J.R. House #40

Makes his off-season home in Daytona Beach, FL...Graduated from Seabreeze HS in Ormond Beach, FL, where he earned All-State honors in baseball...Also attended Nitro HS in Charleston, WV, for the fall semesters where he played quarterback on the football team...Threw for a total of 14,457 yards in his scholastic career to set a then-national high school record (since broken in 2002 by Ben Mauk, who threw for 17,534 yards in his career with Kenton (OH) HS)...Also set a national mark by throwing 10 touchdown passes in a 69-52 win over Morgantown in the 1998 West Virginia Class-AAA championship game, leading Nitro to a 14-0 record...Passed for 5,528 yards and 65 touchdowns his senior year... Earned the Kennedy Award, West Virginia's "Mr. Football" award, in both 1996 and 1998...Played baseball at Seabreeze HS in Florida because his father, Roger House, a former pitcher for Marshall University, has dual residency... Signed a letter of intent to play football at West Virginia University before being drafted by Pittsburgh in the 5th round of the 1999 First Year Player Draft...Was signed by Pirates scout Rob Sidwell.

2007

Began the season with the AAA Norfolk Tides and batted .295 (123-417) with 10 HR & 63 RBI in 109 games...Appeared in 19 games for the Orioles...The Orioles were 1-4 in games he started behind the plate...Played 50 games at catcher, 24 at 1B and 35 as DH at Norfolk...Threw out 24.3% of attempted base stealers (18-74)...Was voted starting catcher for the International League in the Triple-A All-Star Game on July 11...Went 0-for-2 in the game...Contract was selected by the Orioles on August 13 from Norfolk...Flied out as PH on August 14 at New York in his Orioles debut...Went 2-for-4 with a solo home run on August 18 at Toronto in his first start, hitting his first major league homer, a solo shot off Jesse Litsch...Hit his third home run of the season in his final at-bat of the year against New York on September 30.

2006

Returned to professional baseball after taking the 2005 season off to play college football...Signed with Houston and combined to bat .345 (170-493) in 128 games between AA Corpus Christi and AAA Round Rock...Led Astros minor leaguers in batting and was 2nd with 105 RBI...Also had 30 doubles, 2 triples, 15 homers and 83 runs scored...Led all catchers and was 8th among all minor leaguers in batting...Was 4th in the minors in hits (170), 8th in RBI, and tied for first in sacrifice flies (12)...Played 4 games for Houston after his contract was purchased August 20 from Round Rock...Made two starts for the Astros, one at first base and one at catcher...Spent most of season at Corpus Christi after signing with the Astros organization on January 25...Had not played pro baseball since the 2004 season after spending the previous year in college at West Virginia University...Ranked 4th in the Texas League with a .325 batting average and was named to the TL All-Star team...At Corpus Christi, his average never fell below .318 after going 2-for-8 in his first two games of the season... Hit safely in his first 18 games of the season, April 6-24, batting .416 (32-77) with 8 doubles, 3 homers and 17 RBI...Had 2 solo homers on June 16 at Frisco...Was promoted to Round Rock on July 28, going 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter that night...Began a 12-game hitting streak the next night, batting .537 (29-54) with 11 doubles, 2 homers and 18 RBI...Went 5-for-6 with 3 doubles on August 9 at Salt Lake City...Was named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week for July 31-August 6 and was Topps' Texas League Player of the Month for August after hitting .417 (35-84) with 29 RBI...Started at first base on August 23 at Cincinnati, going 0-for-3...Started the next night at catcher at Pittsburgh...Allowed one stolen base and one passed ball in 12.0 innings behind the plate with Houston.

2005

Did not play baseball...appeared in two games at quarterback for the West Virginia University, making two completions for 38 yards...entered the university as a freshman business major and No. 3 quarterback...underwent shoulder surgery on Feb. 22, 2005 to repair two tears in his right labrum and another in his rotator cuff (Dr. James Andrews)...granted his unconditional release on March 8.

