Chad Bettis

Former Colorado Rockies pitcher who overcame testicular cancer to return to the mound.

Chad Robert Bettis (born April 26, 1989) is a former American professional baseball pitcher who spent his MLB career with the Colorado Rockies. He debuted in the majors in 2013 after playing college baseball at Texas Tech University.

Growing up in Lubbock, Texas, Bettis attended Monterey High School, where he earned all-region honors before his senior year. He went on to Texas Tech, playing for the Red Raiders, and spent the summer of 2008 with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

The Houston Astros drafted him in the eighth round of the 2007 MLB draft, but he did not sign. Three years later, the Rockies selected him in the second round (76th overall) of the 2010 draft. A shoulder injury cost him the entire 2012 season, but MLB named him the fourth-best prospect in Colorado’s system heading into 2013.

Bettis made his big-league debut on August 1, 2013, allowing five runs over five innings in a loss, striking out one and walking five. The Rockies moved him to the bullpen in 2014, but after a 9.12 ERA in 21 appearances, he was sent down to Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he returned to the starting rotation on August 4. He entered spring training in 2015 as a starter but was optioned to the minors.

In 2016, Bettis spent the full season in the Rockies’ rotation, posting a 4.79 ERA over 189 innings. That December, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery to remove a testicle, expecting a full recovery. By March 2017, however, the cancer had spread, requiring chemotherapy. He returned to the majors on August 14, 2017, throwing seven scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves with two strikeouts and six hits allowed. A blister injury landed him on the disabled list on July 3, 2018.

Bettis struggled early in 2019 and was moved to the bullpen, finishing with a 1–6 record in 39 games. On October 30, 2019, the Rockies outrighted him off the roster, and he elected free agency. He signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees on February 16, 2020, but announced his retirement on June 25, 2020.

Bettis and his wife, Kristina, welcomed a daughter in April 2017.