Paul Maholm

Paul Gurner Maholm (pronounced Mah-HALL-uhm; born June 25, 1982) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Paul Maholm
Maholm with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pitcher
Born: (1982-06-25) June 25, 1982
Greenwood, Mississippi, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
August 30, 2005, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last MLB appearance
August 1, 2014, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record77–100
Earned run average4.30
Strikeouts984
Teams

Early life

Paul Gurner Maholm was born on June 25, 1982, in Holly Springs, Mississippi.[1] He played golf at the Holly Springs Country Club as a teenager.[1]

Maholm graduated from Germantown High School in Germantown, Tennessee. He was a three-year letterman while pitching at Mississippi State University for the Bulldogs.

Professional career

Pittsburgh Pirates

Maholm was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2003 draft.

While playing in the minor leagues in 2004, Maholm was struck in the face by a line drive. This resulted in a badly broken nose and a shattered left orbital, requiring surgery to repair the damage.[2]

Maholm made his major league debut as a starter, on August 30, 2005, against the Milwaukee Brewers and pitched eight shutout innings, earning his first career win. Maholm compiled a 3–1 record in six games with a 2.18 ERA in the 2005 season.

In 2006, Maholm made 30 starts for the Pirates, going 8–10 with a 4.76 ERA in 176 innings. He struck out 117 while walking a career high 81 and hitting 12 batters.

Maholm pitched his first shutout, while giving up three hits in a 3–0 victory over the Houston Astros on April 24, 2007. The rest of his season went sour, finishing 10–15 in 29 starts. He minimized his walk total from the previous year, inducing just 49 walks in 177.2 innings.

2008 proved to be one of Maholm's best seasons as a starting pitcher. Despite not reaching double digit wins in 31 starts (9–9), he lowered his ERA by more than a run from the previous year, finishing with a 3.79 ERA in a career-high 206.1 innings. In a spring training game against the Yankees that year, he faced Billy Crystal in the comedian's lone at-bat. Crystal fouled off the second pitch down the first-base line, but ultimately struck out.[3]

After the 2008 season, Maholm signed a three-year contract extension worth a guaranteed $14.5 million and a team option for 2012.[4]

In 2009, Maholm hit his first major league home run, off the Mets' John Maine. He finished 2009 with a record of 8–9, 4.44 ERA, 14 home runs allowed, 6 hit batsmen, 60 walks, 119 strikeouts, .290 average against, a 1.44 walks and hits per innings pitched, in 194.2 innings pitched.

Maholm reverted to his 2007 performance in 2010, finishing with a record of 9–15 with a career high 5.10 ERA.[5]

In 2011, Maholm had a stint on the DL, missing more than 3 starts on the season.[6] He finished 6–14 despite having an ERA of 3.66 and allowing just 11 home runs.

Chicago Cubs

On January 10, 2012, Maholm signed a one-year, $4.75 million contract with the Chicago Cubs with an option for a second year.[7] He was 9–6 with a 3.74 ERA in 20 starts.

Atlanta Braves

Maholm was traded to the Atlanta Braves on July 30, 2012, with Reed Johnson for Arodys Vizcaino and Jaye Chapman.[8][9] He was 14–16 with a 4.14 ERA over 1+1⁄2 seasons.

Los Angeles Dodgers

On February 8, 2014, Maholm signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.[10][11] He started eight games for the Dodgers because of various injuries but spent most of his time in the bullpen as a long reliever. In 30 games he had a 4.84 ERA and a 1–5 record. In a game on August 1 against the Chicago Cubs, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and was lost for the season.[12]

Cincinnati Reds

On February 1, 2015, Maholm signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds.[13][14] Though he hoped to make the Reds as a starting pitcher, he wound up competing for a position in the bullpen.[15] He was released on March 30.[16]

Pitching style

Maholm throws a wide variety of pitches and with a great range of speeds. His lead pitch is a sinker in the 87–89 mph range. He also throws a four-seam fastball (87–90), changeup (80–83), cut fastball (83–86), slider (79–82), and curveball (70–75). Maholm uses the cutter and changeup almost exclusively on right-handed hitters, while the slider is used only on lefties. He throws his curveball to batters from both sides of the plate. In 2013, he added a slow curveball that ranges from 62 to 70 MPH, that at times dips in the 50s.[17]

References
  1. Kovacevic, Dejan (September 25, 2005). "Paul Maholm: Steeliness in the eye of storms". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  2. "Maholm no stranger to overcoming adversity". Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  3. "Billy Crystal: NY Yankee for a Day!". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
  4. Sheldon, Mark (January 30, 2009). "Pirates sign Maholm and Hinske Ace left-hander inks three-year deal with option for 2012". MLB.com. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  5. "Pirates' Maholm seeking redemption after poor 2010". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  6. "Paul Maholm Has Shoulder Injury, Headed To DL". SB Nation Pittsburgh. Vox Media. August 20, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  7. The Washington Post
  8. Syder, Matt (July 30, 2012). "Cubs trade Paul Maholm, Reed Johnson to Braves". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  9. Nicholson-Smith, Ben (July 30, 2012). "Braves To Acquire Reed Johnson, Paul Maholm".
  10. Crasnick, Jerry (February 8, 2014). "Dodgers add LHP Paul Maholm". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  11. Hernandez, Dylan (February 8, 2014). "Dodgers sign pitcher Paul Maholm". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  12. Stephen, Eric (August 2, 2014). "Paul Maholm has ACL tear in right knee". truebluela.com.
  13. Sheldon, Mark (February 1, 2015). "Reds sign Maholm to Minor League deal". MLB.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  14. "Reds sign left-hander Paul Maholm to minor league deal". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  15. "Reds' Maholm will keep pitching, consider options". Cincinnati.com. March 19, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  16. Gleeman, Aaron (March 30, 2015). "Reds release left-hander Paul Maholm". hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  17. "PITCHf/x Player Card: Paul Maholm". BrooksBaseball.net. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
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