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Jon Lester

Jonathan Tyler Lester (born January 7, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 16 seasons in (MLB), amassing 200 wins, a 3.66 (ERA), and 2,488 strikeouts over 2,740 . Lester was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the second round (57th overall) of the 2002 MLB Draft out of in his hometown of , and made his MLB debut on June 10, 2006. During his rookie year, he was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell in August 2006 but underwent successful treatment and returned to pitch the following season. He spent the bulk of his early career with the Red Sox from 2006 to 2014, where he emerged as a key starter, earning three selections (2010, 2011, 2014) and contributing to victories in and 2013. In July 2014, Lester was traded to the for the remainder of that season before signing a six-year contract with the Cubs, where he played from 2015 to 2020, adding two more nods (2016, 2018), the 2016 National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player award, and a pivotal role in the Cubs' 2016 triumph that ended their 108-year championship drought. Lester's postseason record stands out, with a 2.51 ERA across 154.0 innings in 26 appearances, ranking among the best in MLB history for pitchers with at least 10 starts. In 2021, Lester signed with the , recording a 3-5 mark with a 5.02 ERA in 16 starts, before being released in August and briefly joining the Cardinals for one appearance on October 2, his final MLB game. He announced his retirement on January 12, 2022, concluding a career that also included a brief stint with Oakland in 2014 and solidified his legacy as one of the premier left-handed starters of his era, with finishes as high as second in voting (2016).

Early years

Early life and education

Jon Lester was born on , 1984, in , to John Lester, a former who had served in the and the . His family background included strong ties to , which shaped a disciplined environment during his early years. Lester grew up in and nearby Puyallup in the , where his father encouraged an early interest in by setting up a hitting area in their garage using a blanket as a net and playing catch in the backyard. This hands-on involvement helped foster his passion for the sport amid the region's vibrant local sports culture, including proximity to Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners. Lester attended in Tacoma, a Jesuit institution where he balanced strong academic performance with athletic pursuits. On the baseball team, he demonstrated exceptional talent, earning three-time honors and three-time All-Area selections during his high school career. In his senior year of 2001-02, he was named the Washington State Player of the Year, an accolade that not only highlighted his athletic prowess but also recognized his academic excellence and character.

Amateur career and draft

Jon Lester developed his baseball skills at in , where he played as a and for the school's team under coach Rick Barnhart. As a versatile athlete, he earned three-time honors and was selected to the All-Area team three times during his high school tenure. His standout performances included a during his senior year, showcasing his potential as a dominant left-handed . During his senior season in 2001-02, Lester compiled a 4-2 record with a 1.50 , demonstrating the command and effectiveness that caught the attention of scouts. These achievements highlighted his athleticism and pitching prowess, positioning him as one of the top high school prospects in the . In his senior year of 2001-02, he was named the Washington State Player of the Year. Lester's high school success led to his selection by the Boston Red Sox in the second (57th overall) of the 2002 MLB June Amateur Draft. The Red Sox offered him a $1 million —the highest among second-round picks that year—which convinced him to forgo a college scholarship to and turn professional immediately. Scouted by Gary Rajsich, Lester signed on August 13, 2002, marking the beginning of his professional journey.

Professional career

Minor leagues (2002–2006)

Lester signed with the Boston Red Sox after being selected in the second round of the 2002 MLB Draft and was assigned to the rookie-level , where he appeared in one start, going 0-1 with a 13.50 over 0.2 . In 2003, he advanced to Class A of the , making 21 starts and posting a 6-9 record with a 3.65 across 106 , while striking out 71 batters. Lester continued his progression in 2004 at High Class A Sarasota Red Sox in the , where he logged 21 starts for a 7-6 record and 4.24 ERA in 91.1 innings, accumulating 85 strikeouts; he also made a single appearance for the GCL Red Sox earlier that year. The 2005 season represented a significant step forward at Double-A of the Eastern League, as Lester excelled with an 11-6 record, 2.61 ERA, and 163 strikeouts in 148.1 innings over 26 starts, earning recognition as the Red Sox Minor League of the Year and Eastern League of the Year. Entering 2006, Lester reached Triple-A with the in the , delivering a 3-4 record and 2.70 in 11 starts totaling 46.2 innings and 43 strikeouts, setting the stage for his call-up in .

