Josh Habel graduated from the University of Northern Iowa while playing for the Watreloo Bucks in the year 2000 and 2001.  The 6’1 185lb starting pitcher grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, and went to High School at Hempstead.

While playing for the Bucks, Josh went 12-9 in 25 games with a 3.05 ERA, 4 complete games, 1 shutout, in 147.1 innings pitched. Josh was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in round 14 in the 2002 draft.

Josh began his professional baseball career with the (A-) Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. After going 2-2 that year, he was bumped up to the Hagerstown Suns where he posted his best record since the Bucks.  Josh went 11-7 with a 2.36 ERA in 37 games. 

After having a rough outing in the AA the year after, the Giants traded Josh to the Milwaukee Brewers and landed on the Brevard County Manatees (A+) team. Josh played one season with the Brewers farm system until he went to an Independent league team — the Gary RailCats. 

Josh played two years with the RailCats while he posted strong numbers, 20-16 with a 3.68 ERA in 48 total games (combined). 

Josh Habel will always be known as a Waterloo Buck in the surrounding area, and we are all proud of what he was able to accomplish with his time in the Majors.  I’m not sure where Josh is right now, but if you see him around his home town of Dubuque, say hello for us all.

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