Justin Masterson

Infobox MLB player
name = Justin Masterson


width = 230px
caption =
team = Boston Red Sox
number = 63
position = Relief pitcher
birthdate = birth date and age|1985|3|22
birthplace = city-state|Kingston|Jamaica
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = April 24
debutyear = 2008
debutteam = Boston Red Sox
statyear = 2008
stat1label = Win-Loss
stat1value = 6-5
stat2label = Earned run average
stat2value = 3.16
stat3label = Strikeouts
stat3value = 68
teams =
*Boston Red Sox (by|2008-present)

Justin Daniel Masterson (born March 22, 1985 in city-state|Kingston|Jamaica) is a right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox drafted Masterson in the second round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. Masterson was rated as the 64th-best prospect going into that year's draft by "Baseball America". [cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2008/265659.html|title=Top 100 Prospects: No. 61-80|accessdate=2008-04-18] Masterson stands 6'6", and weighs 250 pounds.

Masterson is the first Red Sox pitcher since 1912 to make his first four consecutive starts in Fenway Park and not lose any of them. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/06/09/fun_in_games_for_masterson/|title=Fun in games for Masterson|publisher=Boston Globe|accessdate=2008-06-09]

Early life

Masterson was born in Kingston, Jamaica, where his father served as dean of students at the Jamaica Theological Seminary. [cite web |url=http://goaztecs.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/masterson_justin00.html |title=Profile: #21 Justin Masterson | work=San Diego State University |accessdate=2008-04-17] A few years later, Masterson moved to Indiana. He attended Beavercreek High School at Beavercreek, Ohio where he first played baseball as a catcher, pitcher, and first baseman.

Masterson attended Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana, where he played as a starting pitcher. He then attended San Diego State University. As a relief pitcher, Masterson pitched out of the bullpen in the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2005, saving 10 games for Wareham while posting a 1.15 ERA.

Pitching

Masterson pitches at a low three-quarter arm delivery with a sliding-type motion, which some compare to Dennis Eckersley's delivery. His pitching arsenal includes a fastball, sinker, slider, and a change-up. It has been claimed that his best pitch is his plus-sinker with a heavy drop. [ [http://www.soxprospects.com/players/masterson-justin.htm Justin Masterson | SoxProspects.com ] ]

Masterson throws a variety of fastballs that vary in speed and break, with the speeds reaching between from the upper 80s to the mid 90s. The speed of his slider is in the low 80s, and his change-up ranges from 77 to 81 mph. He can vary his sinker at speeds of 84 to 94 mph, sometimes catching batters off balance.

Career

Masterson was signed to the minors by Dan Madsen, and has been a starter and reliever in his minor league career for the Lowell Spinners. In 2007, his second season, Masterson was promoted from the Class A Lancaster JetHawks to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. Masterson's twelve wins that season ranked second among all Red Sox minor leaguers. [citeweb|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080306&content_id=2408395&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos MLB|publisher=mlb.mlb.com|title=Second place among all Red Sox minors.|accessdate=2008-06-01]

After joining the Sea Dogs, Masterson said, "I've had the confidence to be a great pitcher all along. I went to a smaller school and really proved that I had the ability to pitch, and whatever route I took to get me where I am I'm not worried about it." [ [http://media.www.thedailyaztec.com/media/storage/paper741/news/2007/08/29/Sports/A.Diamond.Discovered.In.San.Diego-2941534.shtml The Daily Aztec] ]

In 2006, Masterson was named to the Baseball America short season all-star team. [cite web |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/features/262512.html |title=BaseballAmerica.com: Minors: 2006 Minor League All-Stars |accessdate=2008-04-14] [cite web |url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/M/Justin-Masterson.shtml |title=Justin Masterson Statistics — The Baseball Cube |accessdate=2008-04-14] [cite web |url=http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Justin%20Masterson&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=475416 |title=Minor League Baseball: Stats: Player |accessdate=2008-04-14] Masterson was converted to starting pitcher in early 2007, after a stint as a relief pitcher for Short Season Lowell in 2006.

The Red Sox invited Masterson to spring training during early 2008. [ [http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=bos&year=2008&month=2 Red Sox Team Transactions February 2008] ] On April 24, by|2008, he made his Major League debut against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in an emergency call-up start. He pitched six full innings and allowed one run. Masterson was immediately sent back to Portland following the game. On May 20, by|2008, Masterson made his second appearance, pitching 6.1 innings, allowing two hits and one run with four walks and four strikeouts and picking up his first win in the Majors. It was announced immediately after the game that he was being sent down to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. [cite web
url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/05/21/nice_encore_by_masterson/
title=Nice encore by Masterson | date=2008-05-21 |publisher=Boston Globe | author=Gordon Edes |accessdate=2008-05-21]

After five starts with the major-league club, it was announced that he would stay in the majors through Daisuke Matsuzaka's return from the disabled list due to Bartolo Colón's back injury. [cite web
url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080617&content_id=2947358&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos
title=Masterson keeps 'living the dream' | date=2008-06-18 |publisher=MLB.com | author=Ian Browne |accessdate=2008-06-20] On July 7, 2008 Masterson was sent back to the Pawtucket Red Sox, a move manager Terry Francona stated was made to transition Masterson from a starter to a relief pitcher. [cite web
url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view/2008_07_08_Masterson_off_to_become_reliever/srvc=redsox&position=5
title=Justin Masterson off to become reliever | date=2008-07-08 |publisher=Boston Herald | author=Rob Bradford |accessdate=2008-07-08] Masterson was recalled on July 20 due to an injury to David Aardsma [cite web
url=http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=ApeZ.iBsYvUgcevRmDgWueaFCLcF?slug=rotowire-ustinastersonackinos&prov=rotowire&type=fantasy
title=Justin Masterson: Back in Boston | date=2008-07-20 |publisher=rotowire.com | author= |accessdate=2008-07-23] In his first relief appearance, he was solid against the Seattle Mariners, shutting down the hitters and working 2 and 2/3 scoreless innings. The game took place at Seattle's Safeco Field.

Major League statistics

Personal life

Masterson was married on November 3, 2007 to Meryl Ham. He has a brother, a sister and several cousins, one of whom currently teaches Italian at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. As of 2008, Masterson resides in Beavercreek, Ohio. [ [http://redsoxnation.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=21573 Justin Masterson - Red Sox pitching prospect - Royal Rooters ] ]

References

External links

*Baseballstats |mlb=475416 |espn=28977 |br=m/masteju01 |fangraphs=2038 |cube=M/justin-masterson
* [http://www.soxprospects.com/players/masterson-justin.htm Justin Masterson]
* [http://redsoxnation.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=21573 Justin Masterson Q&A]
* [http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=31214 Baseball Reference] statistics
* [http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/stats/player.php?id=475416 Baseball America] statistics
* [http://www.portlandseadogs.com/cgi-bin/dist/roster.cgi?player=1183831935 Portland Sea Dogs] About Justin Masterson

Articles

* [http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=873 Baseball America article]
* [http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/sports/stories/711198623.html Kennebec Journal article]