Eric Michael Haase Bio
Eric Michael Haase is an American professional baseball catcher who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians / Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Francisco Giants. Born on December 18, 1992, in Detroit, Michigan, Haase has built a reputation as a power-hitting catcher capable of changing a game with one swing. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2011 and has since accumulated 52 career home runs and 169 runs batted in across his MLB tenure. Known for his defensive skills behind the plate and his ability to deliver clutch hits, Haase has contributed to several memorable moments throughout his career, including catching a no-hitter and earning American League Rookie of the Month honors.
Early Life and Background
Haase was born on December 18, 1992, in Detroit, Michigan, to Don and Lori Haase. He grew up in the Detroit suburb of Westland, where his passion for baseball developed at an early age. His father played a significant role in his development by converting a 12-car pole barn into a practice batting cage, allowing Haase to hone his hitting skills at home. The family were devoted fans of the Detroit Tigers, and Haase admired catcher Lance Parrish while growing up.
Haase attended Divine Child High School in Dearborn, Michigan. As a freshman in 2008, he did not initially make the varsity team but was added to the roster when the team reached the state playoffs. He earned his first state championship that year, primarily serving as a courtesy runner. Haase won another state championship with Divine Child as a junior in 2010, this time playing predominantly at third base and batting .454 with eight home runs, 15 doubles, and 47 runs batted in. During his senior year, Gatorade named him Michigan High School Baseball Player of the Year. He was also honored as Michigan’s Mr. Baseball in 2011 after batting .495 with 14 home runs and 54 runs batted in.
Path to Professional Baseball
Despite receiving offers to play college baseball for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Haase chose to pursue his professional dreams. The Cleveland Indians selected him out of high school in the seventh round, 218th overall, of the 2011 MLB Draft. He accepted a $580,000 signing bonus, forgoing his college commitment. Primarily drafted as a catcher, the team also expressed interest in developing his skills at third base.
Haase began his professional career in the Rookie-level Arizona Fall League, where he made an immediate impact by batting .300 in limited action. He spent the majority of the 2012 season in the Arizona League, hitting .282 with three home runs and 22 runs batted in. His 2013 season with the Single-A Lake County Captains saw him hit 14 home runs in 104 games, demonstrating the power potential that would define his career. During the 2013-14 offseason, Haase dedicated himself to strength training and improving his defensive abilities behind the plate.
Eric Michael Haase Career
Minor League Development (2011–2018)
Haase steadily progressed through Cleveland’s minor league system over several seasons. After starting 2014 with Lake County, he received a midseason call-up to the Double-A Carolina Mudcats, where he appeared in 16 games. The following year, he played for the Lynchburg Hillcats and experienced a breakthrough moment on June 11, 2015, when he hit a walk-off home run in the 10th inning against the Wilmington Blue Rocks. In 90 games that season, Haase batted .247 with nine home runs and 55 runs batted in, throwing out 31 percent of attempted base stealers defensively.
He spent the 2016 season with the Double-A Akron RubberDucks, hitting 12 home runs and 33 runs batted in. In 2017, Haase split time between Akron and the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, combining to hit 27 home runs and 61 runs batted in. His strong performance earned him a spot on Cleveland’s 40-man roster on November 6, 2017, protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft. In 2018, he played for Columbus, hitting .236 with 20 home runs and 71 runs batted in, which earned him his first major league promotion.
Cleveland Indians Debut (2018–2019)
The Indians promoted Haase to the major leagues for the first time on September 1, 2018, and he made his MLB debut the following day. He appeared in 16 major league at-bats during his debut stint, batting .125. In 2019, Haase began the season with Columbus and earned another September call-up. He hit his first major league home run on September 28, 2019, during a game against the Chicago White Sox. Overall, he went 1-for-16 with one home run and three runs batted in across 10 appearances for Cleveland that season.
Detroit Tigers Era (2020–2023)
On January 8, 2020, Cleveland traded Haase to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for cash considerations. After being part of the Tigers’ taxi squad during the shortened 2020 season, he was recalled in September and appeared in seven games, batting .176. Following the 2020 season, Haase was designated for assignment, cleared waivers, and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo in January 2021.
