Jace Fry
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1993)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox MLB player
|name=Jace Fry
|image=Jace Fry (52832528107) (cropped).jpg
|caption=Fry with the Toledo Mud Hens in 2023
|team=
|number=
|position=Pitcher
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1993|7|9}}
|birth_place=Beaverton, Oregon, U.S.
| debutleague = MLB
| debutdate = September 5
| debutyear = 2017
| debutteam = Chicago White Sox
| finalleague = MLB
| finaldate = September 21
| finalyear = 2021
| finalteam = Chicago White Sox
| statleague = MLB
| stat1label = Win–loss record
| stat1value = 5–9
| stat2label = Earned run average
| stat2value = 5.04
| stat3label = Strikeouts
| stat3value = 168
|teams=
- Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|2017}}–{{mlby|2021}})
}}
Jace Hayden Fry (born July 9, 1993) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox. Prior to his professional career, he played college baseball for the Oregon State Beavers.
Amateur career
Growing up in Beaverton, Oregon, Fry played Little League Baseball. His team, Murrayhill Little League, represented the Northwest in the 2006 Little League World Series, where the team made it to the U.S. championship game.{{cite web|last=Whitehead |first=Johnnie |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/llws/2006-08-17-injuries_x.htm |title=How much is too much for young arms? |work=USA Today |date=August 18, 2006 |access-date=June 12, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.littleleague.org/series/2006divisions/llbb/gamestories/26saturday/game29/game29.htm|title=Georgia Had World Series on Its Mind|date=August 26, 2006|access-date=June 13, 2014|publisher=LittleLeague.org|archive-date=December 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221075429/http://www.littleleague.org/series/2006divisions/llbb/gamestories/26saturday/game29/game29.htm|url-status=dead}}
Fry graduated from Southridge High School in Beaverton,{{cite web|url=http://highschoolsports.oregonlive.com/news/article/-3839760392135758415/southridge-alum-jace-fry-picked-by-chicago-white-sox-beaverton-area-sports-roundup-links/ |title=Southridge alum Jace Fry picked by Chicago White Sox: Beaverton area sports roundup (links) |work=The Oregonian |date=June 6, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2014}} and committed to enroll at Oregon State University on a college baseball scholarship. The Oakland Athletics selected Fry in the ninth round of the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft, but Oakland did not offer Fry a sufficient signing bonus to convince him to forego college.{{cite web|url=http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/sports/college/baseball/2014/04/27/osus-jace-fry-returned-form/8246147/ |title=OSU's Jace Fry has returned to form |publisher=Statesmanjournal.com |date=April 26, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2014}} Over the summer of 2011, Fry pitched in collegiate summer baseball for the Corvallis Knights of the West Coast League (WCL). Fry injured his back in the WCL championship game, and required surgery.{{cite web|first=Aaron|last=Yost|work=Corvallis Gazette-Times |url=http://www.gazettetimes.com/sports/beavers-sports/baseball/osu-baseball-jace-fry-focuses-on-recovery-from-tommy-john/article_8306d104-e37f-11e1-8e1c-001a4bcf887a.html |title=OSU baseball: Jace Fry focuses on recovery from Tommy John surgery : Baseball |date=August 10, 2012 |access-date=June 12, 2014}}
In his freshman year with the Oregon State Beavers baseball team, he had a 5–3 win–loss record and a 2.45 earned run average (ERA) in 13 games started. In June 2012, he underwent Tommy John surgery after a 75% tear of the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow. Baseball America named Fry a Second Team Freshman All-American. After recovering from surgery, Fry pitched to a 0–1 record with a 4.70 ERA in six appearances in 2013. During the 2014 season, he pitched a no-hitter on March 8 against the Northern Illinois Huskies. He finished the season with a record of 11–2 and a 1.80 ERA. He was named the Pac-12 Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Year. Collegiate Baseball named Fry a First Team All-American.{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2014/05/oregon_state_beavers_jace_fry.html |title=Oregon State Beavers' Jace Fry, Ben Wetzler and Michael Conforto named first-team All Americans |work=The Oregonian |date=May 29, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2014}}
Professional career
=Chicago White Sox=
The Chicago White Sox selected Fry in the third round, with the 77th overall selection, of the 2014 MLB draft.{{cite web |author=Dan Santaromita |url=http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2014/06/white-sox-start-day-two-by-drafting-jace-fry/ |title=White Sox start day two by drafting Jace Fry | Future Sox |publisher=Chicagonow.com |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-date=June 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608155635/http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2014/06/white-sox-start-day-two-by-drafting-jace-fry/ |url-status=dead }} He signed with the White Sox, receiving a $760,000 signing bonus, and assigned him to make his professional debut with the Great Falls Voyagers of the Rookie-level Pioneer League and spent the whole season there, posting a 1–0 record and 2.79 ERA in {{fraction|9|2|3}} innings.{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2014/06/oregon_state_beavers_left-hand.html |title=Oregon State Beavers left-hander Jace Fry signs with Chicago White Sox |work=The Oregonian |date=June 12, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2014}} Fry began the 2015 season with the Winston-Salem Dash of the High-A Carolina League. In June 2015, he underwent his second Tommy John surgery.