J. A. Happ
Encyclopedia
James Anthony "J. A." Happ (born October 19, 1982 in Spring Valley, Illinois
) is a Major League Baseball
starting pitcher
for the Houston Astros
. He is a six-foot-six left-hander
. Though his name is James Anthony and his initials are "J. A.", he pronounces his name as "Jay".
and raised in nearby Peru, Illinois
along with 2 older sisters. He attended high school at St. Bede Academy, where he was a four-year letter
winner in baseball and basketball. He was named Bureau County
Athlete of the Year during his senior season.
After graduating high school in 2001, Happ enrolled in Northwestern University
, where he majored in history
. He was named to the All-Big Ten First Team in his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons, during which he compiled a 16–11 win–loss record, an ERA of 2.88, and a 251/90 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 228.1 innings pitched. Happ chose to forego his senior season and entered the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
, where he was selected in the third round (92nd overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies
.
of the short-season A-level
New York-Penn League, where he posted a 2.02 ERA in eleven starts, averaging more than one strikeout per inning pitched. Happ again impressed in with the low-A Lakewood BlueClaws
. While Happ played for only half of the season, he compiled a 2.36 ERA in 72⅓ innings. He was promoted to Double-A for a single game at the end of the season, in which he gave up only one earned run in six innings and struck out eight.
In , Happ began the season for the Clearwater Threshers
of the High-A Florida State League
, but earned a promotion to the Double-A Reading Phillies
at midseason. He also pitched one game at the end of the season for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
, then the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate. Combined for the year, Happ went 10–9, with an ERA of 2.69, 162 strikeouts, and 49 walks in 160⅔ innings. He was rewarded, during the following offseason, with his first appearance in Baseball America's
"Top Ten Prospects" list for the Phillies organization, in which he was ranked eighth. (Prior to this, Happ had rarely been identified as a prospect despite his impressive performances in 2004 and 2005 due to his average pitch velocity.)
After pitching in the Arizona Fall League
in the fall of 2006, Happ moved with the Red Barons to Ottawa
for the 2007 season.
and allowed five runs, three earned, in four innings. He was then returned to the Lynx and did not pitch at the major league level again that season, thus ending the year with a 11.25 major league ERA.
Happ struggled upon his return to Ottawa. Despite striking out 36 batters over five starts in the months of July and August, Happ's ERA ballooned to 5.02 by the end of the season. It was later revealed that he had been pitching that season with elbow fatigue. As a result, Happ did not participate in any fall or winter leagues during the following offseason.
, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
. He went 5–6 with a 3.54 ERA in his first seventeen starts, striking out 104 batters in 101⅔ innings.
On July 4, , Happ was called up to take the place of Brett Myers
in the Phillies' starting rotation, after the struggling Myers went to the minors in an effort to regain his form. That same night, Happ made his 2008 debut against Johan Santana and the Mets. He fared better in his second major league start, pitching 4⅔ innings, giving up three hits, two earned runs, four walks while striking out three. He earned a no-decision as the Phillies went on to win the game, 3–2. Happ was also awarded a no-decision in his third career start (second of the season), in which he pitched 6⅓ innings and gave up only two runs, but the Phillies went on to defeat the Cardinals by a 4–2 score. He was then optioned back to Lehigh Valley, as the Phillies would not need a fifth starter for two weeks. Myers regained his place in the rotation on July 23.
Happ was recalled to the major leagues on July 29 when the struggling Adam Eaton
was demoted to Lakewood. However, Happ never took Eaton's spot in the rotation, as the Phillies had already acquired starter Joe Blanton
from the Oakland Athletics
on July 17. Happ instead pitched out of the bullpen, appearing in two games (in which he struggled), and was then sent to AAA once again. He ended the Triple-A season at 8–7, with a 3.60 ERA. He second in the International League
pitchers with 151 strikeouts in 135 innings. He walked 48 batters.
Happ joined the Phillies for the third time in 2008 on September 1 when the rosters expanded. On September 16, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel
announced that Happ would start on the following night against the Atlanta Braves
, replacing the struggling Kyle Kendrick
. Happ pitched six shutout innings in the game, earning his first major league win in a 6–1 Phillies victory. Happ was named to the postseason roster, and pitched in one game in the National League Championship Series.
Happ became a member of the starting rotation after fifth starter Chan Ho Park struggled in his starts and was sent to the bullpen. Happ threw a complete game shutout
against the Toronto Blue Jays
on June 27, 2009. To that point in the season, Happ had a record of 5–0, pitching 66 innings, starting in 7 games, and amassing a 3.00 earned run average
. He also struck out 45 batters, in contrast with 28 walks.