Haase earned his way back to the majors in May 2021 and made an immediate impact. On May 17, he hit his first career multi-homer game, blasting a pair of solo home runs against the Seattle Mariners. The very next night, he caught Spencer Turnbull’s no-hitter against the Mariners, marking the eighth no-hitter in Tigers history. On July 27, Haase hit his first career grand slam off Hansel Robles of the Minnesota Twins, tying the game in the ninth inning before Detroit won in the 11th. Notably, this marked the first time in MLB history that opposing catchers hit grand slams in the same game. For his efforts, Haase was named American League Rookie of the Month for July, becoming the first Tiger to win that award since 2010. He finished 2021 with 22 home runs, 61 runs batted in, and a .231 batting average in 98 games.
In 2022, Haase made his first Opening Day roster. On Opening Day, April 8, he hit a game-tying ninth-inning home run against the Chicago White Sox. On July 25, he hit his second career grand slam, this time off Sean Manaea of the San Diego Padres. On September 7 against the Los Angeles Angels, Haase recorded his first career five-hit game, going 5-for-5 with two singles, two doubles, and a home run. The 2023 season proved more challenging as he struggled to a .201 average with four home runs and 26 runs batted in in 86 games, leading to his designation for assignment in August.
Cleveland Guardians (2023)
On August 21, 2023, the Cleveland Guardians claimed Haase off waivers from Detroit. He appeared in three games for his original organization, going 2-for-10 at the plate. He was designated for assignment again at the end of August, cleared waivers, and was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus on September 3. He elected free agency following the season.
Milwaukee Brewers (2024–2025)
On December 20, 2023, Haase signed a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite a strong spring training, he was designated for assignment after failing to make the Opening Day roster and began the season with Triple-A Nashville. The Brewers selected his contract on June 26, 2024, and he played 30 games for Milwaukee, slashing .273/.304/.515 with five home runs and 14 runs batted in. Milwaukee declined his contract option at the end of the season, and he elected free agency.
In 2025, Haase appeared in 30 games for the Brewers, batting .229/.289/.357 with two home runs and nine runs batted in. On July 28, 2025, he was designated for assignment after the team acquired Danny Jansen. He elected free agency in October 2025.
San Francisco Giants (2026–Present)
On January 9, 2026, Haase signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. He was released prior to the start of the regular season but re-signed with the organization on April 1. After playing nine games with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, batting .250 with two home runs and eight runs batted in, Haase was added to the Giants’ active roster on April 21 following an injury to Daniel Susac. He wears number 18 for San Francisco.
Defensive Skills and Strengths
Throughout his career, Haase has showcased solid defensive abilities behind the plate. In 2021, he threw out 31 percent of potential base stealers, well above the league average of 23 percent. His receiving skills and game-calling have drawn praise from coaches and teammates. His power-hitting ability adds another dimension to his game, making him a valuable two-way catcher.
Eric Michael Haase Career Highlights
Haase has established himself as a productive major league catcher with power potential. Across his MLB career from 2018 through June 2026, he has compiled 52 home runs and 169 runs batted in while batting .227. He has appeared in games with five different organizations and contributed to several historic moments.
Notable Career Achievements
Among his most memorable achievements, Haase caught Spencer Turnbull’s no-hitter on May 18, 2021, marking the eighth no-hitter in Tigers history. He earned American League Rookie of the Month honors in July 2021, posting a .265 average with a .627 slugging percentage, nine home runs, and 29 runs batted in. He recorded his first career five-hit game on September 7, 2022, going 5-for-5 against the Los Angeles Angels. Haase has hit three career grand slams, with his first coming on July 27, 2021, against Minnesota. He also made Tigers history by being part of the first game where opposing catchers both hit grand slams.
Personal Life
Haase is married to his wife, Maria, whom he met when they were high school freshmen. Together, they have four children. Haase’s family has remained supportive throughout his professional career, with his father playing an instrumental role in his development as a power hitter during his youth in Michigan.