Matt Lindstrom

Matt Lindstrom

Colorado Rockies – No. 27
Relief pitcher
Born: February 11, 1980 (1980-02-11) (age 32)
Rexburg, Idaho
Bats: Right Throws: Right 
MLB debut
April 4, 2007 for the Florida Marlins
Career statistics
(through 2011 Season)
Win-Loss     12-15
Earned run average     3.81
Strikeouts     223
Saves     45
Teams

Matthew Raymond Lindstrom (born February 11, 1980 in Rexburg, Idaho) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Colorado Rockies.

Contents

College career

Lindstrom played college baseball at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho).

Professional career

New York Mets

Lindstrom was selected by the New York Mets in the 10th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his professional debut at Rookie League Kingsport and posted an 0-6 record with a 4.84 ERA in twelve games with eleven games as a starting pitcher. He began next year at Single-A Capital City and was dominant, as his 2.86 ERA and 7.94 K/9 rate showed. This earned him a promotion to Brooklyn where Lindstrom would finish out the 2003 season well, as he compiled a 7-3 record with a 3.44 ERA.

In 2004, Lindstrom was promoted to St. Lucie where, at 24, he compiled a 5-5 record with a 3.73 ERA in fourteen starts. His walk rate was staggering, however, at 2.26 BB/9. The righty found himself back at Capital City midway through the season, where his numbers improved slightly, as he posted a 3-2 record with a 3.21 ERA and much-improved control, with a 1.61 BB/9.

At age 25, Lindstrom began the 2005 season at Double-A Binghamton, in what was determined to be a make-or-break year for his career. Lindstrom went 2-5 with an ERA of 5.40 with eye-popping walk and home run rates of 6.75 BB/9 and 1.35 HR/9 in thirty-five games (ten starts, as the troubled righty was switched to bullpen duty midway through the season).

Florida Marlins

On November 20, 2006, Lindstrom and Henry Owens were traded to the Florida Marlins in exchange for Jason Vargas and Adam Bostick. Both Lindstrom and Owens were highly regarded as a top closer candidates for the 2007 season. Lindstrom's fastball often touches 100 mph and averages in the high 90's. Playing in the Puerto Rican Winter League in the 06-07 offseason, his fastball was clocked at 102 mph.

On May 17, 2007, while pitching in the 8th inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, Lindstrom's fastball was clocked at 102 mph on the stadium scoreboard.[1]

Lindstrom picked up his first major league win against the Brewers in Milwaukee on June 2, 2007.

In the final game of the 2008 regular season, Lindstrom earned a save versus the New York Mets. He threw the final pitch during actual game play of Shea Stadium (Tom Seaver would throw a "final pitch" during the post-game activities).

Houston Astros

On December 9, 2009, Lindstrom was dealt to the Houston Astros for minor leaguers Robert Bono, Luis Bryan and a player to be named later.,[2] which became Rule 5 draft pick Jorge Jimenez, a third baseman selected from the Red Sox organization.[3] On March 30, 2010, Lindstrom was named the Astros' closer for the 2010 season[4]

Colorado Rockies

After the 2010 season, Lindstrom was traded to the Colorado Rockies for two minor league pitchers: Wes Musick and Jonnathan Aristil.[5][6]

International career

Lindstrom pitched for Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

References

  1. ^ "Marlins win second straight vs. Bucs". MLB.com. May 16, 2006. http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070516&content_id=1969204&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla. 
  2. ^ Frisaro, Joe (2009-12-09). "Marlins deal Lindstrom to Astros | MLB.com: News". MLB.com (Mlb.mlb.com). http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091209&content_id=7783384&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb. Retrieved 2010-12-24. 
  3. ^ "Topic Galleries - South Florida". Sun-sentinel.com. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/florida-marlins/fl-baseball-meetings-1211-20091210,0,7639943.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sun-sentinel%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2Fmarlins+%28Florida+Marlins+%2F+South+Florida+Sun-Sentinel%29. Retrieved 2010-12-24. 
  4. ^ Fallas, Bernardo (2010-03-30). "Astros name Lindstrom closer; Towles wins catcher's job | Baseball | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/6936097.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+houstonchronicle%2Ftopheadlines+%28chron.com+-+Top+Stories%29. Retrieved 2010-12-24. 
  5. ^ "Hardball in the Rockies: Rockies acquire Lindstrom from Astros". Harding.mlblogs.com. 2010-12-23. http://harding.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/12/rockies_acquire_lindstrom_from.html. Retrieved 2010-12-24. 
  6. ^ "Astros deal Matt Lindstrom to Rockies, receive two prospects | astros.com: News". Houston.astros.mlb.com. 2010-12-23. http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101223&content_id=16365512&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou. Retrieved 2010-12-24. 

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Matt_Lindstrom Matt Lindstrom] at Wikimedia Commons