J.P. France

Jonathan Patrick France

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 216 lb.
• School Tulane University, Mississippi State University
• High School Archbishop Shaw High School
• Debut May 6, 2023

• Born April 4, 1995 in New Orleans, LA USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher J.P. France played for three seasons at Tulane University, also missing one year due to an injury and earning his undergraduate degree in homeland security studies. With a year of playing eligibility left, he transferred to Mississippi State University to start work on his graduate degree, and was drafted from there by the Houston Astros in the 14th round of the 2018 amateur draft. In his only season at Mississippi State, he played in the 2018 College World Series.

He made his major league debut with Houston on May 6, 2023, starting against the Seattle Mariners, with a line-up featuring his namesake, the unrelated Ty France, as the #2 hitter. He did well, pitching five scoreless innings, before turning the ball over to Phil Maton. Unfortunately for him, the Astros' bullpen ended up coughing away a 3-0 lead, and he ended up with a no-decision in a 7-5 loss. He was already 28 during his rookie season, but it was a good one overall, as he went 11-6, 3.83 in 24 games, including 23 starts. He struck out 101 batters in 136 1/3 innings. He made two appearances in the postseason, both of them coming in relief in the ALCS against the Texas Rangers. He gave up a total of 4 runs on 6 hits in 3 innings.

His promising career was then derailed by injuries as he made just 5 starts in 2024, the last of these coming on April 24th. He went 0-3, 7.46, allowing 21 runs on 31 hits and 12 walks in 25 1/3 innings. He was optioned to AAA a day after his final appearance, but went on the injured list a few days later with a right shoulder issue after just one appearance there. He never made it back, eventually undergoing surgery in early July. He then started 2025 still on the injured list, began some rehabilitation assignments in late July and was finally activated in early September. He made just two appearances with Houston, going 1-0, 2.25 and pitching 4 innings. On January 29, 2026, he was designated for assignment to open up a roster spot for Kai-Wei Teng, whom the Astros had obtained in a trade with the San Francisco Giants that day.

Related Sites

• J.P. France on mlb.com
• Mississippi State bio