Chris Bassitt

Lore & Background

Bassitt attended Genoa Area High School in Genoa, Ohio, where he played for his school's baseball and basketball teams. In his senior year, he was named to the All-Suburban Lakes League first team in both sports. He had a 1.56 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 56 innings pitched for the baseball team in 2007. He enrolled at the University of Akron, where he played college baseball for the Akron Zips. He took a redshirt in his first year. In 2009, as a redshirt freshman, he served as the Zips' closer, posting a 1–2 record, 3.52 ERA, and seven saves. In his sophomore year, he pitched in only one game, focusing on academics. In 2011, his junior year, he pitched to a 1.42 ERA and was named to the All-MAC second team. The Chicago White Sox selected him in the 16th round of the 2011 MLB draft. He signed and was assigned to the Bristol White Sox. In 2013, he began with the Winston-Salem Dash, was named an all-star, and was promoted to the Birmingham Barons. The White Sox used him as a starting pitcher in 2013. He broke his right hand prior to the 2014 season. He made his MLB debut on August 30, 2014, against the Detroit Tigers. After the 2014 season, the White Sox traded him to the Oakland Athletics. He underwent Tommy John surgery on May 5, 2016. On May 27, 2021, he threw his first career complete game against the Los Angeles Angels. On August 17, 2021, he was struck in the face by a line drive and exited on a motorized stretcher, returning on September 23, 2021. On March 12, 2022, the Athletics traded him to the New York Mets. On December 16, 2022, he signed a three-year, $63 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. On May 12, 2023, he threw a complete-game shutout against the Atlanta Braves. On February 13, 2026, he signed a one-year, $18.5 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles.

In Their Own Story

The evening air at Rogers Centre was crisp as Chris Bassitt stepped onto the mound, the stadium lights reflecting off the dew on the grass. With a deep breath, he adjusted his cap, eyes locked on home plate where the batter stood ready. The crowd's roar faded into a familiar hum; this was his element. He gripped the ball, felt the seams, and delivered a sharp fastball that snapped over the plate. It wasn't just about striking out batters tonight; it was about holding the line, inning after inning, proving once again why he belongs in Toronto.

Reader's Guide

Chris Bassitt is a right-handed pitcher known for throwing eight pitches: a four-seam fastball, sinker, cut fastball, slider, changeup, splitter, sweeper, and curveball. He throws with great deception, as most of his pitches have either a lot of rise or a lot of break. He has pitched for the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Baltimore Orioles. His MLB debut was in 2014. He was named American League Pitcher of the Month for September 2020. He was nominated for the All-MLB Team in 2023.

Did You Know?

• Chris Bassitt was named to the All-Suburban Lakes League first team in both baseball and basketball in his senior year of high school.
• Bassitt took a redshirt in his first year at the University of Akron.
• He threw his first career complete game on May 27, 2021, against the Los Angeles Angels.
• Bassitt signed a three-year, $63 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on December 16, 2022.
• He was placed on the 60-day injured list with the Baltimore Orioles on July 17, 2026, due to low back discomfort.