Boston Red Sox (2006–2014)

Jon Lester made his debut with the Boston Red Sox on June 10, 2006, against the at , where he pitched 4.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out four batters in a no-decision during a 7-4 loss. In his rookie season, he finished with a 7-2 record and a 4.76 over 81.1 innings in 15 starts, establishing himself as a promising left-handed starter in the Red Sox rotation. Following his recovery from diagnosed earlier in 2006, Lester returned to the mound in July 2007, posting a 4-0 record with a 4.57 in 11 appearances, including eight starts, over 63 . He contributed to Boston's second World Series title in four years by starting Game 4 against the Colorado Rockies, pitching 5.2 and allowing two earned runs in a 4-3 victory that helped secure the championship—his first of two rings with the Red Sox. The following year, on May 19, 2008, Lester threw a against the at , completing nine on 130 pitches with two walks and nine strikeouts in a 7-0 win, marking the 18th in franchise history and a personal milestone less than two years after his . Lester solidified his role as a cornerstone of the Red Sox pitching staff through the early 2010s, highlighted by his performance in the 2013 postseason en route to Boston's third championship in nine seasons. In Game 5 of the against the St. Louis Cardinals, he pitched 7.2 scoreless innings, surrendering four hits and one walk while striking out four to earn the win in the 3-1 clincher. Over his nine seasons with the Red Sox from to 2014, Lester compiled a 110–63 record with a 3.66 ERA, 1,386 strikeouts, and 1,517.2 innings pitched in 259 games (258 starts), ranking among the team's top left-handed pitchers in franchise history. He earned three selections during this period (, 2011, and 2014), reflecting his consistent excellence. In March 2009, Lester signed a five-year, $30 million extension with the Red Sox, including a $2.625 million and a club option for 2015 that was ultimately declined, allowing him to become a after the 2014 season. His tenure with encompassed two titles and key contributions to the team's sustained contention, blending durability, postseason poise, and a featuring a lively , , and that anchored the for nearly a decade.

Oakland Athletics (2014)

On July 31, 2014, the Boston Red Sox traded starting pitcher Jon Lester and outfielder to the in exchange for outfielder as part of a three-team trade deadline deal. The Athletics, who held the best record in the at the time, acquired Lester—a proven postseason performer with a 4-1 record and 1.56 ERA in the playoffs—to bolster their rotation for a push. Lester made 11 starts for Oakland in the second half of the 2014 season, posting a 6-4 record with a 2.35 over 76⅔ while striking out 71 batters. His arrival helped stabilize the Athletics' pitching staff amid a competitive AL West race, where he allowed just 20 earned runs and limited opponents to a .227 against. The team went 7-4 in his outings, contributing to their first-place finish in the division with 88 wins. In the Game on September 30, 2014, against the at , Lester started for Oakland but received a no-decision after pitching 7⅓ innings and allowing six earned runs on eight hits and two walks, with five strikeouts. The Athletics led 7-3 when Lester exited, but the Royals rallied with six runs in the eighth inning against the , eventually winning 9-8 in 12 innings to eliminate Oakland from the . Following the season, Lester became a , concluding his brief tenure with the Athletics without a long-term extension in place.

