J.J. Putz joined the D-backs in 2014 as a Special Assistant to D-backs President, CEO and General Partner Derrick Hall following a distinguished 12-year big league playing career. In this role, Putz assists Hall and other departments throughout the baseball and business side of the organization, including attending community events, meeting with corporate partners and interacting with season ticket holders. Putz assists with pitchers during Spring Training and visits D-backs Minor League affiliates at various points in the regular season.
The All-Star reliever rejoined the organization following 12 seasons in the big leagues with the Mariners, Mets, White Sox and D-backs, ending his career in 51st place on the all-time saves list with 189. He posted a 2.81 ERA in 4 seasons with Arizona, the second lowest in franchise history among pitchers with 150 or more appearances behind only Brad Ziegler (2.57).
Putz was named to the 2007 American League All-Star team and won the A.L. Rolaids Relief Man of the Year award that season when he saved 40 games. He posted a Major League leading 1.38 ERA that season, tied with Mariano Rivera (2005) for the seventh-lowest single-season ERA between 1997-2007 (minimum 70.0 IP). That season, he became the 12th closer in Major League history to record more saves than hits allowed (37). He also set the Mariners record by converting 31 consecutive save opportunities.
He notched a career-high 45 saves for the D-backs in 2011, the second-highest single-season total in franchise history, when the team captured the National League West Division title.
The Michigan native participated in the 2009 World Baseball Classic as a member of Team USA, registering 1 save while posting a 3.00 ERA.
He attended the University of Michigan and was a sixth-round selection in the June 1999 draft by the Seattle Mariners. He returned to school to earn his undergraduate degree in kinesiology while still pitching in 2010. Putz also graduated from Trenton High School where his No. 20 was retired in 2012 as a 2-time All-State selection for baseball.
A dedicated member of the community, Putz is a member of the Thunderbirds. In 2015, he and his wife, Kelsey, were the honorary co-chairs of Evening on the Diamond, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation’s signature fundraising event. He has also served in that role for Driving Out Domestic Violence.
In 2016, J.J. and Kelsey Putz Field was dedicated in Phoenix, the 36th field built or renovated as part of the Diamonds Back Field Building program and the first designed specifically for softball.
He and Kelsey reside in Phoenix with their children: Lauren, Kaelyn, Ethan and Addison.