Chris Rusin

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Chris Rusin

|position = Pitcher

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|10|22}}

|birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 21

|debutyear = 2012

|debutteam = Chicago Cubs

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = August 3

|finalyear = 2020

|finalteam = Atlanta Braves

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 20–28

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 4.65

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 341

|teams =

Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2014}})
Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2019}})
Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|2020}})

}}

Christopher Patrick Rusin (born October 22, 1986) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Prior to beginning his professional career, he played college baseball at the University of Kentucky. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, and Atlanta Braves.

College career

Rusin, a graduate of Divine Child High School, enrolled at the University of Kentucky, where he played college baseball for the Kentucky Wildcats in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). As a junior in 2008, Rusin was named to the All-SEC first team after posting a 6–3 win–loss record and a 3.33 earned run average. The Oakland Athletics drafted Rusin in the 23rd round of the 2008 MLB Draft, but he opted to return to Kentucky for his senior season.{{cite web|url=http://www.wkyt.com/sports/headlines/27027884.html|title=Rusin returns to UK baseball team|date=August 15, 2008|website=WKYT.com|access-date=2012-08-22|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232311/http://www.wkyt.com/sports/headlines/27027884.html|url-status=dead}}

Professional career

=Chicago Cubs=

The Chicago Cubs selected Rusin in the fourth round, with the 140th selection of the 2009 MLB Draft, and Rusin signed.

Rusin started the 2010 season with the Daytona Cubs of the High-A Florida State League, and was promoted to the Tennessee Smokies of the Double-A Southern League in August.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-12961168|title=Smokies add pitcher Rusin to the roster Monday|last=Kline|first=Adam|date=August 2, 2010|website=Minor League Baseball|access-date=2012-08-22}}

After pitching for the Iowa Cubs of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in 2012, he made his major league debut for the Cubs on August 21.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/082012aaa.html|title=Chris Rusin to Make MLB Debut Tuesday|date=August 20, 2012|website=Kentucky Wildcats Athletics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826093814/http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/082012aaa.html|archive-date=August 26, 2012|access-date=2012-08-22}} He pitched in seven games in 2012, winning two and losing three. Rusin returned to the Iowa Cubs where he spent the 2013 season until July 2, when he was called up and started a game against the Oakland Athletics.{{cite news |date=July 3, 2013 |title=Derek Norris' 3-run homer caps A's rally to beat Cubs |url=https://www.espn.com/dallas/mlb/recap?gameId=330702111 |access-date=2025-03-14 |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}} He made 13 appearances in 2013, pitching to a 3.93 ERA on the year.

Rusin was among the last players cut from the major league team in spring training in 2014.{{cite news |last1=Birch |first1=Tommy |title=Iowa Cubs lose 10-2 in season opener |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/2014/04/04/iowa-cubs-lose-season-opener/7289879/ |access-date=August 5, 2020 |work=Des Moines Register |date=April 3, 2014}} Pitching for Iowa, Rusin threw a no-hitter on May 7.{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2014/05/07/chris-rusin-throws-no-hitter-for-iowa-cubs/|title=Chris Rusin throws no-hitter for Iowa Cubs|last=Gonzales|first=Mark|date=May 7, 2014|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=2018-05-04}} He allowed 10 runs in {{fraction|12|2|3}} major leagues innings for the Cubs in 2014.

=Colorado Rockies=

On September 27, 2014, Rusin was acquired by the Colorado Rockies, after being placed on waivers by the Cubs.{{cite news |last1=Baer |first1=Bill |date=September 27, 2014 |title=Rockies claim Chris Rusin off waivers from the Cubs |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/rockies-claim-chris-rusin-off-waivers-from-the-cubs |access-date=2025-03-14 |work=NBC Sports}} In 2015, Rusin recorded a 6-10 record and 5.33 ERA in 24 games for the Rockies. In 2016, he pitched to a 3.74 ERA with 69 strikeouts in {{fraction|84|1|3}} innings of work. On August 7, 2016, he gave up Ichiro Suzuki's 3,000th hit.{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Michael |date=August 7, 2016 |title=Rusin gives up Ichiro's 3,000th hit, Rockies lose to Marlins |url=https://apnews.com/2919a4b4b2304cf4958e6e9289e685fb |access-date=August 4, 2020 |work=Associated Press}}

