| Aaron Harang | |
|---|---|
 Harang with the Phillies in 2015 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1978-05-09)May 9, 1978 (age 47) San Diego, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 25, 2002, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 3, 2015, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 128–143 |
| Earned run average | 4.26 |
| Strikeouts | 1,842 |
| Stats atBaseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Aaron Michael Harang (born May 9, 1978) is an American former professionalbaseballstarting pitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theOakland Athletics,Cincinnati Reds,San Diego Padres,Los Angeles Dodgers,Seattle Mariners,New York Mets,Philadelphia Phillies, andAtlanta Braves.
Harang graduated fromPatrick Henry High School, then went on toSan Diego State University.[1][2] He was first drafted by theBoston Red Sox in the 22nd round of the 1996amateur draft, but did not sign with the team. In 1998, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theCotuit Kettleers of theCape Cod Baseball League.[3]
After college, Harang was drafted by theTexas Rangers in the 6th round of the1999 draft and signed with them. He played for the rookie-levelPulaski Rangers in 1999, finishing with a 9–2 record and 2.30 ERA in 16 appearances (10 starts), including one complete gameshutout. He was selected as theAppalachian League Pitcher of the Year and made the postseason all-star team. In 2000, with theCharlotte Rangers, he was 13–5 with a 3.32 ERA in 27 starts and was selected as aFlorida State League All-Star.
In 2000, Harang was traded withminor leaguer Ryan Cullen to theOakland Athletics forRandy Velarde.[4] He played with the AAMidland RockHounds in 2001, starting 27 games with a 10–8 record and 4.14 ERA.
Harang made his Major League debut for the Athletics on May 25, 2002, against theTampa Bay Devil Rays. He pitched seven shutout innings in his debut, with 10 strikeouts, to record the win. He started 15 games for the team that season, and also made 1 relief appearance. He finished 5–4 with a 4.83 ERA. In 2003, he started 6 games, with a 1–3 record and 5.34 ERA.
During the 2003 season, Harang was traded to the Reds withJoe Valentine and minor leaguer Jeff Bruksch forJosé Guillén. In 2004, he went 10–9 with a 4.83ERA for the Reds.
In 2005, Harang led the Reds with 11 wins,211+2⁄3 innings pitched, 163 strikeouts, and 19quality starts.[5] He was the first Reds pitcher to pitch 200 innings in a season sinceElmer Dessens in 2001. He received votes forNL Pitcher of the Month in May after going 3–1 with 1.93 ERA over five starts.[6]
In 2006, Harang started on Opening Day for the Reds on April 3 against theChicago Cubs and allowed 9runs (6 earned) over 5innings. In his third start of the season, Harang pitched 7 shutout innings against theSt. Louis Cardinals, facing off against reigningCy Young Award winnerChris Carpenter. Harang allowed 4hits and got 4 strikeouts, also driving in the only run of the game as the Reds won 1–0. Harang pitched acomplete gameshutout against theMilwaukee Brewers on April 23, allowing five hits as the Reds won 11–0.[6]
Harang led theNational League in 2006 with 6 complete games and 216 strikeouts, toppingJake Peavy by only 1 strikeout. He also tied for the league lead with 16 wins and 35 starts.[7] However, he received no votes for theCy Young Award, won byBrandon Webb.[2][8] Harang was the 11th National League pitcher since 1956 to lead the National League in both wins and strikeouts, with all other league leaders also winning the Cy Young Award.[9]
On February 6, 2007, Harang signed a four-year, $36.5 million contract extension with the Reds.[10] On July 23, he pitched 10 innings, throwing 121 pitches, becoming the first Reds pitcher to pitch 10 innings since 1989. However, he received a no-decision because the Reds did not win the game until the 12th inning.[11] On September 3, he became the victim of the3,000th strikeout recorded byPedro Martínez.[12] Harang ended the season with an NL-leading 4.19 strikeout-to-walk ratio and tied for the lead with 12 wild pitches.[13]
In 2008, he led the majors in giving up 19 home runs at home.[14] His homefield, Great American Ballpark, allow the second-most home runs that season.[15]
Harang hit his first careerhome run on July 24, 2009, a three-run shot toleft field off ofRandy Wells of the Cubs. However, Harang lost that game to Wells and the Cubs.[16] He missed the end of the2009 season after undergoing an emergencyappendectomy in August. He ended the season with a 4.21 ERA, 1.41WHIP and 6–14 record.[17]
