Josh Hader

For the South Dakota politician, see Josh Haeder. For the California politician, see Josh Harder.

Josh Hader
Hader with the San Diego Padres in 2023
Houston Astros – No. 71
Pitcher
Born: (1994-04-07) April 7, 1994 (age 30)
Millersville, Maryland, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 10, 2017, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record28–29
Earned run average2.70
Strikeouts753
Saves199
Teams
Career highlights and awards

MLB records

  • Most consecutive outs via strikeout (16; September 22, 2018)
  • Most consecutive hitless appearances (12)
  • Fastest player to reach 400 strikeouts (accomplished in 234+2⁄3 IP)
  • Most consecutive saves to start a season (18)
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2015 Toronto Team

Joshua Ronald Hader (born April 7, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres. Hader is a five-time All-Star and three-time winner of the National League Reliever of the Year Award.

The Baltimore Orioles selected him in the 19th round of the 2012 MLB draft. He was traded twice, including to the Astros, before joining the Milwaukee Brewers organization in 2015. Hader played for the United States national team in the Pan American Games in 2015 and appeared in the All-Star Futures Game in 2016. As a member of the Brewers, Hader made his MLB debut in 2017. In 2021, he became the fastest pitcher in major league history to reach 400 strikeouts. The Brewers traded Hader to the Padres in 2022.

Early life

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Hader attended Old Mill High School in Millersville, Maryland, where he played for the school's baseball team. As a senior, Hader had a 10–0 win–loss record, a 0.30 earned run average (ERA), and 125 strikeouts. He also had a batting average above .400 and hit four homeruns. After graduating from high school, Hader was prepared to enroll at Anne Arundel Community College.[1][2]

Professional career

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Baltimore Orioles (2012–2013)

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The Baltimore Orioles selected Hader in the 19th round of the 2012 MLB draft, with the 582nd overall selection.[3][4] He signed with the Orioles for a $40,000 signing bonus, rather than attend Anne Arundel.[1][3] Beginning his professional career, Hader's fastball velocity increased, from 84–88 miles per hour (135–142 km/h) as a high school player, to 94–95 miles per hour (151–153 km/h) as he changed his workout routine.[5]

Hader played for the Gulf Coast Orioles in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and the Aberdeen Ironbirds of the Low-A New York–Penn League, allowing only 14 hits and nine walks while striking out 48 in 28+2⁄3 innings pitched.[2] In 2013, the Orioles assigned Hader to the Delmarva Shorebirds of the Single-A South Atlantic League (SAL). He appeared in the SAL All-Star Game,[5] and through July 31, pitched to a 3–6 record with 79 strikeouts and a 2.65 ERA in 17 games started.[3]

Houston Astros (2013–2015)

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On July 31, 2013, the day of the MLB trade deadline, the Orioles traded Hader and L. J. Hoes to the Houston Astros in exchange for Bud Norris.[1][3] He completed his 2013 season with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Single-A Midwest League.[6]

Pitching for the Lancaster JetHawks of the High-A California League in 2014, Hader and two relief pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter on May 13.[7] After pitching to a 9–2 record with a league-leading 2.70 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 103+1⁄3 innings, the Astros promoted him to the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Double-A Texas League in August. He was named the California League Pitcher of the Year.[8] Hader returned to Corpus Christi in the 2015 season.[9] He was selected to play for the United States national baseball team in the 2015 Pan American Games.[10]

Milwaukee Brewers (2015–2022)

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On July 30, 2015, the Astros traded Hader, Brett Phillips, Domingo Santana, and Adrian Houser to the Milwaukee Brewers for Carlos Gómez and Mike Fiers.[11] The Brewers assigned Hader to the Biloxi Shuckers of the Double-A Southern League.[12] He finished the season with a 3.03 ERA combined.