2004

Spent majority of season with Nashville (AAA)...Made 63 appearances behind the plate, 19 @first base and five in left field...Also went 3-for-11 (.272) with a solo homer in three games as the designated hitter...Led Sounds with five four-RBI games...Made first career appearance in the outfield when he played left field on 4/9 vs. Colorado Springs...Made two starts in left field (4/21 vs. Albuquerque and 5/23 @Sacramento)...Homered in three straight games from 4/20-22...Hit first of three grand slams on 4/21 vs. Albuquerque...Became the fourth player in Nashville history to have two grand slams in a season when he hit his second in six games on 4/27 vs. Oklahoma...Hit .404 (19-for-47) from 5/11 thru 6/11...Had third four-RBI game on 5/16 vs. Portland (game one)...Became the second player (also Tike Redman in 2001) in the 27-year history of the Sounds to hit for the cycle after accomplishing the feat in his first four at bats on 5/21 @Sacramento...Was named the Pacific Coast League Batter-of-the-Week for the week of 5/17-23 after hitting .526 (10-for-19) with three doubles, a triple, two home runs, five RBI and a 1.105 slugging percentage...Was placed on the disabled list on 5/26 with a left knee sprain...Hit .339 (20-for-59) with four homers and 12 RBI in 18 games during the month of May...Returned to action on 6/6 in pinch hit appearance and made return to starting lineup on 6/10. ...Went 0-for-19 in seven-game span from 6/12-18...Made first of 15 starts @first base on 6/20 vs. Albuquerque...Became the first player in Sounds history to hit three grand slams in a single season when he smacked his third on 6/24 @Iowa...Was recalled by Pittsburgh on 7/15...Made first appearance with the Pirates on 7/19 vs. Montreal and struck out as a pinch hitter...Made first major league start behind the plate on 7/22 @Atlanta and went hitless in three at bats...Collected only hit of the season on 7/24; a double off Cincinnati's Danny Graves (first major league extra-base hit)...Was optioned back to Nashville on 8/2...Hit .370 (30-for-81) with 10 multi-game efforts in final 23 Triple-A games, raising average from .260 to season-ending .288...Batted .360 against left-handed pitchers and .259 against right-handed pitchers while playing with Nashville...Was recalled by Pittsburgh on 9/7...Grounded out as a pinch hitter @Chicago on 9/13 and made second start at catcher with the Pirates on 9/19 vs. New York (game two).

2003

Was a member of Pittsburgh's 40-man roster for the second consecutive year...Missed the first three and a half months after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right elbow on 9/10...Began his rehabilitation assignment with Bradenton (Rookie) on 7/18...Made 11 appearances as the designated hitter and nine as catcher with Bradenton...Compiled a 10-game hit streak from 7/20-30, going 14-for-34 (.412)...Went 3-for-6 with two doubles, a home run and five RBI on 8/4 @Phillies...Homered in his final three games with the Baby Bucs and drove in 11 runs in his last four contests...Hit .524 (11-for-21) in six games in August...Was reinstated from his rehab assignment on 8/8 and was assigned to Altoona (AA)...Made nine appearances behind the plate and eight as the designated hitter with Altoona...Failed to throw out any of the 11 baserunners attempting to steal against him while with Altoona...Singled as a pinch hitter in his first game with the Curve on 8/8 vs. Harrisburg...Hit safely in nine of his first 10 Eastern League contests...Went 3-for-3 with two doubles on 8/19 vs. Bowie...Collected three hits and four RBI on 8/22 @Bowie...Clubbed first home run with Curve on 8/27 vs. Reading...Belted a solo home run on 8/30 vs. Erie...Went 3-for-13 (.231) with two RBI in Altoona's first-round playoff loss to Akron (Indians)...Joined Nashville (AAA) for the Championship Series of the Pacific Coast League playoffs following the Curve's elimination...Went 2-for-6 in three games with the Sounds...Was recalled by Pittsburgh on 9/22...Made his major league debut as a pinch hitter on 9/27 @Chicago (game two) and singled off the Cubs' Matt Clement...Participated in the Arizona Fall League and batted .338 (25-for-74) with 10 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 20 RBI in 21 games with Mesa...Hit safely in each of his last 10 games, going 17-for-37 (.459) with four homers and 15 RBI...Went 5-for-5 on 11/11.

2002

Entire season was plagued by abdominal injuries ... Played in 10 games with Altoona (AA) before undergoing two surgeries to repair an abdominal muscle pull and a hernia ... Hit .243 (9-for-37) in those first 10 games thru 4/17 ... Was assigned to Bradenton on 8/3 and hit safely in four of his five rehab games ... Hit solo home run against the Rangers on 8/6 ... Made three appearances at catcher and one at first base (8/8) while playing with Bradenton ... Returned to Altoona on 8/10 and batted .278 (15-for-54) in final 20 games ... Collected the game-winning hit in his first game back on 8/10 vs. Harrisburg ... Homered on 8/14 at Reading and 8/16 at Akron ... Made a total of 20 appearances behind the plate with Altoona and went 3-for-16 (.188) in five games as the designated hitter ... Underwent reconstructive surgery on his right elbow on 9/10.

