Josh Harrison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Josh Harrison |
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Harrison with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2020
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| Second baseman / Third baseman | ||||||||||||||
| Born: July 8, 1987 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
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| debut | ||||||||||||||
| May 31, 2011, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | ||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | ||||||||||||||
| July 30, 2023, for the Philadelphia Phillies | ||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .270 | |||||||||||||
| Home runs | 73 | |||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 388 | |||||||||||||
| Teams | ||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Joshua Isaiah Harrison (born July 8, 1987) is a former American professional baseball player. He was known as a utility player, which means he was skilled at playing several different positions on the field. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for many teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, and Philadelphia Phillies.
Harrison was chosen for the MLB All-Star Game twice, which is a big honor for a player. He also played for the United States national baseball team. In 2017, he helped Team USA win its first-ever gold medal at the World Baseball Classic tournament.
Contents
Early Life and School Career
Josh Harrison started playing tee ball when he was only three years old. Even before he joined a team, he loved baseball. He would use a fork from the kitchen as a bat and a crumpled piece of paper as a ball. His older brother, Vince, would pitch the paper ball to him.
In high school, Harrison played shortstop at Princeton High School. After graduating, he went to the University of Cincinnati and played college baseball for the Cincinnati Bearcats. In college, he switched to playing second baseman. In 2008, he was so good that he was named the Co-Player of the Year for the Big East Conference.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues
In 2008, the Chicago Cubs selected Harrison in the sixth round of the MLB draft. This was a huge step toward his dream of playing in the major leagues. He was the first player from his university to be drafted so early in ten years.
For the next two years, Harrison played for the Cubs' minor league teams. These teams help players develop their skills before they are ready for the major leagues.
Joining the Pittsburgh Pirates
In 2009, Harrison was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He finally got his chance to play in the major leagues on May 31, 2011. In his first game, he got his first MLB hit against New York Mets pitcher R. A. Dickey.
One of his famous moments came on May 18, 2012. He hit a single in the ninth inning to break up a no-hitter by star pitcher Justin Verlander. A no-hitter is a rare game where a pitcher doesn't allow any hits.
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Becoming an All-Star
The 2014 season was a breakout year for Harrison. He played so well that he was chosen for his first All-Star Game. At the time, he had a .298 batting average and had played five different positions, showing how valuable he was to the team.
He finished the 2014 season with a .315 batting average, which was the second-highest in the National League. He also hit 13 home runs and had 52 runs batted in (RBIs). Because of his great performance, he finished ninth in the voting for the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
In 2015, the Pirates gave him a new four-year contract. He became the team's main third baseman and later their starting second baseman.
Memorable Moments and Injuries
On August 23, 2017, Harrison did something no one in MLB history had ever done before. He broke up a no-hitter in extra innings with a walk-off home run. The game was tied 0-0 in the 10th inning when he hit the home run off pitcher Rich Hill, giving the Pirates a 1–0 victory.
Unfortunately, Harrison also had to deal with injuries. He broke a bone in his left hand in both 2017 and 2018. After the 2018 season, the Pirates let him become a free agent, which meant he could sign with any team.
Playing for Other MLB Teams
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After leaving the Pirates, Harrison played for several different teams. This is common for a utility player, as many teams need a player who can fill in at different positions.
- Detroit Tigers (2019): He signed a one-year deal with the Tigers. He wore the number 1 to honor a famous Tigers player, Lou Whitaker.
- Washington Nationals (2020–2021): Harrison had a good season with the Nationals in 2020 and signed with them again for 2021.
- Oakland Athletics (2021): He was traded to the Athletics during the 2021 season.
- Chicago White Sox (2022): He signed a one-year contract with the White Sox.
- Philadelphia Phillies (2023): He returned to the Phillies for a second time.
- Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds (2023-2024): He signed minor league contracts with these teams but did not play for them in the major leagues.
On May 31, 2025, Harrison announced his retirement from professional baseball, ending a long and successful career.
International Career
Harrison had the honor of representing his country on the United States national baseball team. He played in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, a major international tournament. He was a key part of the team that won the gold medal, the first-ever win for the United States in the event's history.
Personal Life
Harrison comes from a baseball family. His uncle, John Shelby, was also a major league player and coach. His brother, Vince Harrison, played in the minor leagues for over a decade.
Harrison is married to his wife, Brittney, and they have two daughters. He also gives back to his community by running a youth baseball camp in his hometown of Cincinnati.
