Joshua Ronald Hader (born April 7, 1994) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theHouston Astros ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theMilwaukee Brewers andSan Diego Padres. Hader is a five-timeAll-Star and three-time winner of theNational League Reliever of the Year Award.

Josh Hader
Hader with theSan Diego Padres in 2023
Houston Astros – No. 71
Pitcher
Born: (1994-04-07)April 7, 1994 (age 31) Millersville, Maryland, U.S.
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 10, 2017, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics (through April 29, 2025)
Win–loss record	29–29
Earned run average	2.67
Strikeouts	773
Saves	207
Stats atBaseball Reference
Teams
Milwaukee Brewers (2017–2022) San Diego Padres (2022–2023) Houston Astros (2024–present)
Career highlights and awards
5×All-Star (2018,2019,2021–2023) 3×All-MLB First Team (2019, 2021, 2023) 3×NL Reliever of the Year (2018, 2019, 2021) NL saves leader (2020) Pitched acombined no-hitter on September 11, 2021 MLB records Most consecutive hitless appearances (12)
Medals Men'sbaseball Representing United States Pan American Games 2015 Toronto Team

TheBaltimore Orioles selected him in the 19th round of the2012 MLB draft. He was traded twice, including to the Astros, before joining the Milwaukee Brewers organization in 2015. Hader played for theUnited States national team in thePan American Games in 2015 and appeared in theAll-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.

Hader attendedOld Mill High School inMillersville, Maryland, where he played for the school's baseball team. As a senior, Hader had a 10–0win–loss record, a 0.30earned run average (ERA), and 125strikeouts. He also had abatting average above .400 and hit fourhomeruns. After graduating from high school, Hader was prepared to enroll atAnne Arundel Community College.^[1][2]

TheBaltimore Orioles selected Hader in the 19th round of the2012 MLB draft, with the 582nd overall selection.^[3][4] He signed with the Orioles for a $40,000signing bonus, rather than attend Anne Arundel.^[1][3] Beginning his professional career, Hader'sfastball 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 theGulf Coast Orioles in theRookie-levelGulf Coast League and theAberdeen Ironbirds of theLow-ANew York–Penn League, allowing only 14hits and ninewalks while striking out 48 in28+2⁄3innings pitched.^[2] In 2013, the Orioles assigned Hader to theDelmarva Shorebirds of theSingle-ASouth 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 17games started.^[3]

On July 31, 2013, the day of theMLB trade deadline, the Orioles traded Hader andL. J. Hoes to theHouston Astros in exchange forBud Norris.^[1][3] He completed his 2013 season with theQuad Cities River Bandits of the Single-AMidwest League.^[6]

Pitching for theLancaster JetHawks of theHigh-ACalifornia League in 2014, Hader and tworelief pitchers combined to throw ano-hitter on May 13.^[7] After pitching to a 9–2 record with a league-leading 2.70 ERA and 112 strikeouts in103+1⁄3 innings, the Astros promoted him to theCorpus Christi Hooks of theDouble-ATexas 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 theUnited States national baseball team in the2015 Pan American Games.^[10]

On July 30, 2015, the Astros traded Hader,Brett Phillips,Domingo Santana, andAdrian Houser to theMilwaukee Brewers forCarlos Gómez andMike Fiers.^[11] The Brewers assigned Hader to theBiloxi Shuckers of the Double-ASouthern League.^[12] He finished the season with a 3.03 ERA combined.

The Brewers invited him tospring training in 2016.^[13] Hader began the 2016 season with Biloxi, and made his first start for theColorado Springs Sky Sox of theTriple-APacific Coast League on June 12.^[14] He was selected to appear in the 2016All-Star Futures Game.^[15] The Brewers added him to their40-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 a2+2⁄3-inning save against theCincinnati 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 the2018 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 toRangers'Shin-Soo Choo and Astros'George Springer beforeMariners'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 toBoston Red Sox basemanMitch Moreland, Hader was replaced after 26 pitches, allowing four hits and one out over five batters.^[23]

In 2018, Hader was 6–1 with 12 saves and a 2.43 ERA. He had 143 strikeouts in81+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 theNational 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 relieversJeremy Jeffress (shoulder strain) andCorey Knebel (Tommy John surgery). On March 30, Hader pitched animmaculate inning to earn the save against theSt. Louis Cardinals, striking outTyler O'Neill,Dexter Fowler, andYairo Munoz on nine consecutive strikes, seven of which were swinging strikes.^[26] Hader received theNL Reliever of the Month Award for both May and June.^[27] In the2019 National League Wild Card Game, Hader blew the save for the Brewers, giving up a three-run single toJuan Soto of theWashington Nationals, which, coupled with an error from right fielderTrent 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 over72+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 in234+2⁄3 innings pitched, breaking the prior record of 236 innings, which had been set byCraig 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 theCleveland Indians.^[33] He finished the 2021 season with 34 saves in 35 opportunities; he recorded a career-low 1.23 ERA with 102 strikeouts in58+2⁄3 innings.

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 theSan Diego Padres forTaylor Rogers,Dinelson Lamet,Esteury Ruiz, andRobert Gasser.^[34] He made his Padres debut the following day, earning the win against theColorado 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 10saves and holding opposing batters to a .093batting average while allowing only one run in 13.0 innings pitched.^[39] He became a free agent following the season.

On January 22, 2024, Hader signed a five-year, $95 million contract with theHouston 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, asVíctor Caratini hit a pinch hit,walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning.^[42] On August 10, 2024, versusBoston, Hader converted his 25th consecutive save opportunity, surpassingBrad 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 over13+1⁄3 innings (0.68 ERA), 0.60 WHIP and .071 BAA, and was recognized asAmerican 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 theLos 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]

Hader earned his 200th career save on Opening Day,2025, when he struck outJuan Soto of theNew York Mets with two runners on to secure a 3–1 Astros win.^[48]

Hader is the son of Tom and Patricia Hader.^[49] Hader is married to Maria Hader.^[50] The couple's first child was born in June 2022.^[51]

During the2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, a series of tweets by Hader ranging from mid-2011 to late-2012 were discovered to containracist,homophobic andsexist content.^[52][53] Friends and family of Hader who were invited to the game were given blank jerseys to wear due to the controversy.^[54][55] Hader issued an apology after the game and deleted his account onTwitter.^[56][57]

• Houston Astros award winners and league leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career saves leaders
• List of Major League Baseball no-hitters

• Olney, Buster (May 21, 2024)."'Sometimes you have to protect yourself': Why Josh Hader took a stand until he got a long-term deal".ESPN. RetrievedMay 21, 2024.

• Career statistics fromMLB, orESPN, orBaseball Reference, orFangraphs, orBaseball Reference (Minors), orRetrosheet
• Josh Hader onInstagram