Chicago Cubs (2015–2020)

On December 10, 2014, Lester signed a six-year, $155 million contract with the Chicago Cubs, marking the team's largest free-agent deal at the time and signaling their intent to contend in the . He made his Cubs debut on April 5, 2015, as the starter against the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching 4⅔ scoreless in a 3-0 loss despite not allowing a hit. In his inaugural season, Lester posted an 11-12 record with a 3.34 over 205 , providing stability to a rotation that helped the Cubs reach the for the first time since 2008. Lester's tenure peaked in 2016, when he emerged as a cornerstone of the Cubs' -winning campaign, their first championship since 1908. He earned his third selection that year and went 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA, finishing second in voting. In the against the , Lester was named co-MVP alongside after delivering two strong starts: six shutout innings with eight strikeouts in Game 1 and seven innings with one run allowed in the clinching Game 5 victory. His postseason contributions continued in the versus the Cleveland Indians, where he secured a pivotal win in Game 5 by pitching 4⅓ innings and allowing two runs in a 3-2, 10-inning triumph that extended the series, ultimately helping the Cubs claim the title in Game 7. Over the next three seasons, Lester maintained ace-level performance despite ongoing challenges with his throwing mechanics to first base, known as the "yips," which occasionally affected his control but did not derail his overall effectiveness. In 2017, he recorded a 12-8 mark with a 4.33 ERA in 192⅓ innings. His standout 2018 campaign included an 18-5 record, a 3.32 ERA, and a career-high 193 strikeouts in 180⅔ innings, earning him his fourth All-Star nod and leading the NL in wins. Lester followed with a 13-10 record and 4.46 ERA in 2019, anchoring the rotation amid the Cubs' continued playoff appearances. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Lester appeared in 12 games for the Cubs, going 3-3 with a 5.16 and 42 strikeouts in 61 innings before contributing three scoreless relief innings in their win over the . Across his six seasons in from 2015 to 2020, Lester compiled a 76-43 record with a 3.66 , 1,023 strikeouts, and exactly 1,000 , establishing himself as a veteran leader during the Cubs' most successful era in over a century.

Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals (2021)

Following his departure from the Chicago Cubs via a declined contract option at the end of the 2020 season, Lester signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Washington Nationals on January 27, 2021. With the Nationals, he made 16 starts, posting a 3–5 record with a 5.02 ERA over 75⅓ innings, allowing 91 hits, 14 home runs, and 29 walks while striking out 51 batters. His performance was hampered by a high home run rate and control issues, contributing to Washington's struggles in the NL East, though he showed flashes of veteran stability in select outings, such as a scoreless five-inning debut on April 30 against the Miami Marlins. On July 30, 2021, the Nationals traded Lester to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for , seeking to bolster their rotation depth ahead of the trade deadline. In 12 starts with St. Louis, Lester went 4–1 with a 4.36 over 66 innings, surrendering 68 hits and 11 home runs while issuing 26 walks and recording 40 strikeouts, providing reliable innings during a Cardinals push for the playoffs. He reached a career milestone on September 20, 2021, earning his 200th win in a 5–2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing two runs on three hits over six innings with two strikeouts. Lester made three more starts for the Cardinals after his milestone, including his final appearance on October 2, 2021, against the Chicago Cubs, where he pitched five , giving up four earned runs on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts in a no-decision. For the season, split between the two teams, he finished 7–6 with a 4.71 in 28 starts and 141⅓ , with 91 strikeouts and a 1.51 . On November 3, 2021, Lester elected free agency, effectively ending his 16-year MLB career.

Health challenges

Lymphoma diagnosis and recovery

In late August 2006, during his rookie season with the Red Sox, Jon Lester experienced that led to his placement on the disabled list, prompting medical tests that revealed enlarged lymph nodes and a subsequent of anaplastic large cell , a rare form of non-Hodgkin's . The , confirmed around August 31, interrupted what had been a promising debut campaign in which he had already secured seven wins. Lester began shortly after, starting with his first treatment on September 8, 2006, at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute before returning to his hometown of for subsequent rounds at the Cancer Research Center. He underwent six chemotherapy treatments over several months, enduring side effects including significant and , with treatments concluding on December 21, 2006. On that date, following his final session, doctors declared him cancer-free based on scans showing no evidence of the disease. Throughout the ordeal, Lester credited the unwavering support of the Red Sox organization, which provided resources and emotional backing, as well as his family, particularly his parents, for helping him maintain perspective and determination. Following his recovery, Lester resumed activities in 2007, initially pitching in games with the Triple-A in March to rebuild his strength and stamina. His emotional return to came on July 23, 2007, starting against the Indians at Jacobs Field, where he pitched six innings, allowed two runs, and earned the win in a 6-2 victory, marking a triumphant milestone in his comeback. In the years since, Lester has maintained annual medical check-ups to monitor for recurrence, reporting no further issues with the as of his retirement in 2022. His experience profoundly influenced his commitment to , motivating efforts to support and patients, though he has emphasized focusing on his career during his playing days.

