John Axford to Be Inducted to Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor in 2025

[David Go]

The former Brewers closer will be added to their Wall of Honor in 2025.

Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Former Reliever of the Year John Axford was selected to join the Brewers’ Wall of Honor in 2025, the Brewers announced in a statement on Monday. The date of the ceremony is still to be determined.

Axford spent parts of six seasons with the Brewers. His best came in 2011, when he set the team’s single-season saves record and tied for the National League lead, with 46. He saved 3 games in their postseason run and earned the win in the NLDS-clinching Game 5 victory over Arizona, pitching a scoreless 10th after blowing the save in the 9th inning.

The flamethrower notched 106 saves with the club after assuming the closer role from Trevor Hoffman midway through the 2010 season. He ranks third in franchise history in saves and ninth in appearances.

His big-league debut in 2009 was the culmination of a circuitous route to the game’s highest level.

Originally drafted in 2001 by the Mariners in the 7th round, he instead honored his commitment to Notre Dame. After four years (and three seasons of eligibility) with the Fighting Irish, Cincinnati used their 42nd-round selection on Axford.

The Reds chose not to sign the 6-foot-5 Axford, but the Yankees took a chance on him after a 19-strikeout performance with the Melville Millionaires of the Western Canadian Baseball League, a collegiate summer league. His tenure in imagined pinstripes ended after just one season and 63 minor-league innings.

Then the Brewers stepped in, signing the righthander prior to the 2008 season. Following a full-time shift to the bullpen, Axford posted a 2.77 ERA in 68 ⅓ innings across three levels, earning a September callup in late 2009.

He appeared in 268 games at the back end of the Brewers’ bullpen from 2009-13, before a midseason trade to St. Louis in exchange for Michael Blazek. After stops in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Oakland, Los Angeles and Toronto, he found his way back onto the mound at the since-renamed Miller Park.

But his time back on a big-league mound, for the organization that had truly been home for him, would only last ⅓ of an inning.

After facing just five batters, Axford blew out his elbow and left the big-league mound for the final time. After seeking counsel from a Brewers legend, he elected to undergo Tommy John surgery and rehab his ailing elbow so he could represent his native Canada in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His lone inning in the tournament was the final one in his 14-year pro career.

Axford is the 72nd inductee into the Wall of Honor, located on the exterior of American Family Field. Founded in 2014, a player must meet one of several criteria:

• 2,000 plate appearances
• 1,000 innings pitched
• 250 appearances as a pitcher
• Major award winner (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Reliever of the Year)
• Manager of a pennant-winning team
• Recognized with a statue on the plaza
• Election to the Baseball Hall of Fame
• Primary broadcaster for 20+ seasons after Brewers playing career
• General manager for 10+ years including postseason berth

Axford qualified by both appearances and winning the 2011 NL Reliever of the Year. He could be joined in the coming years by Dave Parker (Hall of Fame), CC Sabathia (Hall of Fame), Jeremy Jeffress (appearances), Corbin Burnes (Cy Young), Christian Yelich (MVP, PA), Devin Williams (Rookie of the Year, Reliever of the Year) and Willy Adames (PA).

Zack Greinke (eligible for Hall of Fame election in 2029) and Freddy Peralta (245 ⅔ more innings) could be the next two who have yet to earn eligibility to do so.

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[BlazingGunz]

Axford was a fun player on the team, loved the Ax Man.  It would be nice to see Freddy make this, but I don't think he gets there without some kind of extension.   He will be traded before hitting that mark unfortunately.   

[AKCheesehead]

Hard to say with Freddy.  Nothing saying you have to trade every player on an expiring contract, especially if you're contending which I am optimistic that the Brewers will be in '25 and '26. 

I was so sad when Ax's comeback with the club got wrecked by injury.  That was an awesome feel good story in the making which we were all denied.