Chase Whitley

Chase Whitley

Whitley with the New York Yankees
Tampa Bay Rays – No. 47
Pitcher
Born: (1989-06-14) June 14, 1989
Ranburne, Alabama
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 15, 2014, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
(through July 31, 2017)
Win–loss record 7–6
Earned run average 4.32
Strikeouts 122
Teams

Chase Coleman Whitley (born June 14, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He pitched in MLB for the New York Yankees in 2014 and 2015.

Early life

Whitley graduated from Ranburne High School in Ranburne, Alabama, in 2007.[1] He attended Southern Union State Community College,[2] and then transferred to Troy University. The Yankees drafted Whitley out of Troy in the 15th round, with the 475th overall selection, of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft.[3]

Whitley had accolades in both baseball and basketball while at Ranburne High.

In baseball:

Won Alabama State Baseball Championship in 2006

2A All-State 1st Team (2004-2005)

2A All-State Honorable Mention (2005-2006)

In basketball:

11th all-time career scorer in basketball in the state of Alabama

1st team 2A All-State in 2007

2nd team 2A All-State in 2006

Honorable Mention 2A All-State in 2005[4]

Professional career

Minor leagues

Whitley made his professional debut as a relief pitcher for the Staten Island Yankees of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League. Serving as the closer for Staten Island,[5] he had a 1.31 earned run average and 15 saves. He was named an All-Star at midseason. In 2011, Whitley pitched for the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League and the Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League, recording seven saves in 42 appearances. In 2012, he pitched in middle relief for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of the Class AAA International League. Returning to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2013, Whitley had a 3–2 win–loss record and three saves in 29 appearances, five of which were starts.[3]

After pitching primarily as a reliever, Whitley began working as a starting pitcher in 2014.[3] The Yankees promoted Whitley to make his major league debut on May 15 against cross-town rival New York Mets in Citi Field.[1][6]

New York Yankees

Whitley made his Major League debut on May 15, 2014 against the New York Mets. During his debut, he pitched 4.2 innings by issuing 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. While batting, he recorded his first career hit off of Jacob deGrom, who also got a hit and made his MLB debut in the same game.[7] Whitley took the no-decision as the Yankees would go on to win against the Mets 1–0. It was the also first Yankee game since 1908 in which both starting pitchers were making their MLB debut.[8] Whitley surrendered his first major league home run on June 12 to Logan Morrison of the Seattle Mariners. On June 23, 2014 against the Blue Jays, Whitley surrendered 8 runs in  3 1⁄3 innings pitched, leading to his first MLB loss as the Yankees lost 3–8 to the Blue Jays. In 24 games (12 starts), he finished the year 4–3 with a 5.23 ERA.

Whitley started the 2015 season with Scranton Wilkes/Barre. He was called up on April 27, and made his first start of the season the next day.[9] After pitching through elbow pain, Whitley exited a start on May 14 in the second inning, and was diagnosed with a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his elbow.[10] Whitley had Tommy John surgery to repair the UCL, and it prematurely ended his 2015 season. In 4 starts, he went 1-2 with a 4.19 ERA.

Tampa Bay Rays

Whitley was claimed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays on November 20, 2015.[11] He began the 2016 season on the 60-day disabled list. He made his first appearance for the Rays on September 11, 2016 against his former team, the Yankees.[12]

Personal life

Whitley has worked at the Excel Baseball Academy in Oxford, Alabama since 2010.[13]

Whitley married Brooklyn Elise Herren in December 2010.[14]

Whitley has one son, Clete Coleman Whitley, born February 22, 2015.

References

  1. 1 2 Thornton, William (May 14, 2014). "Ranburne's Chase Whitley called up to 'The Show,' scheduled to make big-league debut with New York Yankees Thursday". The Birmingham News. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  2. ↑ Shelley, Matt (June 27, 2007). "Southern Union baseball shows no signs of slowing". The Randolph Leader. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Marshall, Ashley. "RailRiders' Whitley fans career-high 11 | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Milb.com. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  4. ↑ "AHSAA > Home". ahsaa.com. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  5. ↑ "Staten Island Yankees closer Chase Whitley relishes another chance". SILive.com. August 9, 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  6. ↑ Snyder, Matt. "Yankees turn to prospect Chase Whitley for rotation help". CBSSports.com. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  7. ↑ Rohan, Tim (May 15, 2014). "In Rookie Duel, a Met Gets a Loss, and a Hit". New York Times. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  8. ↑ Castillo, Jorge (May 15, 2014). "Yankees top Mets, 1–0, in unlikely pitchers' duel". The Star Ledger. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  9. ↑ Rogers, Caitlin. "Whitley called up to start against Rays.". http://www.pinstripealley.com. SB Nation Pinstripe Alley. Retrieved April 27, 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  10. ↑ "Whitley tears UCL: Yankees pitcher could face Tommy John – MLB". SI.com. SI Wire. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Rays claim Chase Whitley off waivers from Yankees". HardballTalk. NBC Sports. November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  12. ↑ Braziller, Zach. "Yankees’ discarded Tommy John victim returns — as a Ray". New York Post. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  13. ↑ Hoch, Bryan (February 8, 2015). "To Alabama youth, Whitley a teacher first, big leaguer second". MLB.com. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Herren/Whitley engagement". Anniston Star. November 21, 2010. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
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