There is plenty to celebrate these days for Ladner’s James Paxton.
“Big Maple” was named American League Pitcher of the Month for June thanks to going 3-0 in five starts with a dazzling 1.74 for the Boston Red Sox.
The 34-year-old southpaw allowed just six earned runs on 18 hits, while striking out 34 over 31 innings. Batters hit just 1.65 against him during that stretch.
He capped off his big month with a gem back on home soil in Boston’s 5-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on June 30 at the Rogers Centre.
He allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out seven, with his fastball routinely being clocked at 96-to-97 mph. He departed with two outs in the eighth after throwing 107 pitches.
Following the win, Paxton left the team and went on the paternity leave list to join his wife Katie back in Boston for the arrival of their second child. He is expected to be back on the mound on Saturday at Fenway Park against Oakland.
After signing a two-year $10 million deal with the Red Sox following Tommy John surgery in 2021 that cost him the entire 2022 season, Paxton is a pending free agent. There is speculation he will be targeted by a number of playoff bound teams if the Red Sox (43-43) are sellers at the trade deadline on Aug. 1.