He got his first major league hit on July 2, 2009 against the Atlanta Braves. It came during the fifth inning with two outs and no one on base. On August 5, Happ pitched his second career complete game shutout, giving up four hits and striking out ten in a home game against the Colorado Rockies
. In that game, he also collected his first career extra-base hit, an eighth inning double off of Rockies pitcher Josh Fogg
. He became the first rookie pitcher to 10 wins on August 22 against the New York Mets. He made his first career post-season start against the Rockies on October 11, 2009.
On October 20, 2009, Happ was named Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year
. He was also named by his fellow players as Players Choice Award
s NL Outstanding Rookie. Baseball fans voted him the MLB "This Year in Baseball Awards"
Rookie of the Year. He came in second in balloting for MLB's Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award
. He was also selected as the left-handed pitcher on the Topps MLB All-Star Rookie team. The Philadelphia chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America presented him the "Steve Carlton Most Valuable Pitcher" award.
.
Spring Valley, Illinois
Spring Valley is a city situated on the Illinois River in Bureau County, Illinois. The population was 5,398 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. He is a six-foot-six left-hander
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
. Though his name is James Anthony and his initials are "J. A.", he pronounces his name as "Jay".
Early life and amateur career
Happ was born in Spring Valley, IllinoisSpring Valley, Illinois
Spring Valley is a city situated on the Illinois River in Bureau County, Illinois. The population was 5,398 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and raised in nearby Peru, Illinois
Peru, Illinois
Peru is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,295 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area...
along with 2 older sisters. He attended high school at St. Bede Academy, where he was a four-year letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
winner in baseball and basketball. He was named Bureau County
Bureau County, Illinois
Bureau County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 34,978, which is a decrease of 1.5% from 35,503 in 2000. Its county seat is Princeton. Bureau County is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area...
Athlete of the Year during his senior season.
After graduating high school in 2001, Happ enrolled in Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, where he majored in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. He was named to the All-Big Ten First Team in his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons, during which he compiled a 16–11 win–loss record, an ERA of 2.88, and a 251/90 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 228.1 innings pitched. Happ chose to forego his senior season and entered the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
, where he was selected in the third round (92nd overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
Minor leagues
Immediately after agreeing to terms with the Phillies on June 16, , Happ was assigned to the Batavia MuckdogsBatavia Muckdogs
The Batavia Muckdogs are a minor league baseball team based in Batavia, a city in Genesee County, New York, United States. The Muckdogs are the current Short-Season A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals...
of the short-season A-level
Short season
Short season refers to a form of class A minor league baseball in which only about 75 games are played each season, as opposed to the typical 140 games for an affiliated minor league team at a higher level...
New York-Penn League, where he posted a 2.02 ERA in eleven starts, averaging more than one strikeout per inning pitched. Happ again impressed in with the low-A Lakewood BlueClaws
Lakewood BlueClaws
The Lakewood BlueClaws are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the South Atlantic League, a Class Single-A baseball league. The team plays their home games at FirstEnergy Park located in Lakewood Township, New Jersey...
. While Happ played for only half of the season, he compiled a 2.36 ERA in 72⅓ innings. He was promoted to Double-A for a single game at the end of the season, in which he gave up only one earned run in six innings and struck out eight.
In , Happ began the season for the Clearwater Threshers
Clearwater Threshers
The Clearwater Threshers are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the Florida State League. Since 2004, the team competes in the West Division....
of the High-A Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
, but earned a promotion to the Double-A Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
at midseason. He also pitched one game at the end of the season for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees are a professional minor league baseball club located based in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre area. They currently play in the International League's Northern Division and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball club...
, then the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate. Combined for the year, Happ went 10–9, with an ERA of 2.69, 162 strikeouts, and 49 walks in 160⅔ innings. He was rewarded, during the following offseason, with his first appearance in Baseball America's
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
"Top Ten Prospects" list for the Phillies organization, in which he was ranked eighth. (Prior to this, Happ had rarely been identified as a prospect despite his impressive performances in 2004 and 2005 due to his average pitch velocity.)
After pitching in the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
in the fall of 2006, Happ moved with the Red Barons to Ottawa
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
for the 2007 season.
Major league debut and return to Triple-A
On June 30, , while suffering from a spate of injuries to their starting rotation, the Phillies purchased Happ's contract from the Lynx. At the time, Happ's record in Triple-A was 1–2 with a 4.02 ERA. Happ made his major league debut against the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
and allowed five runs, three earned, in four innings. He was then returned to the Lynx and did not pitch at the major league level again that season, thus ending the year with a 11.25 major league ERA.
Happ struggled upon his return to Ottawa. Despite striking out 36 batters over five starts in the months of July and August, Happ's ERA ballooned to 5.02 by the end of the season. It was later revealed that he had been pitching that season with elbow fatigue. As a result, Happ did not participate in any fall or winter leagues during the following offseason.
2008
Happ began the season with the Phillies' new Triple-A affiliate in Allentown, PennsylvaniaAllentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a minor league baseball team that plays in the International League. The IronPigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The team plays their home games at Coca-Cola Park, which is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
. He went 5–6 with a 3.54 ERA in his first seventeen starts, striking out 104 batters in 101⅔ innings.
