Phillippe Aumont (born January 7, 1989) is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher, who played for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners 11th overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft, and was the third earliest Canadian pick (after Adam Loewen and Jeff Francis, both picked in 2002) as well as the first player born in Quebec to be selected in the first round of the draft.
Early life
Aumont was raised in a low-income housing complex in Quebec, the third of four siblings. His mother worked in a hotel and his father for a moving company. As a child Aumont's first love was baseball. He played with different regional and provincial teams, while attending high school at École secondaire du Versant in Gatineau, Quebec. Aumont was 15 years old when his hometown Montreal Expos left for Washington, D.C. after the 2004 season, but still supported the team despite playing in a new location.
Professional career
Seattle Mariners
Aumont was drafted by the Seattle Mariners with the 11th overall pick of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft and signed a contract which included a $1.9 million signing bonus. Aumont appeared in 15 games in 2008 (8 starts) for the Seattle Mariners A level affiliate, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, posting a 2.75 ERA over innings with 50 strikeouts versus 19 walks. He began the 2009 baseball season with the High Desert Mavericks, the Seattle Mariners Advanced A affiliate, where he was converted into a reliever. In 29 appearances he posted a 3.24 ERA with 12 saves as the closer, earning a promotion to the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx in mid-July. He finished the 2009 season with a 2–6 record, 16 saves, 3.88 ERA, and 59 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched. In the offseason, Aumont played in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas, and posted a dismal 12.00 ERA in 10 appearances.
Philadelphia Phillies
On December 16, 2009, Aumont was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies along with Tyson Gillies and J. C. Ramírez for Cliff Lee.
Aumont played the 2010 season with the Advanced-A Clearwater Threshers and Double-A Reading Phillies, posting a combined record of 3–11, a 5.68 ERA, and 115 strikeouts in a career-high 122 innings pitched, mostly as a starter. He was moved back to a relief role for the 2011 season and made 43 total appearances for Double-A Reading, as well as the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Aumont began the 2012 season in the bullpen for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, posting a 3–1 record, 4.26 ERA, and 59 strikeouts in innings pitched. On August 20, he was promoted to the majors for the first time. He made his MLB debut on August 23, pitching a scoreless inning against the Cincinnati Reds. Aumont finished the season in the Phillies bullpen, appearing in 18 games and posting a 3.68 ERA with 2 saves.
After opening the 2013 season in the Phillies bullpen, Aumont was demoted to Triple-A on May 23. He made 22 total appearances at the major league level in 2013 as well as 32 appearances in the minors, and struggled with command, walking 51 batters in 55 combined innings.
On June 1, 2014, Aumont was recalled by the Phillies; he pitched in his first game back on the roster and took the loss. Aumont appeared in just 5 games for the Phillies, posting an ERA of 19.06.
During the 2015 season with Lehigh Valley, Aumont transitioned back to a starter for the first time since 2010. After posting solid numbers in Triple-A, Aumont was called up in June but struggled mightily with his control, walking 7 batters and serving up 2 home runs in just 4 innings. It was his lone start as the Phillies designated him for assignment afterwards. On June 24, Aumont declined his outright assignment and instead became a free agent.
Toronto Blue Jays
Aumont signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on July 24, 2015. On August 21, Aumont was released.
Chicago White Sox
On November 23, 2015, Aumont signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. Aumont pitched to a 12.27 ERA over 11 innings with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, and announced his retirement on June 6, 2016.
Ottawa Champions
On June 7, 2017, Aumont came out of retirement and signed a one-year deal with the Ottawa Champions of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. He would make his debut in the second game of a doubleheader against the Rockland Boulders. On June 28, 2017. Aumont threw the first no-hitter in Ottawa Champions history against the Dominican Republic national baseball team. During the 2017 season, he had a 5.14 ERA and 103 strikeouts in innings.