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| Dan Haren | |
|---|---|
| Name | Dan Haren |
| Birth date | 7 April 1980 |
| Birth place | Wichita, Kansas |
| Position | Pitcher |
| Bats | Right |
| Throws | Right |
| MLB debut | 6 April 2003 for the St. Louis Cardinals |
| Final game | 29 September 2015 for the Oakland Athletics |
| Teams | * St. Louis Cardinals (2003) * Arizona Diamondbacks (2004–2007) * Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2007) * Florida Marlins (2008) * Oakland Athletics (2009) * Arizona Diamondbacks (2010–2012) * Los Angeles Dodgers (2012) * Washington Nationals (2013–2014) * Oakland Athletics (2015) |
Dan Haren (born April 7, 1980) is an American former professional Baseball pitcher who played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball. Known for his command, pitch sequencing, and durability, he was a three-time All-Star while appearing for franchises including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Nationals, and Oakland Athletics. Haren's career bridged the 2000s and 2010s, overlapping with contemporaries such as CC Sabathia, Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum, and Felix Hernandez.
Haren was born in Wichita, Kansas and grew up in Brentwood, Tennessee where he attended Brentwood High School (Brentwood, Tennessee), competing in high school baseball alongside regional programs connected to USA Baseball pipelines. He played collegiate baseball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, pitching for the North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team coached by Mike Fox. During summers he showcased his abilities in the Cape Cod Baseball League with teams such as the Hyannis Mets and the Wareham Gatemen, joining a lineage of prospects including Buster Posey, Pete Alonso, and Frank Thomas (baseball) alumni. Haren's amateur career drew attention from Major League Baseball scouts, culminating in selection in the MLB draft by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Haren debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003 before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in an offseason deal that later involved players like Emil Brown and Curt Schilling in parallel trades. In Arizona he emerged as a frontline starter from 2005–2006, earning his first All-Star Game selection during a season that aligned with pitchers such as Kerry Wood and Mark Prior in prominence. A midseason trade sent him to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, where he joined teammates including Vladimir Guerrero and Chone Figgins.
Haren signed as a free agent with the Florida Marlins and was subsequently traded to the Oakland Athletics as part of roster moves that echoed the market activity of teams like the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in the same era. Returning to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010, he later joined the Los Angeles Dodgers via trade that featured players linked to the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs farm systems. In 2013 Haren signed with the Washington Nationals, contributing to rotations with Max Scherzer, Gio Gonzalez, and later reuniting with front-office figures who had ties to the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals organizations. He finished his MLB tenure with a final stint at the Oakland Athletics in 2015 before retiring and moving into baseball analysis and front-office advisory roles, interacting with media outlets such as MLB Network and teams like the Los Angeles Angels in consulting capacities.
Haren was a right-handed sinker/fastball pitcher who relied on command, changing speeds, and strategic sequencing rather than overpowering velocity like contemporaries Aroldis Chapman, Craig Kimbrel, or Justin Verlander. His repertoire included a two-seam fastball, four-seam fastball, cutter, curveball, changeup, and occasionally a slider; he employed analytics and scouting input from organizations such as Baseball Prospectus and Fangraphs to refine usage. Statistically Haren amassed over 1,500 innings pitched, recorded more than 100 career wins, and posted multiple seasons with earned run average marks under 3.50; his 2006–2007 stretch placed him among leaders in innings and quality starts alongside Jon Lester, Cole Hamels, and Johan Santana. Advanced metrics credited his ground-ball tendencies and walk rates, drawing analysis comparing him to pitchers like Tim Hudson and Bronson Arroyo.
Haren's postseason appearances included starts in both Division Series and Wild Card contexts, pitching in matchups against teams such as the San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Diego Padres. While he did not appear on a World Series–winning roster, his postseason outings intersected with notable playoff campaigns involving players like Madison Bumgarner, Ryan Howard, Adrian Gonzalez, and managers such as Bruce Bochy and Joe Maddon. Internationally, Haren participated in exhibition series and spring training matchups that involved national programs including Team USA and clubs from Nippon Professional Baseball, contributing to cross-league scouting dialogues tied to international tournaments like the World Baseball Classic.
Off the field Haren has been involved in player development, broadcasting, and charitable initiatives. He has worked with media platforms such as ESPN, Fox Sports, and MLB Network as an analyst, and provided scouting consultation to front offices including Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels affiliates. Haren has participated in community programs and youth baseball clinics connected with organizations like Little League Baseball and regional charities in Arizona and California. He is married and has family ties that have been part of local philanthropic efforts, often collaborating with teammates turned broadcasters such as Kevin Millar and Kenny Lofton in alumni events.
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Baseball players from Kansas Category:Living people Category:1980 births