The Brewers invited him to spring training in 2016.[13] Hader began the 2016 season with Biloxi, and made his first start for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League on June 12.[14] He was selected to appear in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game.[15] The Brewers added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[16]

Hader began the 2017 season with Colorado Springs. The Brewers promoted him to the major leagues on June 9.[17] He made his major league debut on June 10.[18]

Hader began 2018 in the Milwaukee bullpen. On April 30, Hader became the first pitcher ever to record eight strikeouts in an outing that was less than three innings long. He recorded a 2+2⁄3-inning save against the Cincinnati Reds, in which he faced nine batters, recording eight strikeouts and one walk.[19] Owning a 1.21 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 44 innings, Hader was named to the 2018 MLB All-Star Game.[20] Hader appeared in the 2018 All-Star Game at the top of the eighth inning. During his appearance, he gave up hits to Rangers' Shin-Soo Choo and Astros' George Springer before Mariners' Jean Segura hit a home run to left field to give the American All-Stars a 5–2 lead.[21][22] After giving up a single to Boston Red Sox baseman Mitch Moreland, Hader was replaced after 26 pitches, allowing four hits and one out over five batters.[23]

Hader during a game in 2019

In 2018, Hader was 6–1 with 12 saves and a 2.43 ERA. He had 143 strikeouts in 81+1⁄3 innings. Among MLB pitchers who threw at least 20 innings, Hader held left-handed batters to the lowest batting average (.088).[24] He won the National League Reliever of the Year Award,[25] becoming the first non-full-time closer to win the award.

Hader began the 2019 season as the Brewers' closer following injuries to fellow relievers Jeremy Jeffress (shoulder strain) and Corey Knebel (Tommy John surgery). On March 30, Hader pitched an immaculate inning to earn the save against the St. Louis Cardinals, striking out Tyler O'Neill, Dexter Fowler, and Yairo Munoz on nine consecutive strikes, seven of which were swinging strikes.[26] Hader received the NL Reliever of the Month Award for both May and June.[27] In the 2019 National League Wild Card Game, Hader blew the save for the Brewers, giving up a three-run single to Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals, which, coupled with an error from right fielder Trent Grisham, led to Washington's go-ahead run scoring on the play and resulted in the Brewers eventually losing the game.[28] Hader finished his 2019 season with a 3–5 record, a 2.62 ERA, and 138 strikeouts over 72+2⁄3 relief innings. He won his second consecutive NL Reliever of the Year Award.[29]

Hader began the 2020 season with 12 consecutive hitless appearances, the longest such streak in major league history.[30] Hader finished the season with a 3.79 ERA and an NL-leading 13 saves in 15 chances.

On May 8, 2021, Hader reached 400 strikeouts faster than any other pitcher in MLB history, doing so in 234+2⁄3 innings pitched, breaking the prior record of 236 innings, which had been set by Craig Kimbrel in 2014.[31] For July, Hader was named NL Reliever of the Month, the fourth time he won the award.[32] On September 11, Hader pitched the ninth inning to close out a combined no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians. [33] He finished the 2021 season with 34 saves in 35 opportunities; he recorded a career-low 1.23 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 58+2⁄3 innings.

San Diego Padres (2022–2023)

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After beginning the 2022 season with 25 saves in 27 appearances and a 1.05 ERA, Hader’s pitching declined during the summer, and on August 1, the Brewers traded him to the San Diego Padres for Taylor Rogers, Dinelson Lamet, Esteury Ruiz, and Robert Gasser.[34] He made his Padres debut the following day, earning the win against the Colorado Rockies.[35] However, his struggles continued, including a stretch of earning only two saves in 13 appearances, with an increased ERA of 6.52. On August 20, the Padres announced that they would use a closer committee to give Hader a 'little break' from save chances.[36] He regained his all-star form in September, and was instrumental in the Padres' postseason run.[37]

On January 13, 2023, Hader signed a one-year, $14.1 million contract with the Padres, avoiding salary arbitration.[38] Hader was named the NL Reliever of the Month for April after recording 10 saves and holding opposing batters to a .093 batting average while allowing only one run in 13.0 innings pitched.[39] He became a free agent following the season.

