J.P. France #68

His first name, J.P., stands for Jonathan Patrick...Attended Archbishop Shaw HS in Marrero, LA, graduating in 2013...was a four-year letterman at Archbishop Shaw and was First Team All-State, All-District and All-Metro as a junior and senior...posted a 7-1 record with a 0.37 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 64.1 innings as a senior...Went undrafted and went on to attend Tulane, where pitched for three years (2014-17), missing the 2015 season due to injury...while at Tulane, earned his undergraduate degree in Homeland Security...Transferred to Mississippi State in 2018 as a graduate transfer...worked as a multi-inning reliever at MSU... helped the Bulldogs clinch an NCAA Super Regional berth by throwing 7.0 innings of two-run ball vs. Oklahoma in the Tallahassee Regional...MSU went on to the College World Series, losing in the Semifinals to Oregon State...Following his 2018 season, selected by the Astros in the 14th round of the June 2018 Draft...signed by Astros scout Travis Coleman...Was a first-time non-roster invite to Major League Spring Training in 2022...played the entire 2022 season in the Minors before being added to the Astros 40-man roster on Nov. 15, 2022.

2022

Had a solid 2022 campaign in which he went 3-4 with a 3.90 ERA (48ER/110.2IP) in 34 games (15 starts) for Triple A Sugar Land...struck out 136 hitters in his 110.2 innings, while allowing a .233 opponent average...began his season working in the rotation or making multi-inning piggyback appearances...moved to a traditional relief role in late Aug., finishing his season with 12 consecutive relief appearances of 2.0-or-fewer innings...posted a 2.31 ERA (3ER/11.2IP) in nine relief appearances in Sept.

2021

Appeared in 18 games for the A's in Major League Spring Training in 2021, all as a call up from minor league camp...hit .250 (3x12) with two doubles and five RBI in Major League action...began the regular season at Triple-A Las Vegas, playing in 18 games... hit the minor league IL on June 11 and missed over a month...returned to action for the AZL Athletics, playing in four games on a minor league rehab assignment...activated from the IL and finished his season at Double-A Midland, playing in 41 games for the RockHounds...hit .243 (35x144) with seven doubles, seven homers and 17 RBI at the Double-A level...following the regular season, played for Caguas in the Puerto Rican Winter League, hitting .172 (15x87) with six homers and 17 RBI in 27 regular season games...also played in 11 postseason games for Caguas, hitting .209 (9x43) with two homers and seven RBI.

2020

Did not appear in a regular season game in 2020 do to the cancellation of the minor league season.

2019

Pitched the entire 2019 season at Class A Advanced Fayetteville, working mostly as a starter...started 20 games and made five relief appearances...marked his first season back in a starters role since his 2016 season at Tulane.

2018

Made his professional debut in 2018 for Short-Season Class A Tri-City, making six appearances... later promoted to Class A Quad Cities...combined to go 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA (1ER/18IP) with 28 strikeouts in 18.0 innings pitched...allowed a .164 opponent batting average and a 0.89 WHIP.