J. J. Putz
| J.J. Putz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Seattle Mariners – No. 20 | |
| Relief Pitcher | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| debut | |
| August 11, 2003, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| Career statistics (through 2007) | |
| Win-Loss | 10-9 |
| Saves | 69 |
| Earned Run Average | 3.07 |
| Strikeouts | 240 |
| Teams | |
| |
Joseph Jason "J.J." Putz (born February 22, 1977 in Trenton, Michigan) is a Major League Baseball player for the Seattle Mariners. J.J. Putz, 6’5” tall and 250lbs, attended the University of Michigan, and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 6th round in 1999. Putz has been a relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners since his debut August 11, 2003, and is the current closer for the Seattle Mariners.
He throws a 95-96 mile per hour fastball along with a slider and an above-average splitter. For the 2006 season, he served as the Mariners' closer, having taken over from Eddie Guardado early in the season; he converted 36 of 43 save opportunities while posting a 2.30 ERA and striking out 104 in 78.1 innings of work.
During the 2007 offseason, Putz signed a 3-year, $13.1 million deal with a $8.5 million team option for 2010.
Putz has been posting All-Star worthy numbers for the 2007 season, converting 23 saves in 23 opportunities with a 0.95 ERA, .128 OBA, 41 strikeouts and only 7 walks as of June 29, 2007. On July 1st, 2007, Major League Baseball announced that Putz would represent the Mariners along with Ichiro Suzuki at the 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
On July 6, 2007, Putz was named the June 2007 winner of the "DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award," recognizing the top relief pitcher for the month.
He currently enters to "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC. With each out of the inning, the song is replayed starting at "You've been thunderstruck" and lasts for several seconds.
High School
- A 1995 graduate of Trenton High School (Trenton,MI)