Chris Kwitzer
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1995)}}
{{Infobox MLB player
| name = Chris Kwitzer
| team = Hagerstown Flying Boxcars
| number =
| position = infielder
| bats = Left
| throws = Right
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|1|26}}
| birth_place = Buffalo, New York, U.S.
}}
Chris Kwitzer (born January 26, 1995) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He played for the Spain national baseball team in the 2023 and 2026 World Baseball Classic qualification.
Early life and college career
Born on January 26, 1995, in Buffalo, New York, to Mark and Ann. Kwitzer attended St. Mary's High School in Lancaster. Kwitzer earned eight letters and was captain six times for St. Mary's, where he played hockey and football along with baseball.{{cite web |title=2016-17 Baseball Chris Kwitzer |url=https://ubbulls.com/sports/baseball/roster/chris-kwitzer/217|website=ubbulls.com|access-date=10 June 2024}}
Kwitzer played college baseball for the Buffalo Bulls. On February 27, 2017, Kwitzer was named MAC East Player of the Week.{{cite web |title=UB’s Chris Kwitzer Named MAC East Player Of The Week|url=https://pickinsplinters.com/2017/02/27/ubs-chris-kwitzer-named-mac-east-player-of-the-week/|website=pickinsplinters.com|access-date=9 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Marquardt Named MAC West Pitcher of the Week|url=https://ballstatesports.com/news/2017/2/27/baseball-marquardt-named-mac-west-pitcher-of-the-week|website=ballstatesports.com|access-date=9 July 2024}} In his Senior season he was named All-MAC First team at the third base position.{{cite web |title=All-MAC Baseball Teams & Specialty Award Winners Announced|url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2017/5/23/all-mac-baseball-teams-specialty-award-winners-announced.aspx|website=getsomemaction.com|access-date=10 June 2024}} Over 158 games, Kwitzer hit eight home runs, 30 doubles and 11 triples. He held a .287 batting average and scored 73 runs.
He also played three years of collegiate summer baseball from 2014 to 2016. In 2014, he played for the Cortland Crush of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. In 2015, he played for the Adirondack Trail Blazers of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. In 2016, he played for the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League. In late June, Kwitzer returned to the PGCBL where he played for the Glens Falls Dragons and was named a 2016 PGCBL Eastern Division All-Star.{{cite web |title=Five Dutchmen Selected to All-Star Game|url=https://www.dutchmenbaseball.com/news/index.html?article_id=732|website=dutchmenbaseball.com|access-date=9 July 2024}} He also participated and won the home run derby.{{cite web |title=PGCBL All-Stars take part in Home Run Derby|url=https://cbs6albany.com/sports/content/pgcbl-all-stars-take-part-in-home-run-derby|website=cbs6albany.com|access-date=9 July 2024}}
Professional career
=Santa Fe Fuego=
Kwitzer began his professional career for the Santa Fe Fuego of the Pecos League in 2018. After 11 games, Kwitzer joined the Salina Stockade and Hollywood Stars who were guest teams of the Canadian-American Association. After 18 games between the two clubs, Kwitzer returned to Santa Fe where he was selected to the New Mexico Division All-Star team. He also participated and won the Home Run Derby.{{cite web |title=Mountain All Stars shine brightly at Central Park|url=https://worldjournalnewspaper.com/mountain-all-stars-shine-brightly-at-central-park/|website=worldjournalnewspaper.com|access-date=9 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=All Star home runs sail out of the park|url=https://worldjournalnewspaper.com/all-star-home-runs-sail-out-of-the-park/|website=worldjournalnewspaper.com|access-date=9 July 2024}}
=Pittsburg Diamonds=
{{See also|2018 Pacific Association season}}
On July 31, 2018, Kwitzer appeared in his first game with the Pittsburg Diamonds of the Pacific Association. In his first game with the Diamonds, Kwitzer hit a grand slam in a 13–3 victory against the Vallejo Admirals.{{cite web |title=Pittsburg Diamonds vs Vallejo Admirals: 13-3|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=464345|website=pointstreak.com|access-date=28 June 2024}}
Over his first professional season across four teams and three leagues, Kwitzer had 33 extra base hits over 75 games while holding a .350 average and 65 runs batted in.
=Sonoma Stompers=
{{See also|2019 Pacific Association season}}
In 2019, the corner infielder produced at a .309/.385/.500 clip with 56 RBIs in 58 games for the Sonoma Stompers of the Pacific Association. His play earned him 2019 Gilded Glove winner at the third base position.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stompersbaseball.com/news/2020/1/30/four-stompers-win-gilded-glove-awards|title=FOUR STOMPERS WIN GILDED GLOVE AWARDS|website=Stompersbaseball.com}}
In the winter, Kwitzer played for Aguilas Metropolitanas of the Panamanian Professional Baseball League.{{cite web |title=Statistics As of December 30, 2019 |url=https://www.aguilasmetropolitanas.com/estadisticas-2019-2020|website=aguilasmetropolitanas.com|access-date=10 June 2024}}
=Washington Wild Things=
In 2020, Kwitzer signed with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he played an abbreviated 18 games with the Wild Things where he held a .296 average over 71 at-bats.
He then joined the Jersey Wise Guys of the All-American Baseball Challenge where he hit .352 over 13 games.{{cite web |title=Chris Kwitzer Overview |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kwitze000chr|website=baseball-reference.com|access-date=10 June 2024}} In September, Kwitzer joined the Saranac Lake Surge of the Empire Professional Baseball League. Over 11 games, Kwizter went 17–44 with six home runs and 15 RBIs.{{cite web |title=Chris Kwitzer |url=http://empireproleague.com/player/chris-kwitzler/|website=empireproleague.com|access-date=10 June 2024}}
=Tri-City ValleyCats=
On November 9, 2020, Kwizter signed with the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League.{{cite web |title=2020 Transactions|url=https://frontierleague.com/information/Transactions/2020_Transactions|website=frontierleague.com|access-date=9 July 2024}} In April, Kwitzer appeared in games for the newly formed Party Animals who played against the Savannah Bananas.{{cite web |title=Former ValleyCat Chris Kwitzer does damage to his old team |url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Former-ValleyCat-Chris-Kwitzer-does-damage-to-his-17303570.php|website=timesunion.com|access-date=10 June 2024}}
On May 21, 2021, the Lake Erie Crushers traded Kwitzer to the Tri-City ValleyCats before ever appearing in a game.{{cite web |title=2021 Transactions|url=https://frontierleague.com/information/Transactions/2021Transactions|website=frontierleague.com|access-date=9 July 2024}} In June, Kwitzer served a three-game suspension for an on-field altercation against the New Jersey Jackals. In August, Kwitzer was suspended 12-games by the Frontier League for a benches-clearing fight in the ninth inning against the Sussex County Miners.{{cite web |title=ValleyCats player suspended for rest of season |url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/ValleyCats-player-suspended-for-rest-of-season-16420087.php|website=timesunion.com|access-date=10 June 2024}}
=New York Boulders (2022–2024)=
==2022: RBI leader==
{{See also|2022 Frontier League season|2022–23 Australian Baseball League season}}
In 2022, Kwitzer signed with the New York Boulders of the Frontier League. Over 92 games, Kwitzer had a career high 20 home runs, 24 doubles and a league leading 96 RBIs. He also stole a then career-high 13 bases in 14 attempts while holding a .301 average.
In the fall, Kwitzer signed with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League. Over 37 games, Kwitzer had eight extra base hits and 19 RBIs.{{cite web |title=Cavalry recruit Chris Kwitzer looking to bring the party atmosphere to Canberra|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7974933/cavalrys-kwitzer-a-keen-party-animal/|website=canberratimes.com|access-date=10 June 2024}}
==2023: First All-Star selection and award==
{{See also|2023 Frontier League season}}
In 2023, Kwitzer batted .301 for the second consecutive season over 95 games. He was successful in 21 of 23 stolen bases attempts, which was a career-high. On July 6, 2023, Kwitzer was named an Eastern Division alternate All-Star for the 2023 Frontier League All-Star game.{{cite web |title=Kwitzer Named All-Star Game Alternate|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/kwitzer-named-all-star-game-alternate/n-5985868|website=oursportscentral.com|access-date=9 July 2024}} He also participated and won the Outfield throwing competition.{{cite web |title=2023 ALL-STAR SKILLS CONTEST AND HOME RUN DERBY TONIGHT|url=https://www.frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2022-23/releases/20230710n504g5|website=frontierleague.com|access-date=10 June 2024}} On August 7, Kwitzer was named Frontier League Player of the Week where he had a 1.429 OPS, nine RBIs, 2 home runs and a .455 average.{{cite web |title=BOULDERS KWITZER WINS PLAYER OF THE WEEK, WILD THINGS FREGIO WINS PITCHER OF THE WEEK.|url=https://www.frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2022-23/releases/20230807lg60nb|website=frontierleague.com|access-date=10 June 2024}}
==2024 season==
{{See also|2024 Frontier League season}}
On April 8, 2024, Kwitzer re-signed with the Boulders.{{cite web |title=2023-24 Transactions|url=https://frontierleague.com/information/Transactions/index|website=frontierleague.com|access-date=9 July 2024}} On July 5, he was named an Eastern Division All-Star reserve for the 2024 Frontier League All-Star game.{{cite web |title=2024 ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS ANNOUNCED|url=https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/releases/20240704o9jucz|website=frontierleague.com|access-date=9 July 2024}} In 93 appearances for the Boulders, Kwitzer batted .271/.321/.436 with 14 home runs, 62 RBI, and four stolen bases.
Kwitzer was released by the Boulders on March 27, 2025.{{Cite web|title=Frontier League Transactions|url=https://www.frontierleague.com/transactions|access-date=March 27, 2025|website=frontierleague.com|language=en}}
=Hagerstown Flying Boxcars=
On March 27, 2025, Kwitzer signed with the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{cite web | url=https://x.com/goflyingboxcars/status/1905326031751299266 | title=A Frontier League All-Star is heading to Western Maryland... welcome to Hagerstown, Chris Kwitzer! }}
==Independent statistics==
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan="2"| Legend |
|---|
| style="background:#cfecec;|
| Led league |
| Bold
| Career high |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| League ! colspan="14"| Hitting | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA |
| rowspan="4"|2018 || style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Miami Dolphins|Santa Fe Fuego|border=2}}" | Santa Fe Fuego || PECO
| 32 || 158 || 140 || 43 || 60 || 7 || 1 || 11 || 42 || 3 || 1 || 11 || 25 || .429 | |||||||||||||
| style="{{Baseball primary style|Toronto Blue Jays|Salina Stockade (baseball|border=2}}" | Salina Stockade (baseball) || rowspan="2"|CAMA
| 9 || 35 || 33 || 5 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 12 || .152 | |||||||||||||
| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Steelers|Hollywood Stars (Pecos League)|border=2}}" | Hollywood Stars (Pecos League)
| 9 || 38 || 35 || 3 || 10 || 2 || 0 || 1 || 4 || 0 || 1 || 2 || 8 || .286 | |||||||||||||
