J.A. Happ is a left-handed pitcher who has had a successful career in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on October 19, 1982, in Peru, Illinois, and attended Northwestern University, where he played college baseball for the Wildcats.
Happ was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the third round of the 2004 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Phillies in 2007 and spent parts of four seasons with the team. In 2010, he was traded to the Houston Astros, where he spent one season before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012.
Happ had a breakout season with the Blue Jays in 2016, posting a 20-4 record with a 3.18 ERA and 163 strikeouts. He was named an All-Star for the first time in his career and finished sixth in the American League Cy Young Award voting.
After the 2016 season, Happ became a free agent and signed a three-year, $36 million contract with the Blue Jays. He spent two and a half seasons with the team before being traded to the New York Yankees in July 2018.
Happ has been a reliable starter for the Yankees, helping the team reach the playoffs in both 2018 and 2019. He has also been a mentor to younger pitchers on the team, including Jordan Montgomery and Deivi Garcia.
Throughout his career, Happ has been known for his control and ability to induce ground balls. He has a career record of 128-98 with a 4.13 ERA and 1,487 strikeouts in 1,697 innings pitched.
Off the field, Happ is known for his philanthropic work. He and his wife, Morgan, founded the Happ Family Charitable Fund, which supports organizations that provide education and healthcare to children in need.
In conclusion, J.A. Happ has had a successful career as a left-handed pitcher in MLB. He has played for several teams, including the Phillies, Astros, Blue Jays, and Yankees, and has been a reliable starter throughout his career. Happ has also been a mentor to younger pitchers and is known for his philanthropic work off the field.
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