Jon Lester

My drawing of Jonathan Lester

Jonathan Tyler Lester was born January 7, 1984, in Tacoma, Washington. He is the left-handed starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Jon attended Bellarmine Prep. School in Tacoma, his hometown. While pitching for his team he had won the MVP three times as well as the All-Area selections. Jon was also named Gatorade State Player of the Year for Washington in 2000.

In the 2002 MLB draft the Boston Red Sox in the second round drafted Lester. He was selected at number 57. Jon moved through the Red Sox organization by starting with the AA Portland Sea Dogs in 2005. Lester's record was 11-6 with a league-leading ERA of 2.61 and a league-best 163 strikeouts. Since Lester was drafted by the Red Sox he has been the top prospect. Other major league teams have tried to get him but the Red Sox firmly denied. Jon made his major league start as a Red Sox starter on June 10, 2006 against the Texas Rangers. In the middle of his first season he was diagnosed with a treatable cancer.

In 2007 Jon was back and ready for action. The Red Sox went to the World Series that year and beat the NL champions, the Colorado Rockies. In the four games, Lester clinched the Series by pitching a shutout for 5 2/3 innings. Jon gave up only 3 hits and 3 walks while collecting 3 strikeouts. Lester became the third pitcher in World Series history to clinch his first post-season start.

On May 19, 2008, Lester threw His first ever no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals. Jon was the 18th Red Sox pitcher in history to throw a no-hitter. Lester threw 130 pitches in that game against the Royals. It was also the second no-hitter that was pitched to the Royals since Nolan Ryan.