Houston Astros (2024–present)

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On January 22, 2024, Hader signed a five-year, $95 million contract with the Houston Astros.[40][41] Hader earned his first win as an Astro on April 30, 2024, while making his first two-inning appearance since 2019 and first of at least four outs since August 14, 2020, as Víctor Caratini hit a pinch hit, walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning.[42] On August 10, 2024 versus Boston, Hader converted his 25th consecutive save opportunity, surpassing Brad Lidge's franchise record of 24,[43] and extended that streak to 29 total.[44] For the month of August, Hader surrendered 1 earned run over 13+1⁄3 innings (0.68 ERA), 0.60 WHIP and .071 BAA, and was recognized as American League (AL) Reliever of the Month, his seventh career monthly award.[45]

On September 13, 2024, Hader recorded his 30th save, reaching the milestone for a fourth consecutive season, as the Astros collected the 5,000th win in franchise history by defeating the Los Angeles Angels, 5–3.[46] Hader made 71 regular season appearances in 2024, posting an 8–8 record, 3.80 ERA, 71 innings, 43 hits, 12 home runs, and 25 walks surrendered and 105 strikeouts. He was ninth in the AL in appearances, second in games finished (62) and second in saves (34); both his appearances and games finished totals represented career highs.[47]

Personal life

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Hader is the son of Tom and Patricia Hader.[48] Hader is married to Maria Hader.[49] The couple's first child was born in June 2022.[50]