Notes: (thru 2002)

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Pirates' 5th round selection in 1999 June free agent draft

ML SERVICE: None

CONTRACT: Signed thru 2003

Participated in the 2001 Major League Baseball Futures Game in Seattle.

2001 Eastern League mid-season All-Star.

Rated by Baseball America as Pittsburgh's top prospect prior to 2001 and 2002 season.

South Atlantic League co-MVP in 2000 and post-season All-Star.

His four-year minor league totals include a .302 average (355-for-1177), 43 home runs and 195 RBI in 320 games.

Each of his last three seasons have been interrupted by injury.

Has made 211 appearances behind the plate, 42 at first base and four at third base in his minor league career.

Has hit safely in 224 of his 320 games (70%) with 97 multi-hit efforts.

He has also reached base safely in 80% of the games in which he has played (255-of-320).

2001

Was a spring training non-roster invitee with Pittsburgh...Spent entire season with Altoona (AA)...Led club in RBI and tied for second in home runs despite spending two stints on the D.L. due to strained left rib cage muscles...Made a total of 88 appearances behind the plate and 12 at first base...Also went 4-for-38 (.105) in 10 games as the designated hitter...Had 14 passed balls, made six errors and threw out 25 of the 104 baserunners attempting to steal against him (24%)...Hit safely in nine of his first 11 games and in 15 of his first 19 thru 5/1...Hit first Double-A home run on 4/14 vs. Erie...Produced eight-game hitting streak from 4/9-16 (10-for-31, .323)...Was on disabled list with rib injury from 4/25-30...Started the first triple play in Altoona history on 5/2 vs. Harrisburg (2-6-4 if you're scoring)...Was sidelined again from 5/8-21 with rib injury...Hit game-winning, 9th-inning homer in 4-3 victory at Bowie on 6/12 and went 4-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI the following night at Bowie...Set Curve record for most consecutive at bats with an extra-base hit (five) on 6/12-13 (three homers, two doubles)...Batted .330 (32-for-97) in 26 games during the month of June...Swiped third professional base on 6/17 at Erie...Selected to play for the U.S. Team in the Futures Game at Seattle on 7/8 (grounded into double play as a pinch hitter in lone at bat)...Named Eastern League's Player-of-the-Week (6/11-17) after batting .333 (8-for-24) with three homers and six RBI...Selected to the National League squad for the Double-A All-Star Game on 7/11 (started the game behind the plate and went 0-for-1 with a walk and a run scored as a batter)...Homered just once (8/13) in his final 40 games...Participated in the Arizona Fall League and hit .271 (35-for-129) with three home runs, 16 RBI and a team-leading 11 doubles in 37 games with Maryvale.

2000...
Spent entire season with Hickory (A)...Led South Atlantic League in hitting and home runs, but fell eight RBI shy of winning the Triple Crown...Ranked fifth among all minor league players in batting ... His 90 RBI ranked fourth among the league leaders...Also paced the circuit with a .586 slugging percentage and tied for third with a .414 on-base percentage ... Was named the South Atlantic League's co-Most Valuable Player (shared award with Charleston's Josh Hamilton) and was selected to the post-season All-Star team...Participated in the league's home run derby...Missed nearly the entire month of July due to a bout with mononucleosis...Made 77 appearances behind the plate and threw out 27 of the 101 baserunners attempting to steal against him (27%) ... Had 14 passed balls ... Also made five appearances at first base and hit .365 (35-for-96) in 25 games as the designated hitter ... Hit safely in 83 of his 110 games and tallied 46 multi-hit contests...Hit two home runs in a game on three separate occasions (5/12 at Charleston, 6/9 vs. Cape Fear and 9/4 at Augusta)...Batted .396 (19-for-48) and recorded 17 RBI in his first 13 games ... Had five-RBI game on 4/28 at Macon ... Hit grand slam on 5/12 at Charleston-WV and picked up second career stolen base in the same game ... Produced season-high 16-game hitting streak between 8/15 and 9/1, going 28-for-69 (.406)...Homered in three consecutive games on two occasions; from 5/3-5 (three home runs and five RBI) and from 6/7-9 (four home runs and eight RBI) ... Went 5-for-8 in his final two games and homered in his final contest on 9/4 at Augusta.

