J.A. Happ pitching at AA Reading, 2006. Taken by the author.
Comcast SportsNet has announced that the AAA southpaw has been recalled and will be given the ball tomorrow night against the evil Mets. This will be J.A.’s (pronounced “Jay”) second start in the majors. He pitched one game last year going 4 innings, allowing 3 earned runs and struck out 5 batters before being sent back down to AAA Ottawa following the game.
Happ, a third round selection in the ‘04 draft, has slowly pitched his way up the organizational ladder, starting with then Rookie affiliate Batavia Muckdogs. Perhaps his best season came in 2005, when he pitched for both Low-A Lakewood BlueClaws and AA Reading Phillies (for only one start). He had a record of 5-4 (getting the win in Reading), a combined ERA of 2.30, combined WHIP of 1.13, 78 strikeouts (eight coming from Reading), and only 28 walks in 78.1 innings.
Happ has been a constant success for the Iron Pigs this season, where success is often hard to find. He owns a record of 5 wins and 6 losses, an ERA of 3.54, 1.27 WHIP, 104 strikeouts (one more than Mets’ starter Johan Santana, by the way), and 38 walks, all in 101.2 innings. He has easily been the ace of the staff. He is the team leader in K’s, second in wins (one behind leader Brian Mazone), sixth in ERA (well behind team leader Stephen Randolph) and WHIP (only .1 points away from Mazone), but is also tied for staff-lead in walks surrendered with Travis Blackley.
TRIVIA SECTION
This is a new thing I’ve decided to do. I’m going to ask a trivia question on every post (hopefully–you guys know how I am with fulfilling promises). The winner will be the first person the correct answer in the comment section.
How many (and name them) current Phillies played for the previous three AAA franchises (Lehigh Valley, Ottawa, and S/WB) at some point in their career (not necessarily with the Phillies)?
