Andrew Gregory Chafin (born June 17, 1990), nicknamed "Big Country" and "the Sheriff", is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

for the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...

, Texas Rangers, and

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 club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

Amateur career

Chafin is from

Wakeman, Ohio Wakeman is a village (United States)#Ohio, village in Huron County, Ohio, Huron County, Ohio, United States, along the Vermilion River (Ohio), Vermilion River. Its namesake was Jesup Wakeman, an early settler of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Fa ...

. He attended Western Reserve High School in

Collins, Ohio Collins is a census-designated place (CDP) in central Townsend Township, Huron County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2020 census the population of the CDP was 628. The CDP includes the unincorporated communities of Collins and East Townsend. ...

, and played for the school's baseball team. He pitched a

no-hitter In baseball, a no-hitter or no-hit game is a game in which a team does not record a hit (baseball), hit through conventional methods. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in ...

in his final high school game. Chafin attended

Kent State University Kent State University (KSU) is a Public university, public research university in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university includes seven regional campuses in Northeast Ohio located in Kent State University at Ashtabula, Ashtabula, Kent State ...

, and played

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played by Student athlete, student-athletes at institutions of higher education. In the United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, ...

for the

Kent State Golden Flashes The Kent State Golden Flashes are the athletic teams that represent Kent State University. The university fields 19 varsity athletic teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the NCAA Division I, Division I level with footba ...

. As a freshman in 2009, he was the

Mid-American Conference The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region (North America), Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Its members co ...

Freshman of the Year after he had a 1.26

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), eight saves and 55 strikeouts over innings pitched. In 2010, he underwent

Tommy John surgery Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, sometimes referred to as Tommy John surgery 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 body, ...

and missed the 2010 season. He returned in 2011 as a starter and had a 2.02 ERA with 105 strikeouts over 89 innings. After the 2011 season, he played

collegiate summer baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operat ...

with the

Orleans Firebirds The Orleans Firebirds, formerly the Orleans Cardinals, are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Orleans, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's East Division. The Firebirds play ...

of the

Cape Cod Baseball League The Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL or Cape League) is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. One of the nation's premier collegiate summer leagues, the league boasts over 1,000 forme ...

Professional career

Arizona Diamondbacks

The

selected Chafin in the first round with the 43rd overall selection 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 firs ...

. He made his professional debut for the

Arizona League Diamondbacks The Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team competing as a Rookie-level affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Arizona Complex League of Minor League Baseball. The team plays its home games at Salt River Fields a ...

, pitching in one game, recording two strikeouts over one inning. Pitching for the

Visalia Rawhide The Visalia Rawhide are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Visalia, California, and have played their home games at Valley Strong Ballpark since their ...

in 2012, he recorded a 4.93 ERA with 150 strikeouts over . He started the 2013 season with Visalia and was promoted to the

Mobile BayBears The Mobile BayBears were a Minor League Baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama, United States. The team, which played in the Southern League, served as the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres (1997–2006), Arizona Diamondbacks (2007–2 ...

during the season. Overall, he had a 3.20 ERA and 119 strikeouts over . Chafin made his Major League debut on August 13, 2014, against the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...

Progressive Field Progressive Field is a baseball stadium in the downtown area of Cleveland, Ohio. It is the ballpark of the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball and, together with Rocket Arena, is part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex. ...

, pitching five innings allowing three hits, two walks, and three strikeouts, earning a no-decision. In his second start and first major league at-bat on September 17, 2014, for the

, he hit a

run batted in A run batted in or runs batted in (RBI) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if th ...

single. Chafin was converted into a reliever for the 2015 season, a season in which he finished 5–1 with a 2.76 ERA in 66 games for the D'Backs. The following season, just like the majority of the pitching staff, Chafin struggled throughout the season, appearing in 32 games with a 6.75 ERA. He bounced back the following season, being used now as a situational left hander out of the bullpen. In 71 games, he had a 3.51 ERA for the D'Backs. In 2018, Chafin was continued to be used as a situational lefty out of the bullpen, pitching innings. His record was 1–6 in a career high 77 games. In 2019, Chafin appeared in 77 games for the second consecutive season, finishing with a record of 2–2 in innings. The following season with the new 3 batter rule, Chafin wasn't used solely as a left handed specialist and he struggled during the first half of the season with the team. He was 1–1 with a career worst 8.10 ERA in innings.