The yips

Jon Lester experienced the , a psychological condition characterized by a sudden loss of fine in executing routine throws, particularly manifesting in his inability to accurately throw to first base from the or after fielding bunts and comebacks. This issue did not affect his pitching delivery or command on the but significantly hindered his fielding and pickoff attempts, leading him to largely avoid throws to first base during much of his career. The condition first gained widespread attention during the 2014 American League Wild Card Game with the Boston Red Sox, where Lester hesitated to throw to first, allowing the to steal three bases and rally from a four-run deficit to win 9-8. The problem, which had been building privately since around 2011, escalated after Lester signed with the Chicago Cubs in 2015, where he routinely bounced throws to first on grounders and refrained from pickoff moves, marking his first successful pickoff since August 2011 only in September of that year. Lester's struggles peaked in 2018 amid high-pressure regular-season situations, prompting him to develop a by intentionally bouncing throws to first base, akin to a pass, to bypass the mental tension causing errant sails. This technique, first tested in , allowed him to regain confidence in those throws despite occasional errors when the ball skipped away. Attributing the to anxiety in high-stakes moments, Lester managed the issue through a mental strategy of not overthinking it and focusing on his strengths, achieving partial control without complete resolution. By 2019, the bounce method proved effective during his Cubs tenure, enabling cleaner fielding and even occasional successful outs on low throws to first.

Playing style and achievements

Pitching repertoire and mechanics

Jon Lester's pitching repertoire featured a diverse set of offerings, anchored by his , which typically ranged from 91 to 94 mph and served as his primary pitch for establishing location and velocity. He complemented this with a sinker at 90 to 93 mph, providing sinking action to induce ground balls, and a clocked at 82 to 85 mph that offered deception through velocity separation and arm-side run. His signature , thrown in the 77 to 80 mph range, was a sweeping 12-6 breaker known for its sharp, late break that made it difficult for hitters to pick up, contributing significantly to his career average of 8.17 strikeouts per nine innings. In the 2010s, Lester expanded his arsenal by incorporating a at 88 to 90 mph, which exhibited plus-plus horizontal movement and proved particularly effective against right-handed batters by them inside. This addition enhanced his ability to command the inner half of the plate to both left- and right-handed hitters, allowing him to exploit disadvantages while maintaining overall control. Lester's mechanics supported this versatility through a smooth, repeatable overhand delivery—characterized by a high 3/4 arm slot, good extension, and efficient use of his 6-foot-4 frame—which enabled consistent release points and minimized strain, contributing to his as a workhorse starter. From 2008 to 2014, he averaged over 200 per season, logging a total of 1,450.2 during that span. Despite these strengths, Lester occasionally struggled with home run proneness, surrendering 1.01 homers per nine over his , often due to elevated contact rates on his pitches when faltered. His overall approach emphasized pitch sequencing and tunneling to maximize deception, particularly with the following fastballs, though non-pitching throws were impacted by a separate fielding later in his .

