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Ladner's Paxton makes his Red Sox debut at Fenway

Delta Secondary graduate will be making his first MLB start in over two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery
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Ladner's James Paxton will make his Boston Red Sox debut on Friday night against the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park. It's been a long road to recovery after undergoing Tommy John surgery two years ago. Boston Red Sox photo

The long road to recovery finally ends tonight (Friday) for pitcher James Paxton.

The pride of Ladner will be back on a Major League Baseball (MLB) mound for the first time since April 6, 2021 when he gets the start for the Boston Red Sox against the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park.

It will be Paxton’s long-awaited Red Sox debut after signing a two-year, $10 million (US) deal with the club.

The 2022 season was spent rehabbing from Tommy John surgery after the 34-year-old injured his throwing arm just four outs into his first start with the Seattle Mariners. He had returned to the Emerald City on a one-year contract after an injury shortened 2020 season with the New York Yankees.

 

The Delta Secondary graduate was slated to be part of Boston’s starting 2023 rotation but injured his hamstring in spring training. That led to a stint with the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate in Worcester that concluded with a five inning, 96-pitch outing on May 5.

The hard-throwing lefty made his MLB debut back in 2013 as a late season call-up by the Mariners, going 3-0 in September, including a 6-2 win over Tampa Bay in his first-ever start.

His best season with Seattle was in 2017 when he went 12-5 with 2.98 ERA. His 2018 campaign was highlighted by a no-hitter at Toronto on a 99-pitch performance against the Blue Jays. He became just the second ever Canadian to achieve the special feat in the MLB.

In the off-season that year he was traded to New York where he enjoyed an impressive 2019 season, compiling a 15-6 record. He has made just six MLB starts since then.

Paxton came through Ladner Minor Baseball and the B.C. Premier Baseball’s North Delta Blue Jays program before earning a scholarship to the University of Kentucky.