Matthew James Lindstrom (born February 11, 1980 in Rexburg, Idaho) is a Major League Baseball closer for the Florida Marlins.
A Mormon, Lindstrom played college baseball at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) and was selected by the New York Mets in the 10th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft.
He made his professional debut at Rookie League Kingsport and posted an 0-6 record with a 4.84 ERA in twelve games with eleven games as a starting pitcher. He began next year at Single-A Capital City and was dominant, as his 2.86 ERA and 7.94 K/9 rate showed. This earned him a promotion to Brooklyn where Lindstrom would finish out the 2003 season well, as he compiled a 7-3 record with a 3.44 ERA.
In 2004, Lindstrom was promoted to St. Lucie where, at 24, he compiled a 5-5 record with a 3.73 ERA in fourteen starts. His walk rate was staggering, however, at 2.26 BB/9. The righty found himself back at Capital City midway through the season, where he his numbers improved slightly, as he posted a 3-2 record with a 3.21 ERA and much-improved control, with a 1.61 BB/9.
At age 25, Lindstrom began the 2005 season at Double-A Binghamton, in what was determined to be a make-or-break year for his career. Lindstrom went 2-5 with an ERA of 5.40 with eye-popping walk and home-run rates of 6.75 BB/9 and 1.35 HR/9 in thirty-five games (ten starts, as the troubled righty was switched to bullpen duty midway through the season).
On November 20, 2006, Lindstrom and Henry Owens were traded to the Florida Marlins in exchange for Jason Vargas and Adam Bostick. Both, Lindstrom and Owens were highly regarded as a top closer candidates for the 2007 season. Lindstrom's fastball often touches 100 mph and averages in the high 90's. Playing in the Puerto Rican Winter League this in the 06-07 offseason, his fastball was clocked at 102 mph.
On May 17, 2007, while pitching in the 8th inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, Lindstrom's fastball was clocked at 102 mph on the stadium scoreboard. [1]
Lindstrom picked up his first major league win against the Brewers in Milwaukee on June 2, 2007.
In the final game of the 2008 regular season, Lindstrom picked up the save in a win that ended the New York Mets' playoff hopes for the second straight season; of more significance, his performance allowed the Milwaukee Brewers to reach the postseason as the wild-card for the first time in twenty-six years.
References
- ^ "Marlins win second straight vs. Bucs", MLB.com (May 16, 2006).
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