindblom, along with outfielder Craig Gentry, was traded to the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Michael Choice and infielder Chris Bostick.[13] He was designated for assignment on November 28, 2014.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed Lindblom off waivers on December 8, 2014.[14]

Lotte Giants

On December 15, 2014, he signed with the Lotte Giants of the KBO League.[15] He pitched there the next two seasons.

Second Stint With Pirates

On December 16, 2016, Lindblom signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates that included an invitation to spring training.[16] He was outrighted to AAA on June 24, 2017. Lindblom was released by the Pirates on July 12, 2017.[17]

Return to KBO

On July 13, 2017, the Lotte Giants announced that they had signed Lindblom again.[18]

Doosan Bears

On December 11, 2017, the Doosan Bears announced the signing of Lindblom to a one-year, $1.45 million contract. 2018 was a successful season for Lindblom; he started 26 games with a 15–4 record, a league-leading 2.88 ERA, and the Pitcher's Golden Glove award. Lindblom received the 2019 KBO League Most Valuable Player Award, after posting a 20–3 record with a 2.50 ERA and 189 strikeouts over ​194 2⁄3 innings.[19] Lindblom received his second pitcher's Golden Glove award for the 2019 season.[20]

Milwaukee Brewers

On December 16, 2019, Lindblom signed a three-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.[21]

Pitching style

As a reliever, Lindblom relies chiefly on four-seam and two-seam fastballs around 91 mph and a high-80s cutter, although he also mixed in a curveball, a slider, and a changeup.[22][23] He was moved to rotation and added an effective splitter to repertoire in his KBO career.[24]

Personal life

Lindblom is married to Aurielle Lindblom. They have three children: Presley, Palmer, and Monroe.[25] Lindblom's daughter, Monroe, was born with a congenital heart defect that has required surgery.[26]

Lindblom is a devoted Christian and attended Dream Center while playing in Los Angeles. Lindblom and his wife also established a charity which donated $20,000 to an Indiana food bank.[27]

References
  1. "Josh Lindblom Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  2. "Josh Lindblom Minor & Korean Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  3. "CSTV.com: #1 in College Sports". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  4. "CSTV.com: #1 in College Sports". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  5. "CSTV.com: #1 in College Sports". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  6. "Welcome to USA Baseball: Home of 1988 & 2000 Olympic Gold Medalists". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  7. "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  8. "Great Lakes Loons getting additions to bullpen, including Los Angeles Dodgers second-round pick Josh Lindblom". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  9. King, Sam (April 5, 2009). "Lindblom works his way up". Journal & Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. p. B1.
  10. Dierkes, Tim (July 31, 2012). "Dodgers Acquire Shane Victorino".
  11. "Josh Lindblom, Lisalverto Bonilla bring strong arms to Rangers' pitching staff". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  12. "RHP Josh Lindblom Recalled". Round Rock Express. June 9, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. "Pirates claim right-hander Josh Lindblom off waivers from A's". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  15. "Lindblom signs with Korean baseball club". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  16. Adams, Steve (December 16, 2016). "Pirates Sign Josh Lindblom, Eury Perez To Minor League Deals". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  17. "Josh Lindblom: Dropped by Pirates". CBSSports.com. CBS Sports. RotoWire Staff. July 13, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  18. Park, Alex (July 13, 2017). "Lotte Giants reacquire ex-ace Josh Lindblom". The Korea Herald. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  19. "American pitcher Josh Lindblom voted MVP in KBO". The Korea Times. November 25, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  20. Jee-ho, Yoo (December 9, 2019). "American ace Lindblom closes KBO chapter with 2nd, likely last, Golden Glove". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  21. https://sports.yahoo.com/brewers-lindblom-finalize-9-125-000-3-contract-191005237--mlb.html
  22. "Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool – Player Card: Josh Lindblom". Brooks Baseball. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  23. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lindbjo01.shtml
  24. https://www.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/milwaukee-brewers-josh-lindblom-free-agent-pitcher-signed-korea-kbo-121619
  25. "Monroe Lindblom". Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  26. "U.S. pitcher leaves S. Korean club to be with ailing daughter". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  27. Hernandez, Dylan (April 30, 2012). "Dodgers' Josh Lindblom says his faith helped make him a better pitcher". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
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