James Richard Harden (born November 30, 1981, in Victoria, British Columbia) is a Canadian Major League Baseball starting pitcher who is currently a free agent.

Harden attended Claremont Secondary School (Victoria, BC, Canada) in 1999, and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 38th Round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft. He did not sign with the Mariners, but instead attended Central Arizona College, where he graduated from in 2001. While there he played baseball alongside future All Star second baseman Ian Kinsler.

Harden was drafted by the Athletics in the 17th round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft, and signed by the team on May 28, 2001, shortly after graduating.