During the 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, a series of tweets by Hader ranging from mid-2011 to late-2012 were discovered to contain racist, homophobic and sexist content.[51][52] Friends and family of Hader who were invited to the game were given blank jerseys to wear due to the controversy.[53][54] Hader issued an apology after the game and deleted his account on Twitter.[55][56]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Pleskoff, Bernie (August 1, 2013). "Newly acquired pitcher Josh Hader brings high upside to Houston Astros". MLB.com. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Melewski, Steve (December 14, 2012). "A look at Josh Hader and his stunning velocity increase last summer". MASN. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d Connolly, Dan (July 31, 2013). "Josh Hader says 'it's pretty crazy' he's been traded from Orioles to Astros". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  4. ^ Williams, Preston (June 6, 2012). "Old Mill pitcher Josh Hader drafted by Orioles". Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Driver, David (June 23, 2013). "Old Mill's Hader has been impressive as Orioles' prospect". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  6. ^ "YouTube: Quad-Cities River Bandits pitcher Josh Hader". Qctimes.com. September 15, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  7. ^ "Houston Astros prospects Josh Hader, J.D. Osbourne, Daniel Minor combine on no-hitter for Lancaster JetHawks". MiLB.com. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  8. ^ de Jesus Ortiz, Jose (August 22, 2014). "Astros minor leaguer Josh Hader named California League Pitcher of the Year". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  9. ^ "Corpus Christi Hooks lefty Josh Hader has used his laid back presence on and off the mound to go from a 19th round pick of the Orioles in 2012 to the Astros 2014 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. – Corpus Christi Hooks News". MiLB.com. June 2, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  10. ^ "Hooks pitcher Josh Hader and catcher Roberto Peña will represent the United States and Puerto Rico, respectively, at the Pan-American Games July 10–19 in Toronto – Corpus Christi Hooks News". MiLB.com. July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  11. ^ "Carlos Gomez, Mike Fiers traded to Houston Astros for prospects". ESPN.com. July 30, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  12. ^ "Hader masterful in Shuckers debut: Hader allows one hit, strikes out nine". Biloxi Sun Herald. August 4, 2015. Archived from the original on August 6, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  13. ^ McCalvy, Adam (February 28, 2016). "Southpaw Hader has Majors starter potential: Prospect grateful for 'big opportunity' at first big league camp". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  14. ^ Peng, Michael (June 12, 2016). "Hader allows one hit in Triple-A debut: Brewers No. 4 prospect fans nine, gives up two runs over six innings". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  15. ^ foxsports (June 28, 2016). "Brewers prospect Hader named to All-Star Futures Game". FOX Sports. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  16. ^ McCalvy, Adam (November 18, 2016). "Brewers' Brinson, Hader added to 40-man roster". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  17. ^ "Brewers summon lefty Josh Hader, place Travis Shaw on family leave". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. June 9, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  18. ^ Rosiak, Todd (June 15, 2017). "Brewers taking it slowly with Josh Hader". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  19. ^ "Josh Hader Becomes 1st Pitcher to Record 8 Ks in Fewer Than 3 Innings". Bleacher Report. April 30, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  20. ^ Wagner, Andrew (July 9, 2018). "Lorenzo Cain, Christian Yelich, Josh Hader selected to All-Star Game; Jesus Aguilar needs fans' votes". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  21. ^ "Segura smacks go-ahead 3-run homer – ESPN Video". Retrieved July 18, 2018.[dead link]
  22. ^ "All-Star Game 2018: Rare rally, error lead to Jean Segura's three-run shot". July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  23. ^ "All-Stars vs. All-Stars – Play-By-Play – July 17, 2018". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  24. ^ Splits Leaderboards | FanGraphs
  25. ^ "Brewers' Josh Hader wins 2018 Trevor Hoffman Award as top reliever in National League".
  26. ^ McCalvy, Adam (March 31, 2019). "Hader closes out win with immaculate inning". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  27. ^ Harrigan, Thomas (July 3, 2019). "Josh Hader, Liam Hendriks Relievers of Month". MLB.com. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  28. ^ "Brewers' NLDS dreams dashed by eventful 8th". MLB.com.
  29. ^ "Brewers' Josh Hader voted top relief pitcher in National League for second year in a row".
  30. ^ McCalvy, Adam (September 3, 2020). "Unhittable Hader sets Major League record". MLB.com. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  31. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (May 8, 2021). "Hader becomes fastest to 400 career K's". MLB.com. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  32. ^ Adler, David (July 2, 2021). "Relievers of Month for June: Trivino, Hader". Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  33. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (September 11, 2021). "Led by Burnes, Brewers spin combo no-hitter". MLB.com. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  34. ^ Cassavell, AJ (August 1, 2022). "Padres acquire Hader from Crew in 5-player trade". MLB.com. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  35. ^ "Hader gets win as SD sweeps doubleheader with walk-off HR". MLB.com. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  36. ^ "Padres giving Josh Hader 'little break' from closer's role following latest meltdown". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  37. ^ "Cronenworth, Padres rally to stun Dodgers 5-3 to reach NLCS". ESPN.com. October 15, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  38. ^ Franco, Anthony (January 13, 2023). "Padres Avoid Arbitration With Juan Soto, Josh Hader". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  39. ^ "Monthly award winners for April announced". mlb.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  40. ^ "Source: Hader, Astros reach 5-year, $95M deal". ESPN.com. January 19, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  41. ^ "Astros introduce star reliever Hader after finalizing 5-year deal". MLB.com. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  42. ^ "Caratini's 2-run homer in 10th and Hader's 2-inning outing lift Astros over Guardians 10–9". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 30, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  43. ^ BVM Sportsdesk (August 13, 2024). "Astros' Josh Hader breaks save record; rookie Spencer Arrighetti impresses". BVM Sports. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  44. ^ Press Release (September 3, 2024). "Arrighetti and Hader earn AL monthly honors". MLB.com. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  45. ^ Sepe-Chepuru, Shanthi (September 3, 2024). "Here are MLB's 8 top performers from August". MLB.com. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  46. ^ "Yusei Kikuchi, Yordan Alvarez lead Astros past Angels 5-3 for Houston's 5,000th victory". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 13, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  47. ^ "Josh Hader stats, height, weight, rookie status, position & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  48. ^ Wagner, Bill (June 14, 2017). "Josh Hader makes major league debut with Brewers". Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  49. ^ "josh.hader". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  50. ^ "Milwaukee Brewers reinstate closer Josh Hader from paternity list, put Aaron Ashby on IL". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 20, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  51. ^ Brewers' Josh Hader apologizes for uncovered trove of racist, sexist, and homophobic tweets – For The Win (USA Today)
  52. ^ "MLB all-star apologizes for history of racist tweets". ABC News. July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  53. ^ "Jeff Passan on Twitter". Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  54. ^ Matz, Eddie (July 18, 2018). "Brewers' Hader 'deeply sorry' for old tweets". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  55. ^ Hader 'deeply sorry' for previous tweets – ESPN Video
  56. ^ Burke, Caroline (July 18, 2018). "Josh Hader Locks Twitter Account After Alleged Old Tweets Surface". Retrieved July 18, 2018.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Josh Hader.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by No-hitter pitcher
September 11, 2021 (with Corbin Burnes) 		Succeeded by
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