Chase Shugart

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Chase Shugart

|image =

|team = Pittsburgh Pirates

|number = 55

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|10|24}}

|birth_place = Bridge City, Texas, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 15

|debutyear = 2024

|debutteam = Boston Red Sox

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = June 19, 2025

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 3–3

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 3.46

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 28

|teams =

Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|2024}})
Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

}}

Chase C. Shugart (born October 24, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox.

Amateur career

Shugart attended Bridge City High School in Bridge City, Texas, where he played football and baseball.{{cite web|url=https://www.hookem.com/story/with-a-future-at-first-base-a-possibility-zach-zubia-contributing-to-texas-offense/|title=His Texas future may be at first base, but Zach Zubia is already contributing at the plate|website=Hookem.com|accessdate=May 13, 2018}} As a junior in 2014, he compiled a 10–1 win–loss record and a 1.64 earned run average (ERA) with 127 strikeouts in {{frac|72|2|3}} innings pitched, and in 2015, as a senior, he was 10–2 with a 0.67 ERA and, as a batter, had a .544 batting average with nine home runs and 27 runs batted in (RBIs).{{cite web|url=https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/hs/article/Shugart-s-success-fueled-by-family-5572783.php|title=SUPER GOLD: Shugart's success fueled by family|date=June 23, 2014|website=Beaumont Enterprise|accessdate=May 13, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.orangeleader.com/2015/06/18/bcs-shugart-powers-all-leader-baseball-team/|title=BC's Shugart powers All-Leader Baseball Team|date=June 18, 2015|website=Orange Leader|accessdate=May 13, 2018}} Shugart was not selected in the 2015 MLB draft, and he enrolled at the University of Texas to play college baseball for the Texas Longhorns.

As a freshman at Texas in 2016, Shugart made 32 appearances, all in relief, and pitched to a 2–3 record and 4.53 ERA.{{cite web|url=https://www.burntorangenation.com/baseball/2016/6/29/12058042/how-good-will-david-pierces-texas-baseball-team-be-in-2017|title=How good will David Pierce's Texas baseball team be in 2017?|date=June 29, 2016|website=Burnt Orange Nation|accessdate=May 13, 2018}} In 2017, as a sophomore, he was 3–2 with a 3.43 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 42 innings pitched out of the bullpen.{{cite web|url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/college_sports/longhorns/article/Texas-baseball-aims-to-build-on-last-season-s-12617680.php|title=Texas baseball aims to build on last season's success|date=February 15, 2018|website=San Antonio-Express News|accessdate=May 13, 2018}} After the season, he pitched for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|url=https://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=1064964 |title=#34 Chase Shugart - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=August 18, 2024}}{{cite web |url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/team_roster.html?teamid=3436&seasonid=30631 |title=Cotuit Kettleers - Roster |date=2017 |website=Cape Cod Baseball League |via=pointstreak.com |accessdate=July 3, 2018}} Shugart transitioned from a reliever to a starting pitcher as a junior in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.hookem.com/story/chase-shugart-finds-new-role-texas-looks-another-strong-showing-mound/|title=Chase Shugart finds a new role as Texas looks for another strong showing on the mound|website=Hookem.com|accessdate=May 13, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hookem.com/columns/bohls-texas-chase-shugart-short-not-swagger-results/|title=Bohls: Texas' Chase Shugart short, but not on swagger or results|website=Hookem.com|accessdate=May 13, 2018}} He pitched for Texas in the 2018 College World Series until the Longhorns were eliminated by the Florida Gators on June 19.{{cite news |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/longhorns/article/UT-eliminated-from-College-World-Series-with-loss-13008751.php |title=UT eliminated from College World Series by Florida |first=Nick |last=Moyle |website=Houston Chronicle |date=June 19, 2018 |accessdate=June 20, 2018}} He finished his junior year with a 5–3 record and a 4.36 ERA in {{frac|84|2|3}} innings pitched.{{cite web |url=https://www.hookem.com/2018/06/23/chase-shugart-set-join-boston-red-sox-organization/ |title=Chase Shugart set to join Boston Red Sox organization |first=Cat |last=Vasquez |website=hookem.com |date=June 23, 2018}}

Professional career

=Boston Red Sox=

On June 6, 2018, Shugart was selected by the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the 12th round of the 2018 MLB draft, with the 370th overall pick.{{cite web |url=https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/hs/article/Bridge-City-grad-drafted-by-Boston-Red-Sox-12972553.php |title=Bridge City grad drafted by Boston Red Sox |website=beaumontenterprise.com |date=June 6, 2018 }} On June 22, Shugart announced via Twitter that he would forego his final year at Texas in order to sign with the Red Sox.{{cite news |url=https://www.burntorangenation.com/2018/6/22/17494504/texas-longhorns-baseball-major-league-draft-signings-nolan-kingham-chase-shugart-andy-mcguire |title=Texas baseball players announce signings with major league teams |first=Wescott |last=Eberts |website=burntorangenation.com |date=June 22, 2018 |accessdate=June 22, 2018}} He signed with Boston on July 6,{{cite web |url=http://m.redsox.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2018/07 |title=Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=MLB.com |date=July 2018 |accessdate=July 6, 2018 |archive-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206033500/http://m.redsox.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2018/07 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://www.orangeleader.com/2018/07/09/shugart-signs-minor-league-deal-with-red-sox/ |title=Shugart signs Minor league deal with Red Sox |first=Van |last=Wade |newspaper=The Orange Leader |location=Orange, Texas |date=July 9, 2018 |accessdate=July 12, 2018}} and first pitched in mid-August for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox, where he made three appearances with a 1.80 ERA in five innings of work. In late August, he was assigned to the Lowell Spinners of the Low–A New York-Penn League, with whom he made one scoreless appearance.

