J. P. France

Jonathan Patrick France (born April 4, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). France was selected in the 14th round of the 2018 MLB draft by the Astros, and made his MLB debut in 2023.

J. P. France
Houston Astros – No. 68
Pitcher
Born: (1995-04-04) April 4, 1995
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 6, 2023, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record11–6
Earned run average3.83
Strikeouts101
Teams

Amateur career

J. P. France grew up in Luling, Louisiana, and attended Archbishop Shaw High School.

France enrolled at Tulane University, where he played college baseball for the Green Wave. He missed his sophomore season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and used a medical redshirt. As a redshirt junior, France produced a 5–5 win–loss record (W–L) with a 3.84 earned run average (ERA) and 73 strikeouts over 96 innings pitched (IP), and 13–12 W–L, 4.01 ERA in his career overall with the Green Wave. After the season, he transferred to Mississippi State University (MSU) to play for the Bulldogs in his final year of eligibility.[1]

Professional career

Minor leagues

France was selected in the 14th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft by the Houston Astros.[2] After signing with the team he was assigned to the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York–Penn League and was moved to the bullpen and was later promoted to the Single-A Quad Cities River Bandits.[3] France spent the 2019 season with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers of the High-A Carolina League, where he was used primarily as a starting pitcher.[4] He was assigned to the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks prior to the start of the 2021 season before being promoted to the Triple-A Sugar Land Skeeters.[5][6]

In 2022, France spent the year with the Triple–A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. In 34 appearances (15 starts), he registered a 3–4 record and 3.90 ERA with 136 strikeouts and 3 saves in 110+2⁄3 innings pitched.[7] France was optioned to the Triple-A Sugar Land to begin the 2023 season.[8] In 5 appearances (3 starts) for Sugar Land, he logged a 2–1 record and 2.33 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 19+1⁄3 innings pitched.

Major leagues

On May 5, 2023, the Astros announced that France would be promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his major league debut the next day against the Seattle Mariners.[9] He earned his first major league win on May 12, 2023, versus the Chicago White Sox, yielding one run over 6+2⁄3 innings.[10] France made his first career relief appearance on August 6, allowing an unearned run in 3+1⁄2 innings and was the winning pitcher in a 9–7 win over the New York Yankees.[11]

References
  1. Swindoll, Gene (June 22, 2017). "Tulane RHP JP France transferring to MSU". 247Sports. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  2. "Here's who from Mississippi was selected in final rounds of MLB Draft". The Clarion-Ledger. June 6, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  3. "JP France is having early success out of the bullpen for the Tri City ValleyCats". The Record. July 25, 2018. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  4. "France, Torres hurl Woodpeckers past Blue Rocks". The Dispatch. May 30, 2019. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  5. "Hooks' France, Kessinger show promise in team's first win". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. May 6, 2021. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  6. "Skeeters' France named Triple-A West pitcher of the week". Fort Bend Herald and Texas Coaster. August 5, 2021. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  7. "J.P. France - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  8. "Astros' J.P. France: Sent to minor-league camp". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  9. "Astros' J.P. France: Coming up from Triple-A". CBSSports.com. May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  10. Lerner, Danielle (May 13, 2023). "Pregame poker, postgame beer shower and a defining curveball for Astros rookie J.P. France". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  11. "Meyers hits pair of 3-run HRs and Astros go deep 4 times to beat Yankees 9–7 for a 4-game split". ESPN.com. Associated Press. August 6, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
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