Phillippe Aumont

Phillippe Aumont (born January 7, 1989) is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher, who played for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners 11th overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft,^[1] and is the third earliest Canadian pick (after Adam Loewen and Jeff Francis, both picked in 2002)^[2] as well as the first player born in Quebec to be selected in the first round of the draft.^[3]

Early life

As a child his first love was baseball.^[4] He played with different regional and provincial teams, while attending high school at École secondaire du Versant in Gatineau, Quebec. Aumont was 15 years old when his hometown Montreal Expos left for Washington, D.C. after the 2004 season, but still supported the team despite playing in a new location.

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

Aumont was drafted by the Seattle Mariners with the 11th overall pick of the 2007 amateur draft and signed a contract which included a $1.9 million signing bonus.^[5] Aumont appeared in 15 games in 2008 (8 starts) for the Seattle Mariners A level affiliate, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, posting a 2.75 ERA over 55 ²⁄₃ innings with 50 strikeouts versus 19 walks.^[6] He began the 2009 baseball season with the High Desert Mavericks, the Seattle Mariners Advanced A affiliate, where he was converted into a reliever. In 29 appearances he posted a 3.24 ERA with 12 saves as the closer, earning a promotion to the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx in mid-July. He finished the 2009 season with a 2–6 record, 16 saves, 3.88 ERA, and 59 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched.^[6] In the offseason, Aumont played in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas, and posted a dismal 12.00 ERA in 10 appearances.^[6]

On December 16, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies along with Tyson Gillies and J. C. Ramírez for Cliff Lee.^[7][8]

Philadelphia Phillies

Aumont with the Phillies

Aumont played the 2010 season with the Advanced-A Clearwater Threshers and Double-A Reading Phillies, posting a combined record of 3–11, a 5.68 ERA, and 115 strikeouts in a career-high 122 innings pitched, mostly as a starter.^[6] He was moved back to a relief role for the 2011 season and made 43 total appearances for Double-A Reading, as well as the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.^[6]

Aumont began the 2012 season in the bullpen for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, posting a 3–1 record, 4.26 ERA, and 59 strikeouts in 44 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched.^[6] On August 20, he was promoted to the majors for the first time.^[9] He made his MLB debut on August 23, pitching a scoreless inning against the Cincinnati Reds. Aumont finished the season in the Phillies bullpen, appearing in 18 games and posting a 3.68 ERA with 2 saves.^[10]

After opening the 2013 season in the Phillies bullpen, Aumont was demoted to Triple-A on May 23.^[11] He made 22 total appearances at the major league level in 2013 as well as 32 appearances in the minors, and struggled with command, walking 51 batters in 55 combined innings.^[6][10]

On June 1, 2014, Aumont was recalled by the Phillies; he pitched in his first game back on the roster and took the loss.^[12] Aumont appeared in just 5 games for the Phillies, posting an ERA of 19.06.^[10]

During the 2015 season with Lehigh Valley, Aumont transitioned back to a starter for the first time since 2010.^[13] After posting solid numbers in Triple-A, Aumont was called up in June but struggled mightily with his control, walking 7 batters and serving up 2 home runs in just 4 innings.^[10] It was his lone start as the Phillies designated him for assignment afterwards. On June 24, Aumont declined his outright assignment and instead became a free agent.^[14]

Toronto Blue Jays

Aumont signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on July 24, 2015.^[15] On August 21, Aumont was released.^[16]

Chicago White Sox

On November 23, 2015, Aumont signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. Aumont pitched to a 12.27 ERA over 11 innings with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights,^[17] and announced his retirement on June 6, 2016.^[18]

International play

Medal record
Men's Baseball
Representing  Canada
Pan American Games
	2015 Toronto	National team

2009 World Baseball Classic

Phillippe Aumont pitched for Team Canada in the 2009 WBC, appearing in the 7th inning against Team USA on March 7. He struggled early, giving up two hits and a walk, before settling down. He then proceeded to retire MLB All-Stars David Wright, Kevin Youkilis, and Curtis Granderson in order; the last two by strikeout, to escape the inning with no runs surrendered.

Pitching style

Aumont was a "power" pitcher, with a hard fastball and sharp breaking ball. Standing 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm) and weighing 255 pounds (116 kg), Aumont threw a fastball in the mid 90s, reaching the upper 90s on occasion, with late movement. His breaking pitch was a "power slurve" which moves more like a curveball and had been clocked in the high 70s to low 80s. He also threw a changeup on occasion.^[19] During the 2014 offseason, Aumont commented that he has "always idolized" Randy Johnson, who is 6 feet 10 inches (208 cm) tall:

"This offseason I was looking around a little bit. What I've heard and what you can see [from the stats] is that he didn't really get through his wild stage until he was [almost 30]. So that's why when I go to bed at night I'm like, 'You know what? I still might be struggling with mechanics. I still might not be able to consistently get the corner I want or get the result of the pitch that I want. But if I keep working it will come to me and eventually I'll get it. Some guys get it really early. Some guys get it later. That's just how it works."

— Aumont, February 21, 2014^[20]

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)