On March 22, 2019, MLB suspended Shugart for fifty games "after a second positive test violating the drug prevention and treatment program."{{cite news |url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2019/03/boston-red-sox-prospect-chase-shugart-suspended-50-games-for-second-positive-drug-test.html |title=Boston Red Sox prospect Chase Shugart suspended 50 games for second positive drug test |first=Chris |last=Cotillo |website=masslive.com |date=March 22, 2019 |accessdate=March 26, 2019}}{{cite tweet |user=jcmccaffrey |number=1109192717572149248 |title=MLB announces Red Sox minor league RHP Chase Shugart, who is currently on the Single-A Greenville roster, has received a 50-game suspension without pay after a second positive test violating the drug prevention and treatment program |date=March 22, 2019 |accessdate=March 26, 2019}} Shugart subsequently made his first appearance of the 2019 season on May 27 with the Greenville Drive of the Single-A South Atlantic League, spending the remainder of the year there. Over 16 starts, Shugart went 6–4 with a 2.81 ERA, striking out 73 over {{fraction|89|2|3}} innings.{{cite web |url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=milb&player_id=663767 |title=Chase Shugart |website=MiLB.com |accessdate=October 1, 2019}} After the 2020 minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shugart was invited to participate in the Red Sox' fall instructional league.{{cite news |url=http://news.soxprospects.com/2020/10/red-sox-2020-fall-instructional-camp.html |title=Red Sox 2020 Fall Instructional Camp roster and details |first=Chris |last=Hatfield |website=SoxProspects.com |date=October 4, 2020 |accessdate=October 15, 2020}} For the 2021 season, Shugart returned to Greenville, now members of the High-A East, started 22 games and pitched to a 6–6 record, a 4.78 ERA, and 93 strikeouts over {{frac|105|1|3}} innings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wyff4.com/article/greenville-drive-announces-2021-opening-day-roster/36312402#|title=Greenville Drive announces 2021 Opening Day roster |website=wyff4.com |date=May 4, 2021}} He opened the 2022 season with the Portland Sea Dogs of the Double-A Eastern League and moved into the bullpen.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2022/04/05/pitching-prospects-highlight-sea-dogs-opening-day-roster/|title=Pitching prospects highlight Sea Dogs' Opening Day roster |website=pressherald.com |date=April 5, 2022}} In early July, he was promoted to the Worcester Red Sox of the Triple-A International League.{{cite web | url=http://news.soxprospects.com/2022/07/cup-of-coffee-mata-strikes-out-five.html | title=Cup of Coffee: Mata strikes out five; Downs reaches five times |website=soxprospects.com |date=July 4, 2022}} On August 4, he pitched two innings of a combined no-hitter alongside Michael Wacha and Andrew Politi versus the Durham Bulls.{{cite web | url=https://www.masslive.com/worcesterredsox/2022/08/delvin-granbergs-9th-inning-diving-catch-saves-woosox-no-hitter-as-michael-wacha-aj-politi-and-chase-shugart-combine-for-masterpiece.html | title=Devlin Granberg's 9th inning diving catch saves WooSox no-hitter |website=masslive.com | date=August 5, 2022 }} Over 45 games (one start) between the two affiliates, Shugart went 5–5 with a 5.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts over {{frac|62|2|3}} innings.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/player/chase-shugart-663767 | title=Chase Shugart Stats, Fantasy & News |website=milb.com}}

Shugart spent the entirety of the 2023 season with Triple–A Worcester. In 40 appearances with the club, he struggled to an 8.22 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 4 saves over 46 innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Chase Shugart - Stats - Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/chase-shugart/21544/stats?position=P|access-date=September 21, 2024|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}} He returned to Worcester to begin the 2024 campaign.

On August 12, 2024, Shugart was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|title=Red Sox Select Chase Shugart, Mickey Gasper; Designate Jamie Westbrook For Assignment|url= https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/red-sox-select-chase-shugart-mickey-gasper-designate-jamie-westbrook-for-assignment.html|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date= August 12, 2024|language=en}} In 6 games for Boston, he logged a 4.15 ERA with 8 strikeouts and 1 save across {{fraction|8|2|3}} innings pitched. Shugart was designated for assignment following the acquisition of Blake Sabol on January 15, 2025.{{Cite web|title=Giants Trade Blake Sabol To Red Sox|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/giants-trade-blake-sabol-red-sox.html|access-date=January 15, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

On January 17, 2025, Shugart was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Matt McShane.{{Cite web|title=Pirates To Acquire Chase Shugart|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/red-sox-trade-chase-shugart-pirates.html|access-date=January 17, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He was optioned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians to begin the season.{{Cite web|title=Pirates make 2nd round of spring training cuts|url=https://community.triblive.com/news/3750386|access-date=March 18, 2025|website=community.triblive.com|language=en}} On April 22, Shugart recorded his first career win after tossing two scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels.{{Cite web|title=Shugart dedicates 1st MLB win to the grandparents who raised him|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/chase-shugart-honors-his-grandparents-with-first-win|access-date=April 29, 2025|website=mlb.com|language=en}}