J. A. Happ
Born: 10/19/1982 in Spring Valley, IL, USA
MLB Debut: 2007-06-30 | Final Game: 2021-09-30
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'5" | Weight: 205 lbs
Full name: James Anthony Happ
Biography
J. A. Happ, born in 1982, was a professional baseball pitcher who had a notable career spanning from 2007 to 2021. Known for his left-handed pitching and competitive spirit, Happ finished his career with a record of 133 wins and 100 losses, an earned run average (ERA) of 4.13, and a total of 1,661 strikeouts. He became a significant figure in Major League Baseball during his tenure, demonstrating a consistent ability to compete at a high level throughout various stages of his career.
Happ's contributions to the game were recognized with several accolades, including being named the MLB Players Choice Outstanding Rookie and earning the title of This Year in Baseball Rookie of the Year. He also received the TSN Rookie of the Year award, underscoring his immediate impact upon entering the league. In addition to his individual achievements, Happ was selected as an All-Star during his career, marking him as one of the notable pitchers of his era. His performances on the mound and his resilience throughout his career solidified his place in baseball history.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 133 | 100 | 354 | 328 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1893.7 | 1822 | 868 | 261 | 668 | 1661 | 4.13 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | PHI | NL | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 11.25 | 0.0 |
| 2008 | PHI | NL | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31.7 | 28 | 13 | 14 | 26 | 3.69 | 144.4 |
| 2009 | PHI | NL | 12 | 4 | 35 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 166.0 | 149 | 54 | 56 | 119 | 2.93 | -44.1 |
| 2010 | HOU | NL | 5 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 72.0 | 60 | 30 | 35 | 61 | 3.75 | -125.5 |
| 2010 | PHI | NL | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15.3 | 13 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 1.76 | -392.6 |
| 2011 | HOU | NL | 6 | 15 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 156.3 | 157 | 93 | 83 | 134 | 5.35 | -3009.7 |
| 2012 | HOU | NL | 7 | 9 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 104.3 | 112 | 56 | 39 | 98 | 4.83 | -1251.9 |
| 2012 | TOR | AL | 3 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40.3 | 35 | 21 | 17 | 46 | 4.69 | 1237.8 |
| 2013 | TOR | AL | 5 | 7 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 92.7 | 91 | 47 | 45 | 77 | 4.56 | -1050.5 |
| 2014 | TOR | AL | 11 | 11 | 30 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 158.0 | 160 | 74 | 51 | 133 | 4.22 | -2139.2 |
| 2015 | PIT | NL | 7 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 63.3 | 52 | 13 | 13 | 69 | 1.85 | 2847.5 |
| 2015 | SEA | AL | 4 | 6 | 21 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108.7 | 121 | 56 | 32 | 82 | 4.64 | -435.4 |
| 2016 | TOR | AL | 20 | 4 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 195.0 | 168 | 69 | 60 | 163 | 3.18 | 1181.8 |
| 2017 | TOR | AL | 10 | 11 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 145.3 | 145 | 57 | 46 | 142 | 3.53 | 2225.9 |
| 2018 | NYY | AL | 7 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 63.7 | 51 | 19 | 16 | 63 | 2.69 | - |
| 2018 | TOR | AL | 10 | 6 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 114.0 | 99 | 53 | 35 | 130 | 4.18 | 886.8 |
| 2019 | NYY | AL | 12 | 8 | 31 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 161.3 | 160 | 88 | 49 | 140 | 4.91 | - |
| 2020 | NYY | AL | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49.3 | 37 | 19 | 15 | 42 | 3.47 | - |
| 2021 | MIN | AL | 5 | 6 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 98.3 | 125 | 74 | 31 | 77 | 6.77 | -2889.2 |
| 2021 | STL | NL | 5 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54.0 | 52 | 24 | 17 | 45 | 4.00 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 360 | 211 | 13 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 91 | 0.095 | 0.140 | 0.118 | 0.258 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | PHI | NL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2008 | PHI | NL | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2009 | PHI | NL | 35 | 43 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0.093 | 0.0 |
| 2010 | HOU | NL | 13 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2010 | PHI | NL | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2011 | HOU | NL | 29 | 43 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 0.163 | 0.0 |
| 2012 | HOU | NL | 22 | 32 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 0.094 | 0.0 |
| 2012 | TOR | AL | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2013 | TOR | AL | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2014 | TOR | AL | 30 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2015 | PIT | NL | 11 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0.091 | 0.0 |
| 2015 | SEA | AL | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2016 | TOR | AL | 32 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.286 | 0.0 |
| 2017 | TOR | AL | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2018 | NYY | AL | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2018 | TOR | AL | 20 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 2019 | NYY | AL | 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2020 | NYY | AL | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | MIN | AL | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | STL | NL | 11 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ALDS1 | NYA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2019 | ALCS | NYA | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2019 | ALDS2 | NYA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2018 | ALDS1 | NYA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2016 | ALDS1 | TOR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2016 | ALCS | TOR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2009 | WS | PHI | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2009 | NLDS2 | PHI | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 2009 | NLCS | PHI | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2008 | NLCS | PHI | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Career Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 27.7 | 36 | 18 | 16 | 26 | 5.86 |
Playoff Pitching by Year
| Year | Round | Team | W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ALDS1 | NYA | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 13.50 |
| 2019 | ALCS | NYA | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2.7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.38 |
| 2019 | ALDS2 | NYA | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.00 |
| 2018 | ALDS1 | NYA | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 22.50 |
| 2016 | ALCS | TOR | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3.60 |
| 2016 | ALDS1 | TOR | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.0 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1.80 |
| 2009 | NLCS | PHI | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 2009 | NLDS2 | PHI | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3.0 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9.00 |
| 2009 | WS | PHI | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2.7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3.38 |
| 2008 | NLCS | PHI | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3.00 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 354 | 328 | 52 | 192 | 8 | 2 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | PHI | P | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | PHI | P | 8 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | PHI | P | 35 | 23 | 6 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | HOU | P | 13 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | PHI | P | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | HOU | P | 28 | 28 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | HOU | P | 18 | 18 | 6 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | TOR | P | 10 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | TOR | P | 18 | 18 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | TOR | P | 30 | 26 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | PIT | P | 11 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | SEA | P | 21 | 20 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | TOR | P | 32 | 32 | 6 | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | TOR | P | 25 | 25 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| 2018 | NYA | P | 11 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | TOR | P | 20 | 20 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| 2019 | NYA | P | 31 | 30 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | NYA | P | 9 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | MIN | P | 19 | 19 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | SLN | P | 11 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 354 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | MLB Players Choice Outstanding Rookie | |
| 2009 | This Year in Baseball Rookie of the Year | MLB.com GIBBY |
| 2009 | TSN Rookie of the Year |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | TOR | AL | $10,000,000 |
| 2015 | SEA | AL | $6,700,000 |
| 2014 | TOR | AL | $5,200,000 |
| 2013 | TOR | AL | $3,700,000 |
| 2012 | HOU | NL | $2,350,000 |
| 2011 | HOU | NL | $474,000 |
| 2010 | PHI | NL | $470,000 |
| 2009 | PHI | NL | $405,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $29,299,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | Evanston | IL | 2002, 2003, 2004 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Cy Young Award | AL | 6th | 14.0 | 210 | 0 |
| 2009 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 2nd | 94.0 | 160 | 10 |