J. J. Hardy

For the 19th-century South Carolina politician, seeJames J. Hardy.

J. J. Hardy
Hardy with the Orioles in 2011
Shortstop
Born:(1982-08-19)August 19, 1982 Tucson, Arizona,U.S.
Batted:Right Threw:Right
MLB debut
April 4, 2005, for the Milwaukee Brewers
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 2017, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
Batting average	.256
Home runs	188
Runs batted in	688
Teams
Milwaukee Brewers(2005–2009) Minnesota Twins(2010) Baltimore Orioles(2011–2017)
Career highlights and awards
2×All-Star(2007,2013) 3×Gold Glove Award(2012–2014) Silver Slugger Award(2013) Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame

James Jerry Hardy(born August 19, 1982) is an American former professionalbaseballshortstop.He played inMajor League Baseball(MLB) for theMilwaukee Brewers,Minnesota Twins,andBaltimore Orioles.Hardy attendedSabino High SchoolinTanque Verde, Arizona,where he was an All-State selection from 1999 to 2001 and an All-American selection in 2001. Hardy was originally drafted by theMilwaukee Brewersin the second round of the2001 Major League Baseball Draft.

Early life

Hardy played baseball atSabino High Schoolin 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 thesilver medalinEdmonton,Alberta, Canada.

Baseball career

Milwaukee Brewers

He was drafted by theMilwaukee Brewersduring the second round of the2001 draft.In 2003, he played for the U.S. Olympic Qualifying team. He participated inMLB All-Star Futures Gamein 2003. Hardy suffered a dislocated shoulder and atorn labrumin 2004 in the minor leagues and sat out the year.

2005

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).

2006

On May 16, 2006, Hardy slid intoPhiladelphia PhilliescatcherSal Fasanoat 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.Hardy finished the year with an average of.242 with 5 home runs and 14 RBI.

2007

By June 27, 2007, Hardy had already doubled his career home run total. He ended up batting.277 with 26 home runs, and 80 RBIs. He was selected to play as a reserve in the2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game,held inSan Francisco.He played in the ninth inning and was walked on his first and only plate appearance.

2008

Hardy during his tenure with theMilwaukee Brewersin 2008.

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 thePittsburgh Pirates.For the week of July 7, he was the National League Player of the Week.

2009

Hardy was re-signed by the Brewers to a one-year, $4.65 million contract.After a low-performing season through July, he was optioned to theTriple-ANashville Soundson August 12. His line-drive rate had declined for five consecutive seasons prior to his demotion.He was recalled on September 1 and finished the season batting.229 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI.

Minnesota Twins

On November 6, 2009, Hardy was traded from the Brewers to theMinnesota Twinsin exchange for outfielderCarlos Gómez.He spent some time on the disabled list during the course of the 2010 season, but did end up playing over 100 games for the Twins and hit.268 for the season.

Baltimore Orioles

J.J. Hardy batting for the Orioles

On December 9, 2010, Hardy was traded to theBaltimore Oriolesfrom the Twins, along with utility infielderBrendan Harrisand $500,000, for minor league pitchers Brett Jacobson andJim Hoey.

2011

Hardy had a career resurgence and had a strong 2011 campaign. On July 16, 2011, Hardy agreed on a three-year deal to remain with the Orioles through 2014.Hardy finished the season with 30 home runs and 80 RBI. He also hit.269.

2012

Hardy won his first Gold Glove in 2012 finishing with a.992 fielding percentage, 68 RBIs, 22 home runs, and a.238 batting average. He helped the Orioles to their firstMLB postseasonberth since 1997 with the secondMLB Wild Card Gamespot. The Orioles won the one-game playoff, but lost in the2012 ALDSto theNew York Yankees.

2013

In 2013, Hardy won his second Gold Glove Award and his first Silver Slugger award as the best offensive player at his position. His teammates, third basemanManny Machadoand center fielderAdam Jones,also won 2013 Gold Glove Awards.

From 2011 to 2013, his 77 home runs led all major league shortstops.

2014

In 2014, Hardy battled back injuries and spent time on the DL during the beginning of the season. 2014 also showed a decline in Hardy's power, and he only hit nine homeruns in over 140 games. In the2014 ALDS,Hardy hit a solo homerun off ofDetroit TigerspitcherMax Scherzer,his first career postseason homerun. Hardy slashed.240/.321/.400 in seven postseason games.

JJ Hardy rounds third base after hitting a solo home run in Game 1 of the2014 American League Division Series.

