Jonathan Broxton is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on June 16, 1984, in Augusta, Georgia, and attended Burke County High School in Waynesboro, Georgia. Broxton was a standout athlete in high school, playing both baseball and football. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 2002 MLB draft.
Broxton made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2005 and quickly established himself as a dominant reliever. He was known for his fastball, which regularly clocked in at over 95 miles per hour, and his ability to strike out batters. Broxton was named to the National League All-Star team in 2009 and 2010, and he finished in the top ten in NL Cy Young Award voting both years.
In 2011, Broxton was traded to the Kansas City Royals, where he continued to pitch well. He recorded 23 saves for the Royals in 2012 and was named the team's Pitcher of the Year. Broxton then signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2013 season. He served as the team's closer for much of the year, recording 27 saves.
After the 2013 season, Broxton signed a three-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. He struggled during his time with the Brewers, however, posting a 4.62 ERA in 89 appearances over two seasons. Broxton was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015, where he pitched out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season.
Broxton signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the 2016 season. He struggled once again, however, posting a 4.56 ERA in 51 appearances. Broxton then signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals for the 2017 season. He pitched in 30 games for the Nationals, posting a 4.50 ERA before being released in August.
Overall, Broxton had a successful career as a relief pitcher in the major leagues. He recorded 118 saves and struck out 849 batters in 724 innings pitched. While he struggled during his later years, Broxton will be remembered as one of the most dominant relievers of his era.
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