On July 4, , Happ was called up to take the place of Brett Myers
Brett Myers
Brett Allen Myers is a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who is currently playing for the Houston Astros.-High school career:...
in the Phillies' starting rotation, after the struggling Myers went to the minors in an effort to regain his form. That same night, Happ made his 2008 debut against Johan Santana and the Mets. He fared better in his second major league start, pitching 4⅔ innings, giving up three hits, two earned runs, four walks while striking out three. He earned a no-decision as the Phillies went on to win the game, 3–2. Happ was also awarded a no-decision in his third career start (second of the season), in which he pitched 6⅓ innings and gave up only two runs, but the Phillies went on to defeat the Cardinals by a 4–2 score. He was then optioned back to Lehigh Valley, as the Phillies would not need a fifth starter for two weeks. Myers regained his place in the rotation on July 23.
Happ was recalled to the major leagues on July 29 when the struggling Adam Eaton
Adam Eaton
Adam Thomas Eaton is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.-High school:Eaton graduated from Snohomish High School in 1996 where he went 8–0 with a 0.67 earned run average as a senior, and earned second team High School All-America honors from Baseball America. Ranked the No...
was demoted to Lakewood. However, Happ never took Eaton's spot in the rotation, as the Phillies had already acquired starter Joe Blanton
Joe Blanton
Joseph Matthew Blanton is a starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.-College career:...
from the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
on July 17. Happ instead pitched out of the bullpen, appearing in two games (in which he struggled), and was then sent to AAA once again. He ended the Triple-A season at 8–7, with a 3.60 ERA. He second in the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
pitchers with 151 strikeouts in 135 innings. He walked 48 batters.
Happ joined the Phillies for the third time in 2008 on September 1 when the rosters expanded. On September 16, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel
Charlie Manuel
Charles Fuqua Manuel, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder and current Major League Baseball manager of the Philadelphia Phillies...
announced that Happ would start on the following night against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, replacing the struggling Kyle Kendrick
Kyle Kendrick
Kyle Rodney Kendrick is a relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.-High school:...
. Happ pitched six shutout innings in the game, earning his first major league win in a 6–1 Phillies victory. Happ was named to the postseason roster, and pitched in one game in the National League Championship Series.
2009
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
against the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
on June 27, 2009. To that point in the season, Happ had a record of 5–0, pitching 66 innings, starting in 7 games, and amassing a 3.00 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. He also struck out 45 batters, in contrast with 28 walks.
He got his first major league hit on July 2, 2009 against the Atlanta Braves. It came during the fifth inning with two outs and no one on base. On August 5, Happ pitched his second career complete game shutout, giving up four hits and striking out ten in a home game against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. In that game, he also collected his first career extra-base hit, an eighth inning double off of Rockies pitcher Josh Fogg
Josh Fogg
Joshua Smith Fogg is an American professional baseball player who has been a pitcher for nine Major League Baseball seasons. Fogg played college baseball for the University of Florida, and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the third round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft...
. He became the first rookie pitcher to 10 wins on August 22 against the New York Mets. He made his first career post-season start against the Rockies on October 11, 2009.
On October 20, 2009, Happ was named Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year
The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award
The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award was established in 1946 by The Sporting News .*In 1947-48, and again in 1950, a single award was given for all of Major League Baseball....
. He was also named by his fellow players as Players Choice Award
Players Choice Award
The Players Choice Awards are annual Major League Baseball awards, given by the Major League Baseball Players Association .The Players Choice Awards are given following a secret ballot by players. Four awards go to a player in each league, while two awards each go to one player in all of Major...
s NL Outstanding Rookie. Baseball fans voted him the MLB "This Year in Baseball Awards"
This Year in Baseball Awards
This Year in Baseball Awards, initiated by Major League Baseball in , are honors given annually to the most extraordinary baseball performances, players, and managers. Baseball fans select the nominees for and winners of the awards, via the online voting system on MLB.com, the official website of...
Rookie of the Year. He came in second in balloting for MLB's Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award
Rookie of the Year award
K-League Rookie of the Year Award is newly established in 1985 that third season in K-League. Many star players were received this award such as Lee Dong-Gook, Lee Chun-Soo, and so on.- Winners :- See also:* K-League MVP Award...
. He was also selected as the left-handed pitcher on the Topps MLB All-Star Rookie team. The Philadelphia chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America presented him the "Steve Carlton Most Valuable Pitcher" award.
Houston Astros
On July 29, 2010, Happ was traded to the Houston Astros along with minor leaguers Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar in exchange for Roy OswaltRoy Oswalt
Roy Edward Oswalt is an American Major League Baseball pitcher and Olympic gold medalist who is currently a free agent. Oswalt, a slender six-foot right-handed starting pitcher, is currently in his eleventh major league season...
.