Phillippe Aumont

Phillippe Aumont

Aumont with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
Relief Pitcher
Born: January 7, 1989
Gatineau, Quebec
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 23, 2012 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Career statistics
(through 2014 season)
Win–loss record 1–5
Earned run average 6.13
Strikeouts 39
WHIP 1.89
Teams

Phillippe Aumont (born January 7, 1989) is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners 11th overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.[1] He is the third earliest Canadian pick (after Adam Loewen and Jeff Francis, both picked in 2002)[2] and the first Quebec player to be picked in the first round in MLB draft history.[3]

Early life

As a child his first love was baseball.[4] He played baseball in high school at École secondaire du Versant in Gatineau, Quebec. Aumont was 15 years old when his hometown Montreal Expos left for Washington D.C. after the 2004 season, but still supported the team despite playing in a new location.

Family life

In September 2003, Phillipe Aumont left his father's place to go live with his coach, Stéphane Pétronzio, and his family of three children.

Professional

Seattle Mariners

Draft

Phillippe was drafted by the Seattle Mariners with the 11th overall pick of the 2007 amateur draft. On August 15, 2007, Aumont reached a deal with the Mariners and signed a contract which included a $1.9 million signing bonus.[5]

2008

Phillippe Aumont appeared in 15 games; starting eight, for the Seattle Mariners A level affiliate, posting a 2.75 era over 552⁄3 innings with 50 strikeouts versus 19 walks. He also began his professional career by not allowing a run in his first six appearances over 172⁄3 innings pitched. He was placed on the disabled list on June 10 and again on August 21, where he remained for the rest of the season.

2009

Aumont began the 2009 baseball season with the High Desert Mavericks, the Seattle Mariners Advanced A affiliate. Because he continued not to produce as hoped, the Seattle organization decided to begin converting Aumont into a reliever. In 29 appearances he posted a 3.24 ERA with 12 saves as the Mavericks closer, earning a promotion to the Mariners AA affiliate in mid-July. AA ball proved too hard for the Canadian, as he posted a 5.09 ERA and compiled a 1-4 record. The following season he was sent back down to single A.

On December 16, Seattle cut their ties with him and he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies along with Tyson Gillies and J. C. Ramírez for Cliff Lee.[6][7]

2009 World Baseball Classic

Phillippe Aumont pitched for team Canada in the 2009 WBC, appearing in the 7th inning against team U.S.A. on March 7. He struggled early, giving up two hits and a walk, before settling down. He then proceeded to retire MLB all-stars David Wright, Kevin Youkilis, and Curtis Granderson in order; the last two by strikeout, to escape the inning with no runs surrendered.

Philadelphia Phillies

2010

Aumont started in the Phillies organization with the double-A Reading Phillies, where he lost six games and won one, with a high ERA of 7.43. He also struggled with hitting batters and wild pitches, resulting in him being moved back to the bullpen. He was sent down the high-A Clearwater Threshers in early June.

2011

The 2011 season brought success for Aumont, who posted 2.32 ERA in AA Reading, finishing the season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

2012

Aumont was promoted to the Phillies on August 20, 2012.[8] He made his Major League debut on August 23, 2012, pitching a scoreless inning against the Cincinnati Reds.

2013

On May 23, Aumont was demoted to the triple-A affiliate of the Phillies, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.[9]

2014

On June 1, Aumont was recalled by the Phillies; Aumont pitched in his first game back on the roster and took the loss. [10]

Pitching style

Aumont is a typical "power" pitcher: a pitcher with a hard fastball and sharp breaking ball whose goal is to strike out as many batters as possible. Standing 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm) and weighing 255 pounds (116 kg), Aumont throws a fastball in the mid 90s, reaching the upper 90s on occasion, with late movement. His breaking pitch is a "power slurve" which moves more like a curveball and has been clocked in the high 70s to low 80s. He has also thrown a changeup on occasion.[11] During the 2014 offseason, Aumont commented that he has "always idolized" Randy Johnson, who is 6 feet 10 inches (208 cm) tall:

"This offseason I was looking around a little bit. What I've heard and what you can see [from the stats] is that he didn't really get through his wild stage until he was [almost 30]. So that's why when I go to bed at night I'm like, 'You know what? I still might be struggling with mechanics. I still might not be able to consistently get the corner I want or get the result of the pitch that I want. But if I keep working it will come to me and eventually I'll get it. Some guys get it really early. Some guys get it later. That's just how it works."
—Aumont, February 21, 2014[12]

References

  1. ↑ Zwolinski, Mark (2007-07-06). "Decision day for Blue Jays". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  2. ↑ Myles, Stephanie (June 8, 2007). "Quebec pitcher strikes it rich in draft". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  3. ↑ "Draft: M's take Aumont, Jays get Ahrens". TSN. June 6, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  4. ↑ Bird, Doug (2007-05-04). "As draft nears, Aumont getting noticed". MLB.com. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  5. ↑ Street, Jim (15 August 2007). "Mariners, Aumont reach deal: Seattle agrees to terms with big Canadian righty, its '07 top pick". Seattle Mariners. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  6. ↑ "Phillies Trade Lee to Seattle". Philadelphia Phillies. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. 16 December 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  7. ↑ Baker, Geoff (December 14, 2009). "ESPN: Phillippe Aumont and Tyson Gillies...to the Phillies". The Seattle Times.
  8. ↑ Treyhorn, Dash (21 August 2012). "Phillippe Aumont Called Up". Philthy Stuff. NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  9. ↑ LoRe, Michael (2 June 2013). "Phillippe Aumont focusing on what's best for himself while with Lehigh Valley IronPigs". The Express-Times. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  10. ↑ Bacjarach, Erik (1 June 2014). "Phils fall to Mets in extras for second straight day". MLB.com. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  11. ↑ Anderson, R. J. (March 7, 2009). "Phillippe Aumont Dazzles Against Team USA". fangraphs.com. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  12. ↑ Hagen, Paul (February 21, 2014). "Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Phillippe Aumont hopes to follow path of Randy Johnson". phillies.com: News. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved February 21, 2014.

External links