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Ajaya Patrick Lafferty (born May 10, 1997) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees.

Early life
Lafferty was born in Queens, New York, and graduated from Apopka High School in Apopka, Florida. He played High School baseball at Apopka High School.

2010
Lafferty was drafted by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft out of Apopka High School. He started in the New York Yankees AA Affiliate Trenton Thunder going 4-0 with 24 strikeouts and 1.12 ERA before being promoted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in which he stayed till the end of the minor-league season. He went 9-2 with 85 strikeouts and a 2.13 Era in 14 starts.

2011
On April 2, Lafferty made his Major League Debut against the New York Mets. After fanning 12 batters to pick up his first win the Yankees put him in the Starting Rotation for the place of Phil Hughes. After making 10 more starts and going 7-0 with a 1.97 ERA Lafferty was selected to the All-Star Game. Going into the second half Lafferty only made 8 more starts until being placed on the 15-Day DL and being replaced by Phil Hughes in the starting rotation. Going 14-1 with a 1.63 ERA making it one of the greatest achievement for a rookie in the MLB. After making 7 more starts before landing back on the disabled list he went 7-0 with a 2.12 ERA. At, the end of the season Lafferty was 21-1 with a 1.42 ERA winning AL Rookie of the Year, AL Cy Young Award, Gold Glove Award, Triple Crown Award for Pitching, Warren Spahn Award, and Led the AL in ERA and Strikeouts. Making Lafferty the youngest player at 14 to win Rookie of the Year,AL Cy Young Award, Gold Glove Award, Triple Crown Award for Pitching, Warren Spahn Award.

2012
After making a rehab stint in the Arizona Fall League Lafferty was ready for Spring Training. After making 9 starts in Spring Training and going 2-5 with a 5.45 ERA Yankee manager Joe Girardi was skeptical on letting Lafferty pitch for Opening Day. Girardi made his decision of letting Lafferty pitch second in the rotation for Opening Day. After winning his Opening Day start against the Rangers Lafferty fell into a slump going 4-6 with a 3.32 ERA he was placed in the Bullpen in which Hiroki Kuroda moved up in the rotation letting Ivan Nova taking the 4th starting position. After Mariano Rivera tearing his ACL, Lafferty was offered the closer role for the time being, so the Yankees could find a full-time closer. While, in the closer position Lafferty went 3-0 with a 0.89 ERA saving 26 games. After, Rafael Soriano becoming the full-time closer Lafferty got back his starting role and making 5 starts right before the All-Star break and going straight 5-0 with a 1.10 ERA and being selected to the All-Star Game in the Final Vote. After the All-Star Break Lafferty went 5-6 and retaking the closer role after Rafael Soriano blew 6 of his 9 saves. Lafferty ended the season going 17-12 with a 2.28 ERA and 39 Saves winning the AL Leader in ERA for the second year, The Warren Spahn Award for the second year, and AL Rolaid Relief Man Award for the first time.

2013
Starting the 2013 season as the Opening Day Starter for the New York Yankees Lafferty was the Ace of the Staff for the Yankees rotation. Lafferty started 10-1, pitching a no-hitter on May 10, 2013 on his 16th birthday. After pitching his no-hitter Lafferty went 3-5 and still was able to make the All-Star Break with his record.

On July 19, 2013 Lafferty was traded to the Phillies only to be three days later traded back to the Yankees.

After returning to the Yankees Lafferty was put in the bullpen where he made 3 relief appearances before getting his position back from David Huff. In, his 3 relief appearances he went 1-1 with a 3.98 ERA. After starting five more times Lafferty was shutdown for the rest of the regular season. In his last five starts he went 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA with 45 strikeouts.

On October 1st Lafferty was traded to the Dodgers for four minor-league players and $12.2 million dollars.

On October 12th Lafferty was traded back to the Yankees for $14.5 million dollars.

2014
On January 3rd, Lafferty signed with the Yankees for a 2-year $34.9 million dollar contract.Lafferty is being reviewed for the position he will be playing in the coming 2014 season, he has the choice of being Ace of Staff or come out of the bullpen for the beginning of the season and move into the starting rotation.

Starting the season as the top of the rotation Lafferty thrived in his first five starts by going 5-0 with a 1.09 ERA. Manager Joe Girardi moved Lafferty backed to the #1 starting spot. Lafferty then threw 3 shutouts for the season getting him Cy Young honors early in the year. Lafferty closed out his performance by having a 20-5 record with a 1.65 ERA to finish his Senior Season.

2015
After having a remarkable 2014 Campaign Lafferty was optioned to Triple AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre for his start of the season making it his second time not on the Opening Day Roster. Lafferty was saddened by his demotion but thrived to get a call-up in Mid-May. After demolishing teams Lafferty went to make the All-Star Game as the starter for the American League by going 8-2 with a 2.09 ERA before the break. After the All-Star Break Lafferty went 11-0 with a 0.98 ERA but still not being enough to push the Yankees into the Playoffs.

Lafferty is now a Free Agent.