Josh Hader

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.

The Baltimore Orioles selected Hader in the 19th round of the 2012 MLB draft, with the 582nd overall selection.

He signed with the Orioles for a $40,000 signing bonus, rather than attend Anne Arundel.

Beginning his professional career, Hader's fastball velocity increased, from 84 – as a high school player, to 94 – as he changed his workout routine.

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.

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, and through July 31, pitched to a 3–6 record with 79 strikeouts and a 2.65 ERA in 17 games started.

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.

He completed his 2013 season with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Single-A Midwest League.

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.

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.

He was traded twice before joining the Milwaukee Brewers organization in 2015.

Hader played for the United States national baseball team in the Pan American Games in 2015, and appeared in the All-Star Futures Game in 2016.

Traded to the Milwaukee Brewers organization in 2015, 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.

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.

After graduating from high school, Hader was prepared to enroll at Anne Arundel Community College.

Hader returned to Corpus Christi in the 2015 season.

He was selected to play for the United States national baseball team in the 2015 Pan American Games.

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.

The Brewers assigned Hader to the Biloxi Shuckers of the Double-A Southern League.

He finished the season with a 3.03 ERA combined.

The Brewers invited him to spring training in 2016.

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.

He was selected to appear in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game.

The Brewers added him to their 40-man roster after the season.

Hader began the 2017 season with Colorado Springs.

The Brewers promoted him to the major leagues on June 9.

He made his major league debut on June 10.

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.

Owning a 1.21 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 44 innings, Hader was named to the 2018 MLB All-Star Game.