2015 Seattle Mariners: Five Bold Predictions
By Max Carter
Sep 2, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher
James Paxton(65) returns to the dugout after the third inning against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
5) James Paxton Wins 20 Games
From day one, manager Lloyd McClendon had nothing but great things to say about the well-developed left-hander James Paxton. The southpaw had 13 starts for the Mariners in 2014, posting a 6-4 record, a 3.04 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP (even after allowing 8 runs in a mid-September outing). In 17 career starts, Paxton has averaged almost 6 innings per game, a number that will surely increase as his arm grows stronger and his pitch count rises.
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The unflappable lefty seems to have what it takes to pitch at a very high level in the big leagues, showing poise and maturity far beyond his years. Brought up in August to help the Mariners make a run at the playoffs, the Canadian slinger seemed like he had been there before, unfazed by the heavy importance of every game he pitched. In addition to the intangibles, number 65 also has one of the best fastballs of any left-hander in the game, complimented by a devastating hammer and a good changeup.
highest average fastball velocity among left-handed starters, 2014: pic.twitter.com/vgUmdZju8W
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) March 8, 2015
With his combination of poise, incredible stuff and the ability to go deep into ballgames, I look for James Paxton to explode into the national spotlight in 2015 with 20 wins, or more…