In September 2010, Harang was removed from the starting rotation due to ineffectiveness and having been on theDL for two months due to back spasms.[18][19] In a ceremonial "goodbye," he started the final game of the season against the Brewers, but exited in the third inning with a blister on his finger.[20][19] Harang was left off the Reds 2010 playoff roster.[21] On November 3, 2010, the Reds bought Harang out of his 2011 contract option, making him a free agent.[22]
On December 6, 2010, Harang signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with theSan Diego Padres that included a mutual option for 2012.[23]
On July 9, 2011, Harang had ano-hitter through six innings against theLos Angeles Dodgers but was pulled after walking 3 and throwing 95 pitches. He made 28 starts in 2011, with a 14–7 record and 3.64 ERA for the Padres. The team did not to pick up his 2012 option, making him a free agent.[24][25]
On December 8, 2011, Harang signed a 2-year, $12 million contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers, with a mutual option for 2014.[26]
On April 13, 2012, Harang struck out 9 consecutive batters after giving up a single to set the all time Dodgers record against theSan Diego Padres. The record was previously held byJohnny Podres with 8 in1962. The streak was stopped byWill Venable when he hit an opposite-field home run. Harang finished one strikeout short of tyingTom Seaver's Major League record of 10 consecutive strikeouts in1970 and tied his career high with 13 total strikeouts in the game.[27][28]
On June 7, Harang allowed 3 runs in 6 innings in an 8–3 victory over thePhiladelphia Phillies to collect his 100th career Major League win.[29] In 31 starts for the Dodgers in 2012, he finished 10–10 with a 3.61 ERA.
On April 6, 2013, the Dodgers traded Harang and $4.25 million to cover part of his salary to theColorado Rockies for catcherRamón Hernández.[30] The Rockies designated Harang for assignment and on April 11 traded him and cash to theSeattle Mariners for minor leaguer Steven Hensley.[31][32] Harang pitched shutouts on May 27 and June 11, tying him for second in MLB in shutouts in 2013.[33][34] In 22 starts for Seattle, he was 5–11 with a 5.76 ERA. He was designated for assignment on August 26 and released on September 1.
On September 2, 2013, Harang signed a minor league contract with theNew York Mets and assigned to the Triple-ALas Vegas 51s.[35] Harang joined the Mets on September 12 and was generally effective for the last few weeks of the season.[33] While he was 0–1 with the Mets, he had a 3.52 ERA and struck out 26 batters in 23 innings pitched. He became a free agent after the season.[36]
On February 15, 2014, Harang signed a minor league contract with theCleveland Indians.[37] On March 24, he was released by the Indians and signed a one-year major league contract with theAtlanta Braves.[38] After his first four starts with the Braves, Harang posted a 0.70 ERA, the lowest in the National League.[39] After his next start, he became the first pitcher sincePedro Martínez in 1997 to start a season with five starts of at least 6 innings and one or fewer runs allowed.[40] He only had six such starts in the rest of his 28 starts, with a 4.07 ERA after his hot start. He finished the year with a 12–12 record and a 3.57 ERA over 33 starts.[41] He was ninth in the National League with 2041⁄3 innings pitched and was also in the top 10 in hits, walks, and wild pitches.[42]
On January 5, 2015, Harang signed a one-year, $5 million contract withPhiladelphia Phillies that included performance bonuses.[43] He again started strong, with a 1.82 ERA in his first nine starts.[44][45] After missing most of July withplantar fasciitis in his left foot, Harang ended his final MLB season with a 6–15 record and 4.86 ERA in 29 starts for the Phillies.[6] He had the lowest percentagepulled against him, 31.7 percent, among major league pitchers. He also was the 11th best pitcher at inducing infield fly balls.[46]
Harang became a free agent on November 2.[6] In March 2016, he said he was not planning to pitch that year but could change his mind.[47] He did not sign another contract with an MLB team.[48]
Harang threw six pitches. He had afour-seam fastball andtwo-seam fastball averaging about 90–94 miles per hour. He also threw aslider andchangeup in the low 80s and acurveball in the low-to-mid 70s, as well as a small handful ofcutters. Harang mostly used his four-seamer and slider against right-handed hitters, while using more variety with left-handed hitters. His curve was typically used early in the count, often against lefties.[49]
Harang married Jennifer Wade in 2002 and has three children, Addison, Kailey, and Dustin.[6]
Harang's younger brother Darryl pitched in the minor leagues for theToronto Blue Jays organization from 2004 to 2008 and in the Reds system in 2010.[50][51]
During his playing career, Harang gave tickets to military families in a program called "Aaron's Aces."[2][52][53] Harang also gave Reds clubhouse staff an 8-person golf cart in 2009.[54]
