Eric Haase's Biography
Eric Michael Haase was born on December 18, 1992, in Detroit, Michigan to parents Don and Lori Haase. Growing up in a suburb of Detroit, Westland, Haase was innately drawn to the sport of baseball, boosting his skills in an improvised practice cage that his father built within a 12-car pole barn. As a child and a devoted supporter of the Detroit Tigers, Haase drew particular inspiration from his favorite player, Lance Parrish.
When Haase attended Divine Child High School in Dearborn, Michigan, he didn’t immediately make the varsity team as a freshman in 2008. Though mainly used as a courtesy runner, Haase made it onto the roster for the state playoffs, contributing to Divine Child’s state championship title later that year. As a junior, he stepped up, mainly playing third base and meeting another state championship. That year, he displayed a promising talent in batting – with a batting average of .454, which included eight home runs, 15 doubles, and 47 RBIs. Come senior year, the rising star received the title of Gatorade’s High School Baseball Player of the Year for Michigan and Michigan’s Mr. Baseball after batting .495 with 14 home runs and 54 RBIs.
Haase’s talent did not go unnoticed at a national level. The Cleveland Indians, a Major League Baseball team, drafted him straight out of high school in the seventh round of the 2011 MLB Draft, choosing him as the 218th overall pick. Initially committed to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Haase swapped his commitment for a $580,000 signing bonus offered by the Indians. Though he was primarily drafted as a catcher, the prospect of him playing at third base intrigued the team.
Haase kicked off his professional baseball career with the Rookie-level Arizona Fall League (AZL) Indians and spent most of the 2012 season in the Arizona League, where he showcased his prowess by hitting three home runs and bringing in 22 runs across 28 games. He found a home in the Single-A Lake County Captains for the 2013 season, demonstrating strength and defensive dexterity through a range of training. His performance in Lake County gained him recognition from his coaches, who praised his ability to block balls, call games, and, following a mid-season call-up, play in the Double-A Carolina Mudcats.
In 2015, Haase ascended to the Double-A Akron RubberDucks after a stint in the Lynchburg Hillcats. Throughout these years, Haase increased his batting performance and defensive abilities, leading to the Indians adding him to their official 40-man roster in 2017.
By 2021, Eric was selected to the active roster of the Detroit Tigers and endeared himself to fans with multiple home runs against the Seattle Mariners and being part of the first MLB game where opposing catchers hit grand slams. Throughout 2021, he displayed stunning performances, culminating in winning the American League Rookie of the Month for July – the first to do so since Brennan Boesch in 2010. His strong performance followed him into the 2022 season as he made the first Opening Day roster of his major league career and hit a game-tying ninth-inning home run against the Chicago White Sox.
However, Haase found the 2023 season to be challenging as he hit .201 with four home runs and 26 RBIs across 86 games. Despite the struggles, he persisted and signed to the Cleveland Guardians in August of the same year. However, shortly after, he was designated for assignment by the team, and choosing free agency after the season ended.
In December 2023, he signed a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. After a strong showing in spring training, Haase didn’t make the opening day roster but was quickly recalled to the active roster and enjoyed a resurgence in June 2024.
Outside of baseball, Haase maintains an active family life with his wife, Maria, and their four children. The high school sweethearts have been together since their freshman year, sharing victories and challenges in Haase’s professional journey in equal measure. Eric Michael Haase’s story is still being written, but his impact on the field and the lives of those around him is undeniable.
