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Forrest Whitley

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Forrest Whitley
Houston Astros – No. 60
Pitcher
Born: (1997-09-15) September 15, 1997 (age 27)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 16, 2024, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average0.00
Strikeouts5
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
U-18 Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2015 Osaka Team

Charles Forrest Whitley (born September 15, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Career

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Amateur career

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Whitley attended Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio, Texas. In the summer prior to his senior year he was a member of the 18-and-under national team that won the World Cup.[1] Whitley threw a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts in a game during his senior year.[2][3]

Professional career

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The Houston Astros selected Whitley in the first round, with the 17th overall selection, in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[4] He was committed to Florida State University to play college baseball, but instead decided to sign with the Astros.[5] He was assigned on July 13, 2016 to the Gulf Coast Astros of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League,[6] and was later promoted to the Greeneville Astros of the Rookie-level Appalachian League. In 18+2⁄3 innings pitched between both teams, he posted a 1-2 record and a 4.82 earned run average (ERA).

Whitley began the 2017 season with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Single-A Midwest League and received promotions to the Buies Creek Astros of the High-A Carolina League in July,[7] and to the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Double-A Texas League in August.[8] In 23 total games (18 starts) between the three teams, he pitched to a combined 5-4 record and 2.83 ERA with 143 strikeouts in 92+1⁄3 innings pitched.[9]

On February 21, 2018, Whitley was suspended 50 games for violating MLB's drug prevention and treatment program.[10] He recorded a 3.76 ERA in 8 starts for Corpus Christi that season. The Astros invited Whitley to spring training in 2019,[11] and he began the season with the Round Rock Express of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.[12] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas following the season.[13]

The Astros added Whitley to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.[14] On March 10, 2021, it was announced that Whitley would undergo ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, more commonly known as Tommy John surgery, and miss the 2021 season as a result.[15]

Whitley began a rehabilitation assignment on June 16, 2022 with the Florida Complex League (FCL) Astros. He delivered 38 pitches across two innings, allowed three runs and averaged 96 miles per hour (154 km/h) on his fastball versus the FCL Nationals. It was his first competition in professional baseball since September 2, 2019.[16] He ended the season appearing in a total of 13 games split between the FCL Astros, Single-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers, and Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, posting a cumulative 0-2 record and 6.53 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 40.0 innings pitched.

Whitley was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land to begin the 2023 season.[17] In 8 appearances (6 starts), he registered a 1–2 record and 5.70 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 30.0 innings pitched. On June 2, Whitley was ruled out for 3–4 months after being diagnosed with a lat strain.[18] After spending much of spring training battling finger inflammation, the Astros again optioned Whitley to Sugar Land to begin the 2024 season.[19]

On April 16, 2024, the Astros promoted Whitley to the major leagues for the first time.[20] In his first time at the Major League level, he played in three games and went 3⅓ shutout innings with five strikeouts and three walks before getting demoted on September 5.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Campbell, David (June 8, 2016). "College Station to face one of state's best pitchers in Whitley". The Bryan-College Station Eagle. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  2. ^ Champ, Mark (May 14, 2016). "No-hit loss to Alamo Heights ends McCallum's season". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  3. ^ Davis, Danny. "Georgetown takes its shot at dealing Alamo Heights ace a..." Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  4. ^ Staff, By Kevin Lyttle – American-Statesman. "Forrest Whitley, pitching in Class 5A semis, could be Astros'..."
  5. ^ "Alamo Heights' Whitley remains calm in busy time". June 7, 2016.
  6. ^ "Gulf Coast League Transactions". MiLB.com. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  7. ^ "Whitley fans career-high 10 for Buies Creek". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  8. ^ "Astros promote Whitley, Perez to Hooks". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  9. ^ "Forrest Whitley Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  10. ^ "Astros' top prospect Forrest Whitley suspended for drug violation". Houston Chronicle. February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  11. ^ "Astros Forrest Whitley:Receives spring training invite". Rotowire Staff. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  12. ^ "Forrest Whitley may become an Astro sooner than later". kvue.com. April 10, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  13. ^ "Arizona Fall League rosters revealed". MLB.com.
  14. ^ "San Antonio native Forrest Whitley among players added to Astros' 40-man roster". November 20, 2020.
  15. ^ "Tommy John Surgery fecommended for Astros' Forrest Whitley". MLB Trade Rumors. March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  16. ^ Rome, Chandler (June 16, 2022). "Forrest Whitley, former top Astros pitching prospect, begins rehab assignment". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "Astros' Forrest Whitley: Sent to minor-league camp". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  18. ^ "Astros' Forrest Whitley: To miss up to four months". CBSSports.com. June 2, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  19. ^ "Astros' Forrest Whitley: Sent to minor-league camp". CBSSports.com. March 10, 2024. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  20. ^ Rome, Chandler. "Astros calling up former top pitching prospect Forrest Whitley". The Athletic. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  21. ^ "Houston Astros Roster Moves: Forrest Whitley, Jake Meyers and MORE!". thereportonsports.com. September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
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