By: Sam Jellinek
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Being asked to play essentially every position on the diamond is a big ask. It entails having to own multiple gloves, being adept and athletic enough to play all of this positions, and then a mindset that allows you to seamlessly move between them all. Jim Haley has all of these.
Not naturally a utility guy, Haley was a three-year starting shortstop for the Penn State Nittany Lions out of the Big 10, Haley was quickly thrown into the world of positionless baseball when he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 19th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Since debuting in 2016 as a 3B, Haley has appeared at all four infield positions plus all three outfield spots. This season with the IronPigs, Haley has played at every spot on the infield.
This utility role was one born of necessity for Haley and a loaded IronPigs position player core. After starting the year with most starts at first base, Haley has been playing more middle infield of late. For Haley though, any chance to lace up the cleats and take the diamond is good enough for him.
“I’m just happy to be in there, be it the infield or otherwise, I’m just happy to help the team however I can. Obviously we have a pretty stacked lineup right now and a lot of guys on the bench and a very good baseball team. I’m just looking to help the team however I can, be it at first or second or even off the bench, it doesn’t matter to me and I’m just happy to be a part of it,” says Haley.
While Haley has grown in to the utility role, it was one he was exposed to immediately with the Rays who helped pioneer a positionless style of baseball. That helped Haley adapt extremely quickly and it is paying dividends for him now that he’s in the Phillies organization.
“Everybody wants to be in there every night. Everyone wants to play six days a week, but that’s just not the way the game is anymore. We’ve got such a good team, that honestly, even being on the bench it’s what I can the best seat in the house to watch games.”
While Haley may be talking literally when he calls it the best seat in the house, he also views the days he’s not playing as a chance to learn and grow from the very talented position players he finds himself surrounded by.
“When I’m not playing, I have the mindset to pick something up from these guys. Especially any rehab guys we get down here. Watch how they go about their business, the way they play the game, always trying to figure something out.”
A very astute observer, Haley also makes sure the work and preparation he puts in pregame is above and beyond anyone’s expectations. Arrive five hours prior to first pitch at Coca-Cola Park and you’re likely to see Haley already out on the diamond working with IronPigs bench coach Pat Listach on the nuances of playing any of the four infield positions.
“I’m eight years in to my career and you think you know a lot, and you really don’t. I try to learn something new every day and with Pat, that’s exactly how it’s been. He has definitely flipped my mindset, and getting to work with him every day it’s given me a mindset of wanting to come out and do early work every day just to learn from him.”
Even though coming to the park every day constitutes works for Haley, he is living something of a childhood dream, playing in his own backyard. Haley grew up just outside of Philadelphia, in Upper Darby, and attended Bonner-Prendergast High School. Haley was named the Philadelphia Catholic League MVP after the 2013 season before moving on to play collegiately at Penn State.
After years in the Rays organization, he signed a Minor League free agent deal with the Phillies this offseason and has gotten to be play in front of friends and family often this season, which is something special considering Haley was one of 10 kids growing up, having eight brothers and one sister.
“People still ask me how my parents did it, raising all of us, and honestly I still don’t know. I don’t know where I’d be without my parents, they are both incredible people taking care of us. We lived at the baseball field growing up. My mom would pack us all up in this green van and there was a game from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and that went all the way through high school.”
With so many siblings, it’s no wonder Haley took to a utility role so quickly, having to adapt to whatever role was needed in a family that could field a full lineup one through nine with a designated hitter. It’s all served Haley for the best though, now thriving in the role he finds himself in with the IronPigs.