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Chris Bassitt

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Chris Bassitt
Bassitt with the Mets in 2022
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 40
Pitcher
Born: (1989-02-22) February 22, 1989 (age 35)
Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 30, 2014, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
(through September 3, 2024)
Win–loss record71–55
Earned run average3.61
Strikeouts997
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Bassitt with the Mets in 2022

Christopher Michael Bassitt (born February 22, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the Chicago White Sox in 2014 and has also played for the Oakland Athletics and New York Mets. Prior to playing professionally, he starred for his basketball and baseball teams at Genoa Area High School and the University of Akron.

Amateur career

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Bassitt attended Genoa Area High School in Genoa, Ohio, where he played school's baseball and basketball teams. In his senior year, Bassitt was named to the All-Suburban Lakes League first team in both sports. He had a 1.56 earned run average (ERA) with 65 strikeouts in 56 innings pitched for the baseball team in 2007, his senior year.[1][2]

Bassitt was recruited out of high school to play basketball collegiately.[1] He chose to enroll at the University of Akron, where he played college baseball for the Akron Zips baseball team, competing in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).[3] Bassitt took a redshirt in his first year at Akron. In 2009, as a redshirt freshman, Bassitt served as the Zips' closer. He pitched to a 1–2 win–loss record, a 3.52 ERA, and seven saves. In his sophomore year, he pitched in only one game, as he focused on academics.[1] In 2011, his junior year, Bassitt pitched to a 1.42 ERA and limited opposing batters to a .183 batting average against. He was named to the All-MAC second team.[4]

Professional career

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Chicago White Sox

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Minor leagues

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The Chicago White Sox selected Bassitt in the 16th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, with the 501st overall selection. Bassitt signed with the White Sox, and was assigned to the Bristol White Sox of the Rookie-level Appalachian League to begin his professional career.[3][4] In 2013, he began the season with the Winston-Salem Dash of the High–A Carolina League, where he was named an all-star.[5] He was promoted to the Birmingham Barons of the Double–A Southern League, and recorded two wins in the Southern League playoffs.[6] After working as a relief pitcher for most of his career, the White Sox used Bassitt as a starting pitcher in 2013. He had pitched to an 11–4 win–loss record, a 3.08 ERA, and 138 strikeouts in 26 games started with Birmingham.[7] After the season, the White Sox assigned him to the Arizona Fall League (AFL), where he pitched in relief for the Glendale Desert Dogs.[2][6][7] In the AFL, he had a 0.90 ERA in ten innings pitched.[8]

Bassitt broke his right hand prior to the 2014 season. He made three rehabilitative appearances with the Arizona White Sox of the Rookie-level Arizona League, before returning to Birmingham on July 29. He had a 3–1 record and a 1.56 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 34+2⁄3 innings for Birmingham.[9]

Major leagues

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On August 30, 2014, Bassitt made his major league debut in a start against the Detroit Tigers.[10][11] He had a 3.94 ERA in six appearances with the White Sox. After the regular season, the White Sox assigned Bassitt to Glendale of the AFL, where he had a 0.69 ERA in 13 innings, striking out 22 batters while walking only three.[12]

Oakland Athletics

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After the 2014 season, the White Sox traded Bassitt, Josh Phegley, Marcus Semien, and Rangel Ravelo to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Jeff Samardzija and Michael Ynoa.[13] Bassitt began the 2015 season with the Nashville Sounds of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League, and was promoted to the major leagues on April 23.[14] In 18 games (13 starts), Bassitt finished 1–8 with a 3.56 ERA.

Bassitt's 2016 season became short-lived after 5 starts with a 0–2 record and a 6.11 ERA. On May 5, 2016, it was announced that Bassitt would undergo Tommy John surgery, putting him aside for the rest of 2016. He missed more than half of the 2017 season while recovering from surgery. He was recalled on June 9, 2018, to the A's rotation, his first start in 2 years. He was sent down and back up to the Majors in the following 2 weeks. On March 26, 2019, Bassitt was placed on the injured list with a leg injury.[15] Bassitt finished the season with a record of 10–5 in 28 games (25 starts). He struck out 141 batters in 144 innings.

