Scott Downs
Toronto Blue Jays — No. 37
Relief pitcher
Born: March 17, 1976 (1976-03-17) (age 33) Louisville, Kentucky
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
MLB debut
April 9, 2000 for the Chicago Cubs
Career statistics (through September 2, 2009)
Win–Loss	22–23
Earned run average	3.93
Strikeouts	394
Teams
Chicago Cubs (2000) Montreal Expos (2000–2004) Toronto Blue Jays (2005–present)

Scott Jeremy Downs (born March 17, 1976 in Louisville, Kentucky) is an American baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays in Major League Baseball. He has previously played for the Chicago Cubs and Montreal Expos. He is currently the closer for the Blue Jays although he has both been a starter and a middle reliever throughout his baseball career.

[edit] Early life

Downs was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended Pleasure Ridge Park High School, where he was selected as Kentucky's Mr. Baseball. He was recruited by coach Keith Madison to attend the University of Kentucky. He was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 12th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft, but he opted to attend college instead of signing a professional contract. At the end of his junior season at Kentucky, he was selected by the Chicago Cubs in 3rd round (94th overall) of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft. In 2000, Downs married his high school sweetheart Katie Sisler, and lives with her and their children in Lexington, Kentucky.

[edit] Minor league career

He made his debut for the Williamsport Cubs, of the New York-Penn League a Low-A affiliate of the Cubs. He made his way through the minor leagues and eventually made the Cubs roster for opening day 2000. Throughout his minor league career he has played for 10 different teams in different levels from 1997 to 2005. His numbers were solid. He posted a 46–32 career record with an ERA of 3.48, compiling 539 strikeouts in 706.2 innings pitched.^[1]

On June 11, 2004, while playing for the Edmonton Trappers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Expos, Downs threw a no-hitter against the Las Vegas 51s. It was the first no-hitter by a Trapper since August 8, 1996, when Aaron Small threw one against the Vancouver Canadians.

[edit] Major league career

Downs made his major league debut for the Chicago Cubs on April 9, 2000. he finished with a 4–3 record with an ERA of 5.17. On the MLB trading deadline for the 2000 season, July 31, 2000, he was traded by the Cubs to the Expos for Rondell White. After struggling in 2004 for the Expos, he was released on November 29. He was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays on December 16. He became a valuable pitcher for the Jays, serving as a spot-starter and reliever. Downs' numbers have improved with each year as a Blue Jay.

On February 2, 2007 the Blue Jays and Downs agreed to a one-year, $1.025 million contract, avoiding the arbitration process. Downs proceeded to appear in 81 games for Toronto in the 2007 season, tying Baltimore's Jamie Walker for the American League lead in that category. Downs went 4–2 with a 2.17 earned run average as a situational reliever, allowing 47 hits in 58 innings.

On January 18, 2008, the Blue Jays signed Downs to a three-year contract worth $10 million^[2]. Downs is currently the setup-man for the Blue Jays and was one of the best relief pitchers in the American League with an ERA of 1.78 in 70 2/3 innings pitched.

Contrary to popular belief, Downs does not write J.M.J. (Jesus Mary Joseph) in the dirt behind the mound before he pitches. As confirmed on the FAN 590 morning show during the week of May 19, 2008, Downs writes the initials of his two children: daughter Katherine Grayson and son Harrison. ^[3]

Downs was scheduled to be the Toronto Blue Jays primary set up man for the 2009 season. However, when closer B. J. Ryan was sent to the disabled list on April 23, Downs was announced as having taken his place.^[4]

On July 8, former closer B.J. Ryan was released and Downs was activated from the Disabled List. Manager Cito Gaston named Downs the Blue Jay's permanent closer.^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube