Formerly a standout reliever for the Milwaukee Brewers, Josh Hader has established himself as one of the premier pitchers in the game. After spending five and a half seasons with the Brewers, he was traded to the San Diego Padres and later signed a lucrative five-year, $95 million contract with the Houston Astros during the off-season.
Hader’s journey to securing the largest present-day contract for a closer in MLB history was not without its challenges. He had to navigate the often frustrating arbitration years of team control. It was during this period with the Brewers that he made a pivotal decision to transition into a one-inning-per-outing pitcher. Recently, Hader opened up about the reasoning behind this transformation.
Josh Hader provides insights into the factors behind his shift to pitching one inning per outing during his time with the Milwaukee Brewers.
During his time with the Milwaukee Brewers, Josh Hader explains that his transition to pitching one inning per outing was influenced by the arbitration system’s emphasis on saves. As a reliever capable of pitching multiple innings, Hader found himself not receiving the recognition and value he felt he deserved. When he was informed directly that saves were the primary factor in evaluating relievers, Hader decided to protect his arm and prioritize his role as a closer. He expressed his willingness to provide saves, but emphasized the need for the team to build a strong bullpen around him to support that role.
Following an unsuccessful arbitration case before the 2020 season, Josh Hader was compelled to alter his approach and abandon pitching more than one inning per outing.
While I don’t have access to real-time information, based on the provided context, as of the 2023 season, Josh Hader has maintained a streak of 193 consecutive games where he has pitched no more than one inning. This suggests a pattern of utilizing him primarily for one-inning outings. Whether he will continue this usage with the Houston Astros or if any changes will occur in his role would require up-to-date information on the team’s plans and strategies.
Josh Hader did not offer specific comments about his role and usage with the Houston Astros. However, he did discuss the hypothetical scenario of what might have transpired if the San Diego Padres had reached the postseason last year.
According to Josh Hader, he emphasizes that in the playoffs, the focus is on doing whatever is necessary to secure a victory, highlighting his willingness to adapt and contribute in any way needed.
