Christopher M. Bassitt (born February 22, 1989) is an American
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Modern profession ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or dr ...
for the
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball, professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. Sin ...
of
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB). He made his MLB debut with the
Chicago White Sox in 2014 and played for the
Oakland Athletics from 2015 to 2021 and
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
in 2022. Prior to playing professionally, he starred for his basketball and baseball teams at
Genoa Area High School and the
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a public research university in Akron, Ohio. It is part of the University System of Ohio. As a STEM-focused institution, it focuses on industries such as polymers, advanced materials, and engineering. It is classifie ...
.
Amateur career
Bassitt attended
Genoa Area High School in
Genoa, Ohio
Genoa is a village in Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,336 at the 2010 census. Originally settled as Stony Ridge, it took its present name in 1856 and was incorporated as a village on December 10, 1868.
Early History
In ...
, 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
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA) with 65
strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is ...
s in 56
innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched (IP) are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher is on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning ...
for the baseball team in 2007, his senior year.
Bassitt was recruited out of high school to play basketball collegiately.
He chose to enroll at the
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a public research university in Akron, Ohio. It is part of the University System of Ohio. As a STEM-focused institution, it focuses on industries such as polymers, advanced materials, and engineering. It is classifie ...
, where he played
college baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional pl ...
for the
Akron Zips baseball team, competing in the
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I collegiate athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the tw ...
(MAC).
[ Bassitt took a ]redshirt
Redshirt, Red Shirt, or Redshirts may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Red Shirts'' (film), a 1952 film about Anita Garibaldi by Franco Rossi
* Redshirt (stock character), originally derived from ''Star Trek'', a stock character who dies soon after ...
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
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. The statistic is commonly used in standings or rankings to compare teams or individuals. It is defined as wins divided by the total number of match ...
, a 3.52 ERA, and seven saves. In his sophomore year, he pitched in only one game, as he focused on academics. In 2011, his junior year, Bassitt pitched to a 1.42 ERA and limited opposing batters to a .183 batting average against
In baseball statistics, batting average against (denoted by BAA or AVG), also known as opponents' batting average (denoted by OBA), is a statistic that measures a pitcher's ability to prevent hits during official at bats. It can alternatively be ...
. He was named to the All-MAC second team.
Professional career
Minor leagues
The Chicago White Sox selected Bassitt in the 16th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft
The 2011 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2011, from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Gerrit Cole out of the University of California, Los Angeles, with the first ...
, with the 501st overall selection. Bassitt signed with the White Sox, and was assigned to the Bristol White Sox
The Bristol Pirates were a Minor League Baseball team in Bristol, Virginia, United States. They were a Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League.
The team played home games at DeVault Memorial Stadium. Opened in 1969, Devault Memorial Stadi ...
of the Rookie-level Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a collegiate summer baseball league that operates in the Appalachian regions of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Designed for rising freshmen and sophomores using wood bats, its season runs from ...
to begin his professional career.[ In 2013, he began the season with the ]Winston-Salem Dash
The Winston-Salem Dash are a Minor League Baseball team in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They are a High-A team in the South Atlantic League and have been a farm team of the Chicago White Sox since 1997. The Dash began playing their home games at ...
of the Class A-Advanced
High-A (officially Class High-A, formerly known as Class A-Advanced, and sometimes abbreviated "A+" in writing) is the third-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Canada, below Triple-A and Double-A, and abov ...
Carolina League, where he was named an all-star. He was promoted to the Birmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a Minor League Baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and plays at Regions Field in downtown Birmingham. The current ...
of the Class AA
Double-A (officially Class AA) is the second-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946, below only Triple-A. There are currently 30 teams classified at the Double-A level, one for each team in Major League ...
Southern League, and recorded two wins in the Southern League playoffs.[ After working as a ]relief pitcher
In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed because of fatigue, ineffectiveness, injury, or ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as inclement weather ...
for most of his career, the White Sox used Bassitt as a starting pitcher
In baseball (hardball or softball), a starting pitcher or starter is the first pitcher in the game for each team. A pitcher is credited with a game started if they throw the first pitch to the opponent's first batter of a game. Starting pit ...
in 2013. He had pitched to an 11–4 win–loss record
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. The statistic is commonly used in standings or rankings to compare teams or individuals. It is defined as wins divided by the total number of match ...
