John Axford is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on April 1, 1983, in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. Axford attended Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School in Welland, Ontario, where he played baseball and basketball. He then went on to attend Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, where he played college baseball for the Canisius Golden Griffins.
Axford was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the seventh round of the 2001 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign with the team. He was later drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 42nd round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft and signed with the team. Axford made his professional debut in 2006 with the Billings Mustangs, a Rookie-level affiliate of the Reds.
Axford made his Major League Baseball debut on September 7, 2009, with the Milwaukee Brewers. He spent the next five seasons with the Brewers, where he became the team's closer in 2010. Axford had a breakout season in 2011, where he recorded 46 saves and was named the National League's Rolaids Relief Man of the Year. He also helped lead the Brewers to the National League Championship Series that year.
Axford was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013 and then to the Cleveland Indians in 2014. He signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2014 but was released by the team before the start of the season. Axford then signed with the Colorado Rockies, where he spent the next two seasons.
Axford signed with the Oakland Athletics in 2016 and had a successful season with the team, recording 18 saves and a 3.97 ERA. He signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018 and spent the next two seasons with the team. Axford missed most of the 2019 season due to injury but returned to the team in 2020.
Axford announced his retirement from baseball on April 19, 2021, after a 10-year career in the Major Leagues. He finished his career with a 38-34 record, 144 saves, and a 3.89 ERA. Axford was known for his fastball, which he threw in the mid-to-upper 90s, and his signature mustache.
Off the field, Axford is known for his love of film and has been involved in several film projects throughout his career. He has also been an advocate for mental health awareness and has spoken openly about his struggles with anxiety and depression.
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