Chicago Cubs

Chafin was traded to the

on August 31, 2020, the trade deadline of the shortened season, in exchange for

Ronny Simon Ronny Oliver Simon (born April 17, 2000) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Miami Marlins. He made his MLB debut in 2025. Career Chica ...

. Chafin pitched to a 3.00 ERA in 4 games with the Cubs to finish the year. On February 2, 2021, Chafin re-signed with the Cubs on a one-year, $2.25 million contract that included a mutual option for 2022. On June 24, 2021, Chafin pitched a combined

against the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

along with

Zach Davies Zachary Ryan Davies (born February 7, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, and Arizona Diamondba ...

, Ryan Tepera, and

Craig Kimbrel Craig Michael Kimbrel (born May 28, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Texas Rangers organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Chicago ...

. In 43 appearances for the Cubs in 2021, Chafin recorded a 2.06 ERA with 37 strikeouts in innings of work.

Oakland Athletics

On July 27, 2021, the Cubs traded Chafin to the

in exchange for Greg Deichmann and

Daniel Palencia Daniel Jesús Palencia (born February 5, 2000) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023. Career Oakland Athletics Palencia signed with the Oakland Athletics ...

. Between the two teams in 2021, Chafin pitched in 71 games, boasting a 1.83 ERA and 64 strikeouts in innings.

Detroit Tigers

On March 17, 2022, Chafin signed a two-year, $13 million contract with the

. On April 6 (retroactive to April 4), the Tigers placed Chafin on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain. He made 64 appearances for the 2022 Tigers, posting 3 saves and a 2.83 ERA, with 67 strikeouts in innings. Chafin opted out of the second year of his Tigers contract on November 6, 2022, making him a free agent.

Arizona Diamondbacks (second stint)

On February 15, 2023, Chafin signed a one-year contract with the

Milwaukee Brewers

On August 1, 2023, Chafin was traded to the

in exchange for pitcher

Peter Strzelecki Peter J. Strzelecki ( ; born October 24, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Cleve ...

. He became a free agent following the season.

Detroit Tigers (second stint)

On December 12, 2023, Chafin signed with the Tigers on a one-year, $4.25 million contract that included a club option for 2025. In 41 appearances for the Tigers in 2024, Chafin recorded a 3.16 ERA with 50 strikeouts across 37 innings pitched.

Texas Rangers

On July 30, 2024, Chafin was traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Chase Lee and Joseph Montalvo. In 21 appearances with the Rangers, he posted a 1-1 record, a 4.19 ERA, and struck out 20 batters in innings pitched. On November 4, the Rangers declined his option for the 2025 season making him a free agent.

Detroit Tigers (third stint)

On February 24, 2025, Chafin signed a minor league contract with the

. In 13 appearances for the Triple-A

Toledo Mud Hens The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Toledo, Ohio, and play their home games at Fifth Third Field. A baseball team nicknamed the ...

, he posted a 2-0 record and 2.13 ERA with 17 strikeouts across innings pitched. Chafin was released by the Tigers organization on April 30.

Washington Nationals

On May 1, 2025, Chafin signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the

Pitch selection

Chafin throws a

four-seam fastball A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch (baseball), pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family of pitches and is usually the fastest ball thrown by a pitcher. It is s ...

and a two-seam

sinking Shipwrecking is any event causing a ship to wreck, such as a collision causing the ship to sink; the stranding of a ship on rocks, land or shoal; poor maintenance, resulting in a lack of seaworthiness; or the destruction of a ship either intent ...

fastball that each average 92 to 94 MPH (topping out at 97 MPH). His main offspeed pitch is a mid-80s slider.

Personal life

Chafin and his wife, Shelbi, have two daughters and a son. They live on a farm near

Massillon, Ohio Massillon is a city in western Stark County, Ohio, United States, along the Tuscarawas River. The population was 32,146 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Massillon is a principal city of the Canton–Massillon metropolitan area, whic ...

References

External links

Kent State Golden Flash bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chafin, Andrew 1990 births Living people Arizona Diamondbacks players Arizona League Diamondbacks players Baseball players from Montgomery County, Ohio Chicago Cubs players Detroit Tigers players Kent State Golden Flashes baseball players Lakeland Flying Tigers players Major League Baseball pitchers Milwaukee Brewers players Mobile BayBears players Oakland Athletics players Orleans Firebirds players Sportspeople from Kettering, Ohio People from Wakeman, Ohio Reno Aces players Salt River Rafters players Texas Rangers players Toledo Mud Hens players Visalia Rawhide players Washington Nationals players