, a 3.08 ERA, and 138 strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is ...
s in 26 games started
In baseball statistics, games started (denoted by GS) indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he throws the first pitch to the first opposing batter. If a player is lis ...
with Birmingham. After the season, the White Sox assigned him to the Arizona Fall League (AFL), where he pitched in relief for the Glendale Desert Dogs
The Glendale Desert Dogs are a baseball team that plays in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. The ballpark is also the spring training facility of the Chicago White So ...
.[ In the AFL, he had a 0.90 ERA in ten ]innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched (IP) are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher is on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning ...
.
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 innings for Birmingham.
Chicago White Sox
On August 30, 2014, Bassitt made his major league debut in a start against the Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
. 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
Walking (also known as ambulation) is one of the main gaits of terrestrial locomotion among legged animals. Walking is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an ' inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults o ...
only three.
Oakland Athletics
After the 2014 season, the White Sox traded Bassitt, Josh Phegley, Marcus Semien
Marcus Andrew Semien (born September 17, 1990) is an American professional baseball shortstop and second baseman for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics and ...
, and Rangel Ravelo to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Jeff Samardzija
Jeffrey Alan Samardzija (; born January 23, 1985), nicknamed "Shark", is an American professional former baseball pitcher. He played college baseball and football for the University of Notre Dame, and was recognized as a two-time All-American ...
and Michael Ynoa. Bassitt began the 2015 season with the Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry, ...
of the Class AAA
Triple-A (officially Class AAA) has been the highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946. Currently, two leagues operate at the Triple-A level, the International League (IL) and the Pacific Coast League (PCL) ...
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Ba ...
, and was promoted to the major leagues on April 23. 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
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, colloquially known as Tommy John surgery (TJS), is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's bo ...
, 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. 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
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the Pitcher of the Month Award is given monthly during the regular season to two outstanding pitchers, one each in the National League (NL) and American League (AL). The NL began awarding the honor in , and the A ...
for September that year, as during that month he went 3–0 in four starts while allowing only one run in innings.
On May 27, 2021, Bassitt threw his first career complete game
In baseball, a complete game (CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A pitcher who meets this criterion will be credited with a complete game regardless of the number of innings played—pitche ...
against the Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...
. He gave up just 2 hits while striking out 9 batters in a 5–0 win. On August 17, 2021, Bassitt was struck in the face by a line drive and exited on a motorized stretcher. He returned to the mound later in the season on September 23, 2021.
New York Mets
On March 12, 2022, the Athletics traded Bassitt to the New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
in exchange for J.T. Ginn and Adam Oller. 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. On November 8, 2022, Bassitt opted out of his contract and elected free agency, receiving a $150,000 buyout.
Toronto Blue Jays
On December 16, 2022, Bassitt signed a three-year, $63 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball, professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. Sin ...
.
Scouting report
Bassitt throws four pitches, a four-seam and two-seam fastball
A two-seam fastball is a pitch in baseball and softball. It is a variant of the straight fastball. The pitch has the speed of a fastball and can also include late-breaking action caused by varying the pressure of the index and middle fingers on t ...
that range between , a slider at and a curveball
In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curv ...
at . Bassitt throws with great deception, as most of his pitches have either a lot of rise or a lot of break.
Personal life
Bassitt is from Curtice, Ohio. He also played basketball in high school.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bassitt, Chris
1989 births
Living people
People from Genoa, Ohio
American League All-Stars
Baseball players from Ohio
Major League Baseball pitchers
Chicago White Sox players
Oakland Athletics players
New York Mets players
Akron Zips baseball players
Bristol White Sox players
Winston-Salem Dash players
Kannapolis Intimidators players
Birmingham Barons players
Arizona League White Sox players
Glendale Desert Dogs players
Nashville Sounds players
Sportspeople from Toledo, Ohio