Biography
Joshua William Lindblom (born June 15, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and Pittsburgh Pirates and in the KBO League Lotte Giants and Doosan Bears.
Career
Amateur and minor league career
Lindblom attended high school at Harrison High School. He was drafted in the third round of the 2005 MLB draft by the Houston Astros after being listed by Baseball America as the top prospect in the state of Indiana. He was 8–2 as a high school senior with a 2.30 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 76 innings. Rather than sign with the Astros, Lindblom chose to attend the University of Tennessee.After one season with the Tennessee Volunteers, Lindblom transferred to Purdue University for the 2007 season. He was a starter with Tennessee, but became the closer for Purdue in 2007–2008. Lindblom was listed as being among the 75 top college baseball players by USA Baseball. In 2007, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Lindblom was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2nd round of the 2008 MLB draft and made his professional baseball debut that same year with the Single-A Great Lakes Loons in the Midwest League. He started eight games for the Loons, finishing 0–0 with a 1.86 ERA in 29 innings worked. He struck out 33 batters, while walking only 4. He got a late season call-up to the AA Jacksonville Suns, where he made one start. In 2009, Lindblom pitched in several spring training games for the Major League Dodgers, and there was some speculation that he could even make the big league club to start the season. However, he was instead assigned to start the year with the Dodgers new AA affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts. He made 14 appearances for the Lookouts, including 11 starts and had a record of 3–5 and an ERA of 4.71 when he was promoted to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes. With the Isotopes, Lindblom made three starts and then was transferred to the bullpen. He had a 2.54 ERA in 20 games and was 3–0. In 2010, Lindblom spent the entire season with Albuquerque. He made 10 starts with the Isotopes, before they decided to return him to being a relief pitcher. He finished the season 3–2 with a 6.54 ERA in 40 appearances. He was demoted to Chattanooga in 2011, where he started the season with seven saves and a 2.96 ERA in 19 games. On May 29, 2011, Lindblom was called up to the Dodgers. He made his Major League debut in relief on June 1, 2011, against the Colorado Rockies, allowing two hits in a scoreless seventh inning during a 3–0 Dodgers loss. On August 12, 2011, he won his first game, pitching a scoreless tenth inning against the Houston Astros in a game the Dodgers won 1–0 in the bottom of that inning. He pitched in 29.2 innings for the Dodgers in 2011, with a 2.73 ERA and 28 strikeouts.
Philadelphia Phillies
On July 31, 2012, Lindblom was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies along with prospect Ethan Martin for outfielder Shane Victorino. He appeared in 26 games for the Phillies, with a 1-3 record and 4.63 ERA.
Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers acquired Lindblom and minor league pitching prospect Lisalverto Bonilla on December 9, 2012, from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Michael Young. Lindblom was called up on May 20 when Derek Lowe was designated for assignment and optioned back to the Triple-A Round Rock Express on May 21. He was recalled again on June 9.
Oakland Athletics
On December 3, 2013, Lindblom, along with outfielder Craig Gentry, was traded to the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Michael Choice and infielder Chris Bostick. He was designated for assignment on November 28, 2014.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed Lindblom off waivers on December 8, 2014.
Lotte Giants
On December 15, 2014, he signed with the Lotte Giants of the KBO League. He pitched there the next two seasons.
Second Stint With Pirates
On December 16, 2016, Lindblom signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates that included an invitation to spring training. He was outrighted to AAA on June 24, 2017. Lindblom was released by the Pirates on July 12, 2017.
Return to KBO
On July 13, 2017, the Lotte Giants announced that they had signed Lindblom again.
Doosan Bears
On December 11, 2017, the Doosan Bears announced the signing of Lindblom to a one-year, $1.45 million contract. 2018 was a successful season for Lindblom; he started 26 games with a 15–4 record, a league-leading 2.88 ERA, and the Pitcher's Golden Glove award. Lindblom received the 2019 KBO League Most Valuable Player Award, after posting a 20–3 record with a 2.50 ERA and 189 strikeouts over 194 2⁄3 innings. Lindblom received his second pitcher's Golden Glove award for the 2019 season.
Milwaukee Brewers
On December 16, 2019, Lindblom signed a three-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Pitching style
As a reliever, Lindblom relies chiefly on four-seam and two-seam fastballs around 91 mph and a high-80s cutter, although he also mixed in a curveball, a slider, and a changeup. He was moved to rotation and added an effective splitter to repertoire in his KBO career.
Personal life
Lindblom's daughter, Monroe, was born with a congenital heart defect that has required surgery. Lindblom is a devoted Christian and attended Dream Center while playing in Los Angeles. Lindblom and his wife also established a charity which donated $20,000 to an Indiana food bank.