James begins his first season with the Ducks and tenth in professional baseball. The pitcher spent parts of four seasons in Majors with the Houston Astros (2018-21). He made 73 appearances, (six starts), tallying a record of 8-1, a 4.64 ERA, one save and 158 strikeouts in 106.2 innings. He struck out nine batters across five innings pitched in his Major League debut on September 1, 2018, against the Los Angeles Angels. 

The 31-year-old began the 2024 season with Memphis (AAA, Cardinals), striking out five hitters across 7.2 innings of work. In game 4 of the 2018 American League Championship Series, James recorded his highest velocity fastball, clocking in at 102.4 miles per hour and striking out Rafael Devers of the Boston Red Sox. He was also a part of the 2019 American League Division Series, American League Championship Series, and World Series rosters and is formally credited with the win in game 3 of the World Series, making him one of only 10 pitchers in Astros history to record a World Series win as of November 2022. James was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 34th round of the 2014 amateur draft from Western Oklahoma State College.