The Milwaukee Brewers called up lefty Josh Hader. How will he be used and what does his future look like?
Player Profile
The Milwaukee Brewers became the third organization for Josh Hader when they acquired him at the trade deadline in 2015.
Hader was initially drafted in the 19th round of the 2012 draft out of high school in Maryland by the Baltimore Orioles. In his draft season, Hader made 17 relief appearances, throwing 28 2/3 innings between the Orioles’ GCL club and their Aberdeen affiliate in the New York-Penn League, posting a combined 1.88 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 8.18 percent walk rate and 43.63 percent strikeout rate.
The Orioles moved Hader to the rotation in 2013, and he stayed in low-A when moved to the Astros, simply moving from the South Atlantic League to the Midwest League. Between the two teams, he made 22 starts, throwing 107 1/3 innings, posting a 2.77 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 11.69 percent walk rate and 20.56 percent strikeout rate.
Hader continued his rise through the minor leagues in 2014, conquering the typically difficult-on-pitchers California League before heading to AA in the Texas League. Between the two levels, he made 27 appearances, 19 of them starts, throwing 123 innings and posting a 3.29 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 10.49 percent walk rate and 26.41 percent strikeout rate.
In 2015, Hader spent the season in AA with two organizations, pitching with Houston before he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. Overall, he made 24 appearances, 17 of them starts, throwing 104 innings with a 3.03 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 8.01 percent walk rate and 27.23 percent strikeout rate.
Hader then went to the Arizona Fall League, where he made a positive impression, throwing 16 innings, with a 0.56 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 11.67 percent walk rate and 31.67 percent strikeout rate. He was ranked by MLB Pipeline as the #61 prospect in the game.
The Brewers had Hader open with AA Biloxi in 2016, but he moved forward quickly after completely dominating the level. He found sledding at the AAA level much more difficult, but still he finished the season with a combined total between the levels of 25 starts, 126 innings, a 3.29 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 10.52 percent walk rate and 30.78 percent strikeout rate.
Baseball America ranked Hader as the #33 prospect in the game after the season, MLB had him as #38 and Baseball Prospectus ranked him the #19 prospect. He was ranked the #80 prospect in the Call to the Pen top 125 early this season, obviously the low ranking on Hader.
Hader has struggled again back at AAA Colorado Springs this season thus far, throwing 52 innings with a 5.37 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 13.6 percent walk rate and 22.37 percent strikeout rate.
Next: Hader's scouting report