James Paxton is entering his second season as a member of the New York Yankees. He was previously a member of the Seattle Mariners. Here are five interesting facts about the 31-year-old lefty:
1. The Big Maple
Paxton was born and raised in Canada, giving him the nickname “The Big Maple.” Despite growing up north of the border, he came to the United States and the University of Kentucky to play college baseball.
2. Drafted By The Blue Jays
In the 2009 draft, the Toronto Blue Jays took Paxton in the first round. He decided that he didn’t want to play for the team of his native country and went to play independent ball for a year. He slipped to the fourth round in 2010 and was selected by the Mariners.
3. No-No
Paxton is one of the few major league pitchers to throw a no-hitter successfully. Not just that, he did so in Toronto, becoming the first Canadian pro to throw a no-hitter in Canada.
4. Married For Three Years
Paxton has been married to his wife, Katie Joe, for over three years. The two don’t have any children but have a dog. He was raised by his parents Ted and Barb and lived with a brother named Thomas.
5. Big And Strong
Paxton stands and 6″4 and throws pitches in the upper 90s. He spends a lot of his free time in the gym and enjoys it. The lefty is a bit injury prone, so he always stays in the best shape that he can and spends a lot of time analyzing his recent starts.