Jonathan Broxton

2013

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2012

For the first four-and-a-half years of his career, Broxton had been among the league's elite relievers, eventually taking over the closer role from Takashi Saito in 2008 and being named to the National League All-Star squad the subsequent two seasons. Since the All-Star break in 2010, however, Broxton has been limited to 36.2 innings and a 6.63 ERA, lacking the velocity and command he had exhibited in prior years. Broxton eventually underwent elbow surgery in September after tossing just 12.2 innings in 2011. He's reportedly expected to be healthy come spring training, where he'll don a Royals jersey via a one-year, $4 million contract. The Royals have Joakim Soria (as of this writing) and seemingly Greg Holland ahead of him in the closer pecking order, but a healthy Broxton could be in line for saves at some point in 2012.

2011

It was a tale of two halves for the 2010 All-Star, as Broxton posted a 2.11 ERA before the break and subsequently collapsed once July rolled around. Over the second half, Broxton's ERA was an alarming 7.13 and he walked more batters than he struck out (18:21 K:BB in 24 innings). Broxton had just two saves after July while Hong-Chih Kuo took over as closer and dominated. Broxton lost a couple ticks off his fastball compared to 2009, but it was his command more than anything that was his undoing. Broxton is set to earn $7 million in the final year of his contract, so the motivation should be there, but expect Kuo and impressive rookie Kenley Jansen to be gunning for the closer job as well come spring training.

2010

Broxton put himself in the upper tier of baseball’s closer fraternity in 2009, winning seven games and saving 36 with a 2.61 ERA and a major league-leading 114 strikeouts (for relievers) in 76 innings. With four years service time, Broxton is starting to get expensive for the Dodgers, but he'll once again return as their closer and should again be among the league's elite stoppers.

2009

Broxton's third full year in the big leagues was another success for the 290-pound 24-year-old fireballer. "The Bull" can dial up his fastball into triple-digits, thus resulting in a lofty strikeout rate (11.5 K/9IP -- seventh in the majors among pitchers who threw at least 1,000 pitches). Last season we also got a chance to view his future as a closer, as Broxton stepped in for the injured Takashi Saito and saved 14 games. He looks set to take over the closer role after the Dodgers cut ties with Saito and he could become of the the NL's best.

2008

Broxton (a.k.a. "The Bull") worked in 83 games in 2007, tying for third in MLB in appearances. In his 82 innings, Broxton posted a 2.85 ERA and excellent 99:25 K:BB. He dealt with a sore arm in September, something that likely contributed to a run of walk-off home runs allowed, but there shouldn't be any worries there. He figures in as the organization's closer-of-the-future, though that will probably have to wait another year or two, as Takashi Saito is showing no signs of slowing down. Still, relievers with a solid ERA and WHIP, and 100-strikeout potential are highly valuable.

2007

With his bulky frame and power repertoire, Broxton was converted from the rotation to the bullpen in 2005, a move that paid huge dividends last season. After an unimpressive 14-game stint with the Dodgers in 2005, Broxton opened last year in Triple-A and promptly tossed 11.2 scoreless innings before being promoted. He uses his mid-90s fastball/slider combination to produce excellent strikeout numbers (97 Ks in little more than 76 innings). Broxton was even better after the All-Star break with a 1.80 ERA in 40 innings, and with only the 37-year-old Takashi Saito ahead of him, could be the team's closer as early as sometime in 2007.

2006

Originally drafted and developed as a starter, Broxton moved to relief last year and saw immediate improvement, with his fastball gaining 2-3 mph. He's the first of an impressive class of pitchers who dominated at Double-A Jacksonville to make it to the big leagues, but he might start 2006 back in the minors. He still has a few rough edges, as indicated by his 12 walks in 13 2/3 innings with the Dodgers in two brief stints.

2005

Broxton dominated at Single-A Vero Beach in 2004. He's considered a potential top of the rotation starter if he can develop an off speed pitch to go along with his mid-90s fastball and sharp slider. At worst he's a potential late-innings reliever. The Dodgers will have him start 2005 at Double-A.