J.J. Hardy, Shortstop


Date of Birth: 8/19/1982
Birthplace: Tucson, Arizona

JJ Hardy, shortstop, was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2001. He didn't get a start in the major leagues until 2005, having played in the minors from 2001 through 2003 and sitting out the 2004 season due to injuries. In his first season as the starting shortstop for the Milwaukee Brewers, Hardy batted .247 and had 92 hits, 22 doubles, and 9 home runs in 124 games. The following season, Hardy was again injured and he played in just 35 games in 2006.

At the end of the 2008 season, Hardy signed a one-year contract with the Brewers. The 2009 season was far from his best and he spent part of August in the minors. His batting average that season was just .229, with 95 hits, 16 doubles, and 11 home runs in 115 games. After the season ended, the Brewers traded Hardy to the Minnesota Twins.

Hardy improved in 2010 and he ended the season with a .268 batting average, with 91 hits and 19 doubles in 101 games. His efforts, however, were not good enough for the Twins ownership and Hardy was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in December, 2010.

Hardy has played better since joining the Orioles and they rewarded him in July, 2011, with a three-year contract. In 2012, he showed his fielding skills and won a Gold Glove for having just 6 errors in 158 games. Hardy won his second Gold Glove and his first Silver Slugger award in 2013. That season, he batted .263 with 158 hits, 27 doubles, 25 home runs, and 76 RBIs in 159 games.

Hardy finished the 2014 season with 142 hits, 28 doubles, and a .268 batting average in 141 games. In the postseason, he had 6 hits, including 1 double and 1 home run, and 3 RBIs in 25 at-bats in 7 games.

Hardy won his third consecutive Gold Glove in 2014. In 141 games at shortstop, he had a .978 fielding percentage with 394 assists, 99 double plays, 187 putouts, and 13 errors.

On October 9, 2014, Hardy signed a three-year, $40 million contract extension with the Orioles. He started the 2015 season on the DL and he didn't join the Orioles until May 7th. He finished the season with 90 hits, 14 doubles, 37 RBIs, and a .219 batting average in 114 games. As a shortstop, he made 301 assists, 57 double plays, 141 putouts, and 3 errors in 114 games.

Hardy again spent time on the DL in 2016, playing in just 115 games with the Orioles. He finished the season with 109 hits, 29 doubles, 48 RBIs, and a .269 batting average. Defensively, as a shortstop, he made 326 assists, 80 double plays, 140 putouts, and 6 errors in 115 games.

Hardy spent half of the 2017 season on the DL. In 73 games with the Orioles, he batted just .217 with 55 hits and 13 doubles. Defensively, as the Orioles' shortstop in 71 games, he made 200 assists, 48 double plays, 86 putouts, and 5 errors. He had a .983 fielding percentage.

Hardy became a free agent on November 3, 2017. He hasn't played professional baseball since 2017.

Career batting statistics for Hardy through 2017 include:

  • 1,561 games played
  • 1,488 hits
  • 291 doubles
  • 188 home runs
  • 688 RBIs
  • 960 strikeouts to 411 walks
  • .256 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Hardy at shortstop through 2017 include:

  • 1,544 games played
  • 4,340 assists
  • 953 double plays
  • 2,089 putouts
  • 110 errors
  • .983 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - J.J. Hardy
ESPN Sports - J.J. Hardy