Jump to content

J. P. France

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

J. P. France
Image
France with the Houston Astros in 2024
San Diego Padres
Pitcher
Born: (1995-04-04) April 4, 1995 (age 31)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 6, 2023, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
(through April 17, 2026)
Win–loss record12–9
Earned run average4.49
Strikeouts132
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

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

Amateur career

[edit]

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

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

[edit]

Houston Astros

[edit]

Minor leagues

[edit]

France was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 14th round, with the 432nd overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[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 did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]

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.[6][7] 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.[8] On November 15, 2022, the Astros added France to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[9]

France was optioned to the Triple-A Sugar Land to begin the 2023 season.[10] 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

[edit]

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.[11] He earned his first major league win on May 12, 2023, versus the Chicago White Sox, yielding one run over 6+2⁄3 innings.[12] 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.[13] He made 24 appearances (23 starts) during his rookie campaign, compiling an 11–6 record and 3.83 ERA with 101 strikeouts across 136+1⁄3 innings pitched.

France began the 2024 campaign out of Houston's rotation, struggling to a 7.46 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 5 starts. On June 26, 2024, it was announced that France would undergo season–ending shoulder surgery.[14]

On August 21, 2025, France was activated from the injured list to make his season debut and return from surgery.[15] He made two appearances for Houston, recording a 2.25 ERA with one win and five strikeouts over four innings of work.

On January 29, 2026, France was designated for assignment by the Astros following the acquisition of Kai-Wei Teng.[16] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Sugar Land on February 5.[17] France had his contract selected on April 10 after Cristian Javier was placed on the injured list.[18][19] On April 18, France has been designated for assignment again by the Astros when the team claimed Dustin Harris off waivers.[20][21] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Sugar Land on April 20.[22] In 29 appearances for the Space Cowboys, France compiled a 1–3 record and 3.72 ERA with 39 strikeouts across 36+1⁄3 innings pitched. France was released by the Astros organization on July 30.[23]

San Diego Padres

[edit]

On August 2, 2026, France signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres.[24]

References

[edit]
  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. ↑ Kellenberger, Hugh (June 6, 2018). "Here's who from Mississippi was selected in final rounds of MLB Draft". The Clarion-Ledger. 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. ↑ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "J.P. France - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  9. ↑ Franco, Anthony (November 15, 2022). "Astros Select J.P. France". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Astros' J.P. France: Sent to minor-league camp". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Astros' J.P. France: Coming up from Triple-A". CBSSports.com. May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ Axisa, Mike (June 26, 2024). "Astros surge to .500 record with seven-game winning streak, but J.P. France out for year with shoulder surgery". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  15. ↑ McDonald, Darragh (August 21, 2025). "Astros Reinstate, Option J.P. France". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  16. ↑ McTaggart, Brian; Greenspan, Jared (January 29, 2026). "Astros land Teng in trade with SF as they continue to revamp pitching staff". MLB.com. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Astros Outright J.P. France". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Astros Select J.P. France, Taylor Trammell". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  19. ↑ McTaggart, Brian. "Astros place Peña (hamstring), Imai (arm fatigue) on IL, recall France, Gordon". MLB.com. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  20. ↑ MLB.com (April 18, 2026). "Latest Astros injuries & transactions". MLB.com. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  21. ↑ Postins, Matt (April 18, 2026). "Astros Choose Rival's Cast-Off Over Pitching Depth in Latest Move". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Astros Outright J.P. France". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Astros To Release J.P. France". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Padres Sign J.P. France To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=J._P._France&oldid=1373950891"