Jon Link

Jon Paul Link

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.
• School Bluefield College, Virginia Commonwealth University
• High School Chantilly High School
• Debut April 20, 2010
• Final Game September 25, 2010
• Born March 23, 1984 in Columbus, OH USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Jon Link made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010.

Link was taken by the Montréal Expos in the 45th round of the 2003 amateur draft out of high school but did not sign. He went on to Virginia Commonwealth University, going 3-2 with a save and a 4.81 ERA in 2004. Transferring to Bluefield College, he had a 2.13 ERA with 14 walks in 81 innings in 2005 for the NAIA school.

He was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 26th round of the 2005 amateur draft and signed by scout Ash Lawson. He made his pro debut that summer with the Eugene Emeralds, going 3-3 with a 4.42 ERA in 25 appearances, walking only 8 in 59 innings but showing no indications he would be in the majors a few years later.

The following summer, he was 5-5 with a 4.91 ERA and 3 saves in 53 games for the Fort Wayne Wizards. He allowed a .283 average. Link was only one appearance shy of the Midwest League lead. He started 2007 with the Lake Elsinore Storm and recorded 13 saves (2-1, 3.07, .209 opponent average, 45 K in 41 IP) for the club before being traded to the Chicago White Sox for Rob Mackowiak on July 31st. After the deal, he saved 3 games in 14 outings for the Winston-Salem Warthogs and was 1-0 with a 2.55 ERA.

With the Birmingham Barons in 2008, he recorded 35 saves, tops in the minor leagues that season, and was named athe Southern League All-Star relief pitcher (David Price was picked as the starting pitcher). Jon went 5-4 with a 3.02 ERA that year, whiffing 66 in 56 2/3 IP and holding opponents to a .223 batting average.

He advanced to the AAA level in 2009 and notched 13 saves in 48 games for the Charlotte Knights. He was 1-2 with a 3.99 ERA in his first AAA season and struck out 66 in 56 1/3 innings but allowed a .314 opponent average to left-handers (.217 versus righties).

Following the 2009 campaign, Link was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of the deal that brought Juan Pierre to Chicago (he was one of two players to be named later Chicago sent), and he began 2010 with the Albuquerque Isotopes. He was called up by the Dodgers in mid-April to replace the ineffective Russ Ortiz. Jon appeared in one game, throwing two scoreless innings, before being returned to Albuquerque. A week later, he was called up again, pitching in both ends of a doubleheader against the New York Mets on April 27th, giving up 2 earned runs in a third of an inning, and went right back to Albuquerque afterwards.

Related Sites

• Jon Link on mlb.com