Rusin made 60 appearances for Colorado in 2017, registering a 5-1 record and 2.65 ERA in 85 innings. In 2018, Rusin appeared in 49 games for the Rockies, struggling to a 6.09 ERA with 47 strikeouts in {{fraction|54|2|3}} innings. Rusin spent the majority of the 2019 season in Triple-A with the Albuquerque Isotopes, also allowing 4 earned runs in 1 major league inning.{{Cite web |title=Chris Rusin Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rusinch01.shtml |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}} On June 7, 2019, Rusin was designated for assignment by the Rockies.{{Cite web |last=Todd |first=Jeff |date=2019-06-07 |title=Rockies Activate Blackmon & Davis, Designate Chris Rusin For Assignment |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/06/rockies-activate-blackmon-davis-designate-chris-rusin-for-assignment.html |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} On June 12, he was outrighted to Triple-A. On October 3, Rusin elected free agency.{{cite news |last1=Lowe |first1=Kegan |title=Minor league transactions: September 18–October 3, 2019 |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-transactions-sept-18-oct-3-2019/ |access-date=August 5, 2020 |work=Baseball America |date=October 10, 2019}}

=Atlanta Braves=

On January 18, 2020, Rusin signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves.{{cite news |last1=Harrigan |first1=Thomas |title=Report: Braves agree to Minors deal with Rusin |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/chris-rusin-signs-minor-league-deal-with-braves |access-date=August 5, 2020 |work=MLB.com |date=January 18, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Hilburn-Trenkle |first1=Chris |title=Minor League Transactions |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-transactions-jan-10-feb-20-2020/ |work=Baseball America |date=March 1, 2020}} Rusin started 2020 in major league spring training. However, the completion of spring training and start of the regular season was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 29, Rusin was included among the Braves‘ pool of 60 players eligible to play in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Burns |first1=Gabriel |title=Braves announce initial player pool for 2020 season |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/braves-announce-initial-player-pool-for-2020-season/GniSFHCeJagawSBcEUDCWO/ |access-date=August 5, 2020 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=June 29, 2020}} On August 1, Rusin’s contract was selected to the 40-man roster.{{cite news |last=Odum |first=Charles |date=August 1, 2020 |title=Acuña breaks out with first HR, 2 RBI as Braves top Mets 7-1 |url=https://apnews.com/acuna-breaks-out-with-first-hr-2-rbi-as-braves-top-mets-7-1-b65d329bb45dca28a56a2bc48ad6ebea |access-date=2025-03-14 |work=Associated Press}}{{cite news |last1=Burns |first1=Gabriel |title=Braves designate Jhoulys Chacin, promote Chris Rusin |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/chacin-designated-for-assignment/GW5H2KF335CY3P35EGL3JDKVEE/ |access-date=August 2, 2020 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=August 1, 2020}} Three days later, Rusin was designated for assignment,{{cite news |last=Newberry |first=Paul |date=August 4, 2020 |title=Braves ace Mike Soroka out for year with torn Achilles |url=https://apnews.com/article/4b94b67997242bfc481cde3599401e54 |access-date=2025-03-14 |work=Associated Press}} then outrighted on August 6.{{cite news |last=Odum |first=Charles |date=August 7, 2020 |title=Braves' Markakis hits walkoff HR after opting into season |url=https://apnews.com/braves-markakis-hits-walkoff-hr-after-opting-into-season-7ad82697978d363e5d061a0ef776eec7 |access-date=2025-03-14 |work=Associated Press}} The Braves released Rusin on September 5.{{cite news |last1=Hilburn-Trenkle |first1=Chris |title=Minor league transactions |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-transactions-aug-9-sept-9-2020/ |access-date=September 28, 2020 |work=Baseball America |date=September 9, 2020}}

=Colorado Rockies (second stint)=

On April 12, 2021, Rusin signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.{{Cite web |last=Byrne |first=Connor |date=2021-04-12 |title=Rockies To Sign Chris Rusin |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/rockies-to-sign-chris-rusin.html |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} Rusin made 30 appearances in 2021 for Triple-A Albuquerque, struggling to a 10.41 ERA with only 23 strikeouts. On August 26, Rusin was released by the Rockies organization.{{Cite web |title=Chris Rusin Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/chris-rusin-543734 |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=MLB.com}}