| style="{{Baseball primary style|San Francisco Giants|Pittsburg Diamonds|border=2}}"| Pittsburg Diamonds || PACA
| 25 || 112 || 95 || 16 || 31 || 7 || 0 || 1 || 18 || 1 || 0 || 15 || 17 ||.326 | |||||||||||||
| 2019 || style="{{Baseball primary style|Detroit Tigers|border=2}}"| Sonoma Stompers || PACA
| 58 || 273 || 236 || 50 || 73 || 14 || 2 || 9 || 56 || 2 || 2 || 29 || 61 ||.309 | |||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|2020 || style="{{Baseball primary style|Washington Wild Things|border=2}}"| Washington Wild Things || WASH
| 18 || 73 || 71 || 10 || 21 || 2 || 1 || 2 || 8 || 2 || 1 || 1 || 18 ||.296 | |||||||||||||
| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Seattle Dragons|Jersey|border=2}}"| All-American Baseball Challenge || AABC
| 13 || 60 || 54 || 8 || 19 || 3 || 1 || 1 || 6 || 3 || 1 || 5 || 14 ||.352 | |||||||||||||
| 2021 || style="{{Baseball primary style|Tri-City ValleyCats|border=2}}"| Tri-City ValleyCats || FRON
| 52 || 154 || 142 || 23 || 37 || 10 || 0 || 5 || 17 || 0 || 0 || 6 || 38 ||.261 | |||||||||||||
| 2022 || style="{{Baseball primary style|New York Boulders|border=2}}"| New York Boulders || FRON
| 92 || 415 || 382 || 68 || 115 || 24 || 3 || 20 || style="background:#cfecec;"|96 || 13 || 1 || 26 || 104 ||.301 | |||||||||||||
| 2023 || style="{{Baseball primary style|New York Boulders|border=2}}"| New York Boulders || FRON
| 95 || 401 || 365 || 52 || 110 || 21 || 4 || 6 || 48 || 21 || 2 || 28 || 82 ||.301 | |||||||||||||
| 2024 || style="{{Baseball primary style|New York Boulders|border=2}}"| New York Boulders || FRON
| 93 || 418 || 388 || 56 || 105 || 20 || 1 || 14 || 62 || 4 || 2 || 23 || 91 ||.271 | |||||||||||||
| align=center colspan="3" |[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kwitze000chr Career] || 496 || 2,137 || 1,941 || 334 || 586 || 112 || 13 || 70 || 358 || 50 || 11 || 147 || 470 || .302 |
==Australian Baseball League statistics==
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="14"| Hitting | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA |
| 2022–23 || style="{{Baseball primary style|Canberra Cavalry|border=2}}"| Canberra Cavalry
| 37 || 148 || 140 || 18 || 34 || 4 || 1 || 3 || 19 || 0 || 1 || 4 || 28 ||.243 |
International career
=Spain=
Played for Spain in the 2023 World Baseball Classic qualification.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/world-baseball-classic-2022-germany-qualifier-recaps|title=Great Britain punches ticket to World Baseball Classic|website=mlb.com}} Played in all four games as a right fielder and designated hitter, with a .313 average (5 for 16, 2B, 2 RBI, BB).{{cite web |title=MLB Gameday|url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/czech-republic-vs-spain/2022/09/21/718884/final/box|website=mlb.com|access-date=29 June 2024}} He also represented Spain during the 2026 World Baseball Classic qualifiers and was described on the WBSC website as "known to be the centre of the offence."{{cite news |title=Taipei World Baseball Classic Qualifier: Favourites Chinese Taipei keep composed |url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/taipei-world-baseball-classic-qualifier-favourites-chinese-taipei-keep-composed |access-date=27 February 2025 |publisher=World Baseball Softball Confederation |date=February 20, 2025 |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|brm=kwitze000chr}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kwitzer, Chris}}
Category:Salina Stockade players
Category:Hollywood Stars players
Category:Pittsburg Diamonds players
Category:Sonoma Stompers players
Category:Canberra Cavalry players
Category:2023 World Baseball Classic players
Category:Buffalo Bulls baseball players
Category:American expatriate baseball players in Australia
Category:Adirondack Trail Blazers players
Category:Spanish baseball players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:21st-century Spanish sportsmen