1999...
Spent time with three clubs during the year; Bradenton (R), Williamsport (A) and Hickory...Hit .313 (70-for-224) with six home runs and 36 RBI in 63 games with the three clubs ... Went hitless in his professional debut, but then hit safely in eight straight games from 6/22 thru 7/1 (10-for-28, .357)...Hit two home runs against the Orioles on 7/1...Swiped first professional base on 7/10. ... Finished his stay in Bradenton with a 10-game hitting streak from 7/19-29 (16-for-38, .421); streak included three-hit games in each of his final two appearances...Made 16 appearances at first base, nine behind the plate and three at third base while playing in the Gulf Coast League ... Threw out 9 of the 22 runners attempting to steal against him (41%) ... Led Bradenton in home runs ... Went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI in his first game with Williamsport on 8/3...Recorded his second 10-game hitting streak of the year from 8/15-25 (15-for-42, .357)...Had a season-high four hits on 8/21 at Mahoning Valley, including a double, home run, three runs scored and three RBI...Made 14 appearances behind the plate and threw out 8-of-25 baserunners attempting to steal against him (32%) ... Also made eight appearances at first base ... Finished the season by appearing in four games with Hickory from 9/1-6. ...Went 2-for-3 in his first game with the Crawdads on 9/1 and just 1-for-8 in his other three...Made one defensive appearance while playing with Hickory; at third base on 9/2 (other three as the DH).

2000

Spent entire season with Hickory (A)...Led South Atlantic League in hitting and home runs, but fell eight RBI shy of winning the Triple Crown...Ranked fifth among all minor league players in batting ... His 90 RBI ranked fourth among the league leaders...Also paced the circuit with a .586 slugging percentage and tied for third with a .414 on-base percentage ... Was named the South Atlantic League's co-Most Valuable Player (shared award with Charleston's Josh Hamilton) and was selected to the post-season All-Star team...Participated in the league's home run derby...Missed nearly the entire month of July due to a bout with mononucleosis...Made 77 appearances behind the plate and threw out 27 of the 101 baserunners attempting to steal against him (27%) ... Had 14 passed balls ... Also made five appearances at first base and hit .365 (35-for-96) in 25 games as the designated hitter ... Hit safely in 83 of his 110 games and tallied 46 multi-hit contests...Hit two home runs in a game on three separate occasions (5/12 at Charleston, 6/9 vs. Cape Fear and 9/4 at Augusta)...Batted .396 (19-for-48) and recorded 17 RBI in his first 13 games ... Had five-RBI game on 4/28 at Macon ... Hit grand slam on 5/12 at Charleston-WV and picked up second career stolen base in the same game ... Produced season-high 16-game hitting streak between 8/15 and 9/1, going 28-for-69 (.406)...Homered in three consecutive games on two occasions; from 5/3-5 (three home runs and five RBI) and from 6/7-9 (four home runs and eight RBI) ... Went 5-for-8 in his final two games and homered in his final contest on 9/4 at Augusta.

1999

Spent time with three clubs during the year; Bradenton (R), Williamsport (A) and Hickory...Hit .313 (70-for-224) with six home runs and 36 RBI in 63 games with the three clubs ... Went hitless in his professional debut, but then hit safely in eight straight games from 6/22 thru 7/1 (10-for-28, .357)...Hit two home runs against the Orioles on 7/1...Swiped first professional base on 7/10. ... Finished his stay in Bradenton with a 10-game hitting streak from 7/19-29 (16-for-38, .421); streak included three-hit games in each of his final two appearances...Made 16 appearances at first base, nine behind the plate and three at third base while playing in the Gulf Coast League ... Threw out 9 of the 22 runners attempting to steal against him (41%) ... Led Bradenton in home runs ... Went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI in his first game with Williamsport on 8/3...Recorded his second 10-game hitting streak of the year from 8/15-25 (15-for-42, .357)...Had a season-high four hits on 8/21 at Mahoning Valley, including a double, home run, three runs scored and three RBI...Made 14 appearances behind the plate and threw out 8-of-25 baserunners attempting to steal against him (32%) ... Also made eight appearances at first base ... Finished the season by appearing in four games with Hickory from 9/1-6. ...Went 2-for-3 in his first game with the Crawdads on 9/1 and just 1-for-8 in his other three...Made one defensive appearance while playing with Hickory; at third base on 9/2 (other three as the DH).