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Bassitt posted a 5–2 record with a 2.29 ERA in 11 starts. He was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for September that year, as during that month he went 3–0 in four starts while allowing only one run in 26+2⁄3 innings.[16]

On May 27, 2021, Bassitt threw his first career complete game against the Los Angeles Angels. He gave up just 2 hits while striking out 9 batters in a 5–0 win.[17] On August 17, 2021, Bassitt was struck in the face by a line drive and exited on a motorized stretcher.[18] He returned to the mound later in the season on September 23, 2021.[19]

New York Mets

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On March 12, 2022, the Athletics traded Bassitt to the New York Mets in exchange for J.T. Ginn and Adam Oller.[20] Bassitt and the Mets avoided arbitration by agreeing to a contract worth $8.65 million for the 2022 season with a $19 million option or a $150,000 buyout for the 2023 season.[21] On November 8, 2022, Bassitt opted out of his contract and elected free agency, receiving a $150,000 buyout.[22][23]

Toronto Blue Jays

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On December 16, 2022, Bassitt signed a three-year, $63 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.[24] On May 12, 2023, Bassitt threw a complete-game shutout, his first with the Blue Jays. Bassitt only allowed 2 hits in the contest.[25] Later that year Bassitt was nominated for the All-MLB Team.[26]

Scouting report

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Bassitt throws eight pitches, a four-seam and sinker that range between 92–96 miles per hour (148–154 km/h), a cut fastball at 84–91 miles per hour (135–146 km/h), a slider at 85–89 miles per hour (137–143 km/h), a changeup at 82–85 miles per hour (132–137 km/h), a splitter at 81–84 miles per hour (130–135 km/h), a sweeper at 72–74 miles per hour (116–119 km/h), and a curveball at 69–75 miles per hour (111–121 km/h). Bassitt throws with great deception, as most of his pitches have either a lot of rise or a lot of break.[27][28]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Monroe, Mark. "Genoa grad makes his pitch as the closer for U of Akron". Toledo Blade. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Griffin, Mark (December 16, 2013). "Chris Bassitt prepares for another pro baseball season". The Press. Toledo, Ohio. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Griffin, Mark (June 16, 2011). "Genoa's Chris Bassitt to join White Sox farm team". The Press. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Monroe, Mark (June 23, 2011). "Genoa grad Bassitt poised for pro debut". Toledo Blade. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  5. ^ "WS Dash Pitcher Chris Bassitt Added To All-Star Game". WFMY-TV. June 14, 2013. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Bergman, Reynolds, Bassitt top the 2013 list: Area athletes garner success, move on to bigger and better". Port Clinton News Herald. December 31, 2013. Archived from the original on January 23, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Chicago White Sox: Role doesn't matter to pitcher Chris Bassitt". Chicago Tribune. October 10, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  8. ^ Matt Cassidy. "Q&A with Pitcher Chris Bassitt | Future Sox". ChicagoNow. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  9. ^ Fielding, Alyce. "Curtice native Chris Bassitt in the Big Leagues now". The Press. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  10. ^ "Chris Bassitt to start for White Sox on Monday: News". SB Nation. August 28, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  11. ^ Just, David. "Chris Bassitt gets the nod to start on Saturday". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  12. ^ Chicago Tribune (November 4, 2014). "White Sox's Chris Bassitt ends AFL season". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  13. ^ "White Sox acquire Samardzija from A's". MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  14. ^ Slusser, Susan (April 24, 2015). "Chris Bassitt helped by move left on pitching rubber". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  15. ^ "Athletics' Chris Bassitt: Heading to injured list". CBSSports.com. March 27, 2019.
  16. ^ Adler, David (September 28, 2020). "Bauer, Bassitt are Sept. Pitchers of Month". MLB.com. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  17. ^ "'I'm just trying to hold back tears': After going from swingman to starter, A's Chris Bassitt tosses his 1st complete game".
  18. ^ "Chris Bassitt struck in face with liner, carted off". MLB. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  19. ^ "A's 'pen falters after Bassitt's 3 scoreless". MLB. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  20. ^ DiComo, Anthony (March 12, 2022). "Mets land A's ace Bassitt for prospect Ginn, more". Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  21. ^ "Mets, Bassitt agree to deal for '22, option for '23". MLB.com.
  22. ^ Pantorno, Joe (November 8, 2022). "Chris Bassitt officially declines Mets contract option, heads to free agency". AM New York.
  23. ^ Ahram, Maury. "Chris Bassitt To Decline Mutual Option". MLB Trade Rumors.
  24. ^ "Blue Jays sign Bassitt to 3-year deal". Toronto Blue Jays. December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  25. ^ "Braves 0-3 Blue Jays (May 12, 2023) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  26. ^ "2023 All-MLB Team nominees by position (November 8, 2023)". MLB.com.
  27. ^ "Chris Bassitt Statcast, Visuals & Advanced Metrics". Baseball Savant.
  28. ^ Sarris, Eno. "Chris Bassitt throws eight pitches. How that wide arsenal gives his team an edge". The Athletic.
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