{{cite web |last=Merkin |first=Scott |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/white-sox-prospect-jace-fry-has-tommy-john-surgery/c-131715230 |title=White Sox prospect Jace Fry has Tommy John surgery |work=MLB.com |date=January 20, 2016 |access-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905232447/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/131715230/white-sox-prospect-jace-fry-has-tommy-john-surgery/ |url-status=live }} Prior to his surgery, he was 1–8 with a 3.63 ERA in ten starts. He missed the 2016 season while rehabilitating from the surgery. The White Sox invited Fry to spring training in 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-white-sox-spring-training-invitations-20170123-story.html |title=White Sox invite 19 non-roster players to spring training |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=September 5, 2017}} In 2017, he pitched for the Birmingham Barons of the Double-A Southern League where he went 2–1 with a 2.78 ERA with 52 strikeouts in {{fraction|45|1|3}} relief innings pitched.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=605240#/career/R/pitching/2017/ALL|title=Jace Fry Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=February 20, 2018}}
The White Sox promoted Fry to the major leagues for the first time on September 5, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-white-sox-indians-spt-0906-20170905-story.html |title=White Sox request waivers for Derek Holland's release, activate Yoan Moncada from DL |work=Chicago Tribune |date=September 1, 2017 |access-date=September 5, 2017}} In 2018, his first full season, Fry recorded a 4.38 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 20 walks in {{frac|51|1|3}} innings. The following season, his ERA regressed to 4.75 as he walked 43 batters in 55 innings.
With the 2020 Chicago White Sox, Fry appeared in 18 games, compiling a 0–1 record with 3.66 ERA and 24 strikeouts in {{fraction|19|2|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/jace-fry-605240|title=MLB Players|website=MLB.com}}
In January 2021, Fry underwent a microdiscectomy, making him likely to miss the first month of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/white-sox/white-sox-injuries-jace-fry-out-till-may-nick-madrigal-rehab-going-great |title=Sox injuries: Fry out till May, Madrigal rehab 'going great' |last=Duber |first=Vinnie |date=February 17, 2021 |website=NBC Sports Chicago |access-date= February 22, 2021}} On April 8, Fry was placed on the 60-day injured list.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/white-sox-place-billy-hamilton-on-injured-list-call-up-nick-williams.html|title = White Sox Place Billy Hamilton on Injured List, Call up Nick Williams| date=April 8, 2021 }} He was activated on June 26, and optioned to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/06/white-sox-reinstate-jace-fry-outright-alex-mcrae.html|title = White Sox Reinstate Jace Fry, Outright Alex McRae| date=June 26, 2021 }} Fry posted a 10.80 ERA in 6 appearances with Chicago in 2021. On November 5, Fry was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and elected free agency.{{Cite web|url=https://www.audacy.com/670thescore/sports/chicago-white-sox/white-sox-outright-4-players-who-all-become-free-agents|title = White Sox outright 4 players, who all become free agents|date = November 5, 2021}}
=Washington Nationals=
On March 19, 2022, Fry signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/nationals-sign-jace-fry-to-minors-deal.html|title=Nationals Sign Jace Fry To Minors Deal|author=Darragh McDonald|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=March 19, 2022|access-date=March 19, 2022}} Fry made 15 appearances for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, working to a 3–0 record and 3.77 ERA with 20 strikeouts in {{frac|14|1|3}} innings pitched. He was released by the Nationals organization on June 22.{{cn|date=February 2023}}
=Philadelphia Phillies=
On June 29, 2022, Fry signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Fry pitched in 18 games for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, but struggled to a 1–2 record and 6.75 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 16 innings of work. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=2023-06-01|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 13, 2022 |language=en}}
=Detroit Tigers=
On February 15, 2023, Fry signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers organization.{{Cite web|title=Tigers' Jace Fry: Signs minor-league deal with Tigers|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/tigers-jace-fry-signs-minor-league-deal-with-tigers/amp/|access-date=2023-02-15|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Fry made 7 appearances for the Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens before he was placed on the injured list with left elbow inflammation on April 27.{{Cite web|title=Tigers' Jace Fry: Nursing sore elbow at Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/tigers-jace-fry-nursing-sore-elbow-at-triple-a/|date=2023-06-08|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} On June 8, Fry was released by the Tigers organization.{{Cite web|title=Jace Fry: Cut by Tigers|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/jace-fry-cut-by-tigers/amp/|access-date=2023-06-08|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Baseballstats|mlb=605240|espn=34240|br=f/fryja01|fangraphs=16159|brm=fry---000jac|retro=F/Pfry-j001}}
{{2014 College Baseball Consensus All-Americans}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fry, Jace}}
Category:Sportspeople from Beaverton, Oregon
Category:Baseball players from Washington County, Oregon
Category:Southridge High School (Beaverton, Oregon) alumni
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:Chicago White Sox players
Category:Oregon State Beavers baseball players
Category:Great