On October 9, 2014, Hardy agreed to a 3-year, $40 million extension with the Orioles.

On November 4, 2014, Hardy won his third consecutive Gold Glove Award for a shortstop.With this award, he passed Orioles greatCal Ripken Jr.for the second-most Gold Gloves won by an Orioles shortstop. He trailsMark Belangerwho won eight of these awards.

2015

Hardy spent the first month of the 2015 season on the DL. He made his season debut on May 7 against the New York Yankees. In his fourth game back, Hardy went 2-for-4 and hit his first homerun of the season.

On July 17, Hardy started a consecutive games hit streak. On July 29, he extended the hit streak to twelve games with a solo homerun. At that point in the streak, he was 13-for-42 (.310), with two homeruns, seven RBIs, and thirteen runs scored. Hardy extended the streak to thirteen with a 2-out single in the sixth inning the next night against the Tigers. On August 2, his streak ended at 15 games after he did not have a hit in a game against the Tigers. During the 15 games, Hardy collected 16 hits (.291 BAA), with two doubles, two homers, seven RBIs, and was walked twice. He raised his season batting average from.226 up to.240 during the stretch.

Hardy finished 2015, a down year for him, with a batting average of.219 (90 hits), 8 homeruns, and 37 RBIs. His defense, however, was solid, as he only committed three errors in 114 games (9942⁄3innings) and 445 total chances. He turned 57 double plays, while also having a.993 fielding percentage with a range factor of 3.88.

2016

After a disappointing 2015 season in which Hardy was plagued with injuries, he hoped to come back healthy for the 2016 season. He entered the second year of his three-year contract. On April 12, Hardy homered twice in one game and drove in five runs in a 9–5 victory over the Boston Red Sox, which helped the Orioles improve to a franchise-best 7-0 record at the time. On May 1, Hardy fouled a ball off of his foot and was later removed from the game. He later got x-rays on his foot and was placed on the 15-day DL.

On August 18, Hardy hit his 100th career home run as an Oriole in a game where he had three hits and two home runs. His 100th homer gave him sole possession of 2nd place on the Orioles all-time list for home runs as a shortstop, behind Oriole legendCal Ripken Jr.who had 345 as a shortstop. It was Hardy's second multi-homer game of the year. On August 22, Hardy picked up his 1,400th career hit. Hardy hit a three-run home run on September 13 against the Red Sox, giving him his 256th extra-base hit as an Oriole, tying him forRick Dempseyfor 25th most in team history. He also tied teammateManny Machadofor 25th on the all-time Orioles home run list.

Hardy finished the season with a.269/.309/.407 slash with a.716 OPS. He collected 38 extra-base hits while driving in 48 runs. He went 0-for-4 in aWild Card Game lossto the AL East rival Toronto Blue Jays.

2017

Hardy entered 2017 healthy and collected his first hit of the season on April 7. On April 12, he surpassed former teammateMatt Wieterson the Orioles all-time hit list and moved into 40th place. On April 16, he moved into 49th place for most runs scored in franchise history. He also tied Wieters for 38th on the all-time franchise leader board for career doubles. On April 20, he surpassed Wieters on the franchise leader board for career doubles with his 158th with the Orioles.

On June 18, Hardy was struck on the wrist by a 94 mph fastball from Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn. It confirmed the next day that he had suffered a broken wrist and was placed on the 10-Day DL. He was moved to the 60-Day DL later in the year before returning to the Orioles in early September. He assumed the role of bench player after the emergence of Tim Beckham, who the Orioles had traded for earlier in the season. On September 24, the final home game of the year for the Orioles, Hardy collected two hits, including a homer, and received three standing ovations from the Orioles crowd in what was his last game as an Oriole at Camden Yards. On November 3, the Orioles declined Hardy's 2018 option.

During his seven year tenure with the Orioles, Hardy played in 889 games, slashing.252/.293/.398 with a.690 OPS. He hit 107 home runs with the club and drove in 385 runs and played a crucial part in the Orioles quest to getting back to the postseason in 2012 for the first time in 14 years. He won three Gold Glove awards, earned a Silver Slugger and made an All-Star Game appearance as a starter in 2013.

Personal life

Hardy's father was a professionaltennisplayer, and his mother was a professionalgolfer.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 duringOperation Iraqi Freedom.

Hardy married formerUniversity of Arizonasoftball player Adrienne Acton on December 7, 2013.They have two sons together and reside inChandler, Arizona,and also own a ranch inMontana.

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orESPN,orBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet