against him. Paxton started 13 games in 2009, finishing 5–3 with 115 strikeouts (5th best in school history) in innings. He drew the attention of Major League Baseball scouts as he was considered a possible first-round draft pick. Paxton was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round (37th overall) of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. However, he did not sign with the Blue Jays opting to return to Kentucky for his senior season; the NCAA subsequently ruled him ineligible, stemming from his contract with agent Scott Boras. Paxton was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll every year he was at Kentucky. He held a 3.3 GPA heading into his senior year as an accounting major. Professional career Grand Prairie AirHogs After being ruled ineligible to return to Kentucky, Paxton signed with the Grand Prairie AirHogs in the independent American Association in 2010. There, he went 1–2 with a 4.08 ERA and striking out 18 batters in innings. Seattle Mariners In June 2010, Paxton was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the fourth round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed with the Mariners on March 4, 2011. In the 2011 season, Paxton played for Single A Clinton LumberKings and the Double A Jackson Generals of the Southern League. He finished with a 6–3 win–loss record, 2.37 ERA, 131 strikeouts, and 43 walks in 95 innings pitched, while allowing an opposing batting average of .215. Paxton, along with Alex Liddi, represented the Mariners at the 2011 All-Star Futures Game. Paxton was invited to attend the Mariners' main spring training camp in 2012, but did not make the opening day roster. He was sent to the Jackson Generals. In 2013, Paxton played for the Tacoma Rainiers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. With the Mariners' coaching staff, he worked to change his pitching mechanics to mirror that of Clayton Kershaw, resulting in an improvement in his performance. On September 3, 2013, Paxton was promoted to the major leagues. His first major league appearance came on September 7 when he started against the Tampa Bay Rays. He earned the win as the Mariners won 6–2. Paxton finished with a 3–0 record in 4 starts. Paxton began the 2014 season in the Mariners rotation, but after his first start of the season, he was placed on the disabled list. He would finish the season appearing in