| J.J. Hardy | |
|---|---|
| Baltimore Orioles – No. 2 | |
| Shortstop | |
| Born: August 19, 1982 Tucson, Arizona |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| April 4, 2005 for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| Career statistics (through 2011 season) |
|
| Batting average | .264 |
| Home runs | 111 |
| Runs batted in | 383 |
| Hits | 776 |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
James Jerry "J.J." Hardy (born August 19, 1982, in Tucson, Arizona) is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles.
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Hardy played baseball at Sabino High School in Arizona, and was captain of the "Sabercats" baseball team. He was an All-State Selection in 1999, 2000, and 2001, and was All-American in 2001. Also in 2001, he was a member of the U.S. Junior National team, which won the silver medal in Edmonton, Canada.
He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers during the second round of the 2001 draft. In 2003 he played for the U.S. Olympic Qualifying team. Participated in MLB All-Star Futures Game in 2003. His 2008 contract with the Brewers was for $2,650,000. Hardy suffered a dislocated shoulder and a torn labrum in 2004 in the minor leagues and sat out the year.
He went into spring training in 2005 as the frontrunner to win the starting shortstop job. Although he got off to a very slow start, Hardy finished strong and ended the year with a .247 batting average, 9 home runs and 50 RBIs. Hardy committed only 10 errors in the field, but also had the lowest range factor of all major league shortstops (3.76).[1]
On May 16, 2006, Hardy slid into Philadelphia Phillies catcher Sal Fasano at home plate trying to score and badly injured his ankle when Fasano attempted to block the plate. X-rays revealed a severe sprain of the ankle, and he was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Hardy recovered from the sprain, but constantly had trouble with an ankle tendon that kept popping in and out of place. On July 18, the Brewers announced that Hardy would have season-ending surgery on his ankle, performed by team physician Dr. William Raasch.[2] Hardy finished the year with an average of .242 with 5 home runs and 14 RBI.
By June 27, 2007, Hardy had already doubled his career home run total. He ended up batting .277 with 26 home runs, and 80 RBI. He was selected to play as a reserve in the 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, held in San Francisco. He played in the ninth inning and was walked on his first and only plate appearance.
As of the end of the 2008 season, Hardy was batting .283, with 2 stolen bases, 24 home runs, and 74 RBI. He had a 16-game hitting streak, which was broken on July 5 with a sacrifice bunt in order to aid the Brewers in defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates. For the week of July 7, he was the National League player of the week.[3]
Hardy was re-signed by the Brewers to a one-year, $4.65 million contract.[4] After a low-performing season through July, he was optioned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds on August 12. His line-drive rate had declined for five consecutive seasons prior to his demotion.[5] He was recalled on September 1 and finished the season batting .229 with 11 HRs and 47 RBI.
On November 6, 2009, Hardy was traded from the Brewers to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for outfielder Carlos Gómez. He strained his left wrist with the Twins and was put on the disabled list. He was back in the lineup July 3.
On December 9, 2010, Hardy was acquired by the Orioles from the Twins, along with utility infielder Brendan Harris and $500,000, for minor league pitchers Brett Jacobson and Jim Hoey.[6]
On July 16, 2011, J.J. Hardy and the Baltimore Orioles agreed on a three year deal which keeps Hardy through 2014. Hardy finished the season with 30 HR and 80 RBI. He also hit .264
Hardy's father was a professional tennis player, and his mother was a professional golfer. Hardy's brother, Logan, was with the U.S. Army's 75th Field Artillery Brigade, a unit among the first to Baghdad in March 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.