Chase Lee

Lee grew up in McCalla, Alabama and attended McAdory High School. He played mostly shortstop in high school and was used as a pitcher sparingly in one season.{{cite web|url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20190201/dream-now-reality-for-alabama-baseball-walk-on|title=Dream now a reality for Alabama baseball walk-on|first=Mike|last=Jones|work=The Tuscaloosa News|date=February 1, 2019|access-date=August 11, 2021}}

Lee enrolled at the University of Alabama after having received no offers to play college baseball. He tried out for the Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team as a freshman, but was not offered a spot on the team. Lee changed his pitching motion to a sidearm delivery at the recommendation of Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon and joined the Alabama club baseball team, where he posted a 7–0 record and a 0.21 ERA.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/chase-lee-drafted-by-texas-rangers-in-6th-round|title='The Viper': Lee's unusual path to MLB Draft|first=Justice|last=delos Santos|website=MLB.com|date=July 13, 2021|access-date=August 11, 2021}}

Lee made the Crimson Tide as a walk-on the following season and posted a 2.67 ERA in 22 appearances with 24 strikeouts over {{frac|31|1|3}} innings pitched. After the end of the season he played collegiate summer baseball for the Bethesda Big Train of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League and was named the league's Pitcher of the Year after leading the league with 51 strikeouts and seven saves with an ERA of 1.03.{{Cite web|url=http://www.calripkenleague.org/view/calripkenleague/news/news_524614|title = 2019 CRCBL Pitcher of the Year – Chase Lee | Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League}} Lee was named Alabama's closer going into his redshirt sophomore season and had a 1.64 ERA and 19 strikeouts in five appearances before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/alabama/bamacentral/the-viper-the-journey-of-alabama-baseballs-chase-lee-blackwell|title='The Viper': The Unconventional Journey of Alabama Baseball's Chase Lee|first=Joey|last=Blackwell|website=SI.com|date=May 7, 2021|access-date=August 11, 2021}} As a junior, he was named a third team All-American after posting a 7–0 record with a 1.33 ERA and 51 strikeouts in {{frac|40|2|3}} innings pitched.{{cite web|url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/2021/06/17/alabama-baseball-pitcher-chase-lee-named-third-team-all-america/7722399002/|title=Alabama baseball pitcher Chase Lee named third team All-America|work=The Tuscaloosa News|date=July 17, 2021|access-date=August 11, 2021}}

Lee was selected by the Texas Rangers in the sixth round of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2021/07/alabamas-chase-lee-drafted-by-texas-rangers.html|title=Alabama's Chase Lee drafted by Texas Rangers|first=Creg|last=Stephenson|website=AL.com|date=July 12, 2021|access-date=August 11, 2021}}{{Cite web|last=delos Santos|first=Justice|date=July 13, 2021|title='The Viper': Lee's unusual path to MLB Draft|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/chase-lee-drafted-by-texas-rangers-in-6th-round|access-date=August 13, 2021|website=MLB.com|language=en}} After signing with the team he was assigned to the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Rangers, where he made one appearance before being promoted to the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2752853/2021/08/05/projecting-a-2023-rangers-opening-day-roster-part-2-pitchers/|title=Projecting a 2023 Rangers Opening Day roster, Part 2: Pitchers|first=Levi|last=Weaver|website=The Athletic|date=August 5, 2021|access-date=August 11, 2021}} He finished the season going 0–1 with a 3.71 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 17 innings for Frisco.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2893409/2021/10/18/for-rangers-pitching-prospects-chase-lee-tai-tiedemann-and-daniel-robert-the-path-to-frisco-has-been-unusual/|title=For Rangers pitching prospects Chase Lee, Tai Tiedemann and Daniel Robert, the path to Frisco has been unusual|first=Levi|last=Weaver|website=The Athletic|date=October 18, 2021|access-date=March 1, 2022}} Lee returned to Frisco to open the 2022 season, going 1–1 with a 2.25 ERA and 30 strikeouts over 24 innings, before being promoted to the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League on June 14.{{Cite web |last1=Callis |first1=Jim |last2=Mayo |first2=Jonathan |last3=Dykstra |first3=Sam |date=June 16, 2022 |title=Best 2021 Draft prospect from each system |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/best-2021-draft-prospect-from-each-system |access-date=June 17, 2022 |website=MLB.com}} With Round Rock, Lee went 1–1 with a 5.46 ERA and 41 strikeouts over {{frac|31|1|3}} innings. Lee was named the Texas Rangers 2022 minor league Reliever of the Year.{{Cite web |last=Bigley |first=Zach |date=October 3, 2022 |title=Former Riders sweep 2022 Rangers MiLB awards |url=https://www.milb.com/news/former-riders-sweep-2022-rangers-milb-awards |access-date=November 20, 2022 |website=MiLB.com}}

Lee received a non-roster invitation to major league spring training in 2023 and returned to Round Rock for the 2023 season, going 3–4 with a 3.98 ERA and 87 strikeouts over {{frac|63|1|3}} innings.{{Cite magazine |last=Postins |first=Matthew |date=January 28, 2023 |title=Rangers Invite Top Prospects to Spring Training |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/jack-leiter-kumar-rocker-texas-rangers-spring-training-invitation |access-date=February 1, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}

On July 30, 2024, Lee and Joseph Montalvo were traded to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Andrew Chafin.{{cite news |title=Rangers acquire lefty reliever Andrew Chafin from Tigers |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40684002/sources-rangers-acquire-lefty-reliever-andrew-chafin-tigers |access-date=July 30, 2024 |work=ESPN.com |date=July 30, 2024}} In 17 appearances for the Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens, he logged a 1–3 record and 3.27 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 22 innings pitched. Following the season, the Tigers added Lee to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web|title=Tigers Designate Three Players For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/tigers-designate-three-players-for-assignment.html|access-date=November 21, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=November 19, 2024 |language=en}}

Lee was optioned to Triple-A Toledo to begin the 2025 season.{{Cite web|title=Detroit Tigers make second round of cuts from major league camp|url=https://www.blessyouboys.com/2025/3/9/24381645/detroit-tigers-news-matt-manning-tyler-owens-tyler-mattison-chase-lee-roster-options|access-date=March 12, 2025|website=blessyouboys.com|language=en}} On April 22, 2025, Lee was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|title=Tigers Promote Chase Lee For MLB Debut|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/tigers-promote-chase-lee-for-mlb-debut.html|access-date=April 22, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He made his major league debut that evening against the San Diego Padres, tossing {{frac|1|2|3}} scoreless innings with one strikeout.{{Cite web|title=Padres vs. Tigers Final Box|url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/padres-vs-tigers/2025/04/22/778221/final/box|access-date=April 23, 2025|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

{{reflist}}

{{baseballstats|mlb=695445|espn=4414112|br=l/leech02|fangraphs=sa3016946|brm=lee---016cha}}

• [https://rolltide.com/sports/baseball/roster/chase-lee/6850 Alabama Crimson Tide bio]

{{Detroit Tigers roster navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Chase}}

Category:1998 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alabama Crimson Tide baseball players

Category:Arizona Complex League Rangers players

Category:Baseball players from Birmingham, Alabama

Category:Bethesda Big Train players

Category:Detroit Tigers players

Category:Frisco RoughRiders players

Category:Major League Baseball pitchers

Category:Round Rock Express players

Category:Toledo Mud Hens players