Postseason record and awards

Jon Lester compiled a strong postseason record over his 16-year career, finishing with a 9–7 mark and a 2.51 across 22 starts (26 appearances total), during which he struck out 133 batters in 154 . His performance in high-stakes games was particularly notable, as he made a record 12 Game 1 starts in playoff series—a mark tied by in 2022—going 4–2 with a 2.20 in those outings. Lester's ability to deliver in earned him a reputation as a reliable big-game , with his teams advancing in several series behind his efforts. Key moments defined Lester's playoff legacy. In Game 4 of the , he earned the win against the Colorado Rockies, allowing one run over 5.2 innings to help the Boston Red Sox complete a sweep for their second title in four years. During the 2013 postseason, Lester started and won Game 5 of the against the Cardinals, pitching 7.2 scoreless innings in a 3–1 victory that put Boston one win from the championship they clinched the next night. In 2016, Lester shared NLCS co-MVP honors with after going 2–0 with a 1.38 in two starts against the , including a in Game 5; he also started Game 5 of the , contributing to the Chicago Cubs' drought-ending triumph. Lester's postseason excellence complemented his regular-season accolades, including five selections in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, and 2018. He won three rings—as a key starter for the 2007 and 2013 Red Sox and the 2016 Cubs—and received the 2016 as postseason MVP from the New York chapter of the for his contributions to Chicago's championship run. Although he never captured a , Lester finished as high as second in Cy Young Award voting (2016 NL), with other top finishes including fourth in the in 2010 and 2014, highlighted by a breakout 16–6 season with a 3.21 in 2008.

Personal life and legacy

Family, philanthropy, and post-retirement activities

Jon Lester married Farrah Stone Johnson on January 9, 2009, after meeting her in 2007 during his minor league rehabilitation starts in . The couple has three children: sons , born in 2010, and , born in 2013, followed by daughter Cy Elizabeth, born on November 29, 2016. During offseasons, Lester and his family reside in the area, including the neighborhood, where they have made their home for several years. He also owns 1,500 acres of land in southwest , which serves as a family retreat for outdoor pursuits. Lester enjoys , particularly deer on his property, viewing it as a way to connect with and spend time with loved ones rather than solely about the harvest. He is an avid golfer, often participating in charity tournaments, and maintains a passion for wine collecting. In 2012, Lester and his wife founded the Never Quit (NVRQT) foundation in partnership with the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation to support children battling cancer and fund related research, inspired by Lester's own experience overcoming in 2006. Through events, apparel sales, and partnerships, NVRQT has raised over $2.8 million for pediatric cancer initiatives as of 2021. Lester announced his from on January 12, 2022, after 16 seasons. In , he has remained connected to the sport, serving as a guest instructor at the Boston Red Sox's 2024 in Fort Myers, Florida, where he shared insights with young pitchers over two days. On July 18, 2025, he appeared at during a Cubs game, wearing a throwback jersey to honor the Hall of Famer amid Sandberg's cancer battle, and received a from the crowd. Post-retirement, Lester has embraced a family-oriented routine in , frequently driving his children to their various activities and describing his role as akin to running an "Uber service." He makes occasional media appearances, such as discussing his career and philanthropy at charity golf events like the 2025 Drive Fore Kids tournament.

Career impact and honors

Jon Lester concluded his 16-year career with a record of 200 wins and 117 losses, a 3.66 , 2,488 strikeouts, and 2,740 across 452 games, all starts. On January 12, 2022, Lester announced his retirement at age 38, citing the physical toll of the game on his body and a desire to step away on his own terms after realizing the demands outweighed the enjoyment, particularly following the 2020 season's challenges. At the time, he was the last active player from the 2007 Boston Red Sox championship team. Lester's impact on the sport was profound as a key figure in ending long-standing championship droughts, contributing to the Boston Red Sox's titles in 2007 and 2013, and the Chicago Cubs' breakthrough victory in 2016 that snapped their 108-year . During his tenure with the Cubs from 2015 to 2020, he served as a mentor to younger pitchers in the , providing and guidance that helped build a contending staff. Among his honors, Lester earned five selections and was celebrated for his durability, amassing 200 victories over 16 seasons while securing three rings with two different franchises. He remains a candidate for future induction into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame, recognized for his pivotal role in the team's successes. Lester's broader legacy includes his advocacy for cancer awareness following his own 2006 lymphoma diagnosis and treatment, inspiring others through his resilience and charitable efforts. As a left-handed ace of his generation, his 200-win milestone underscores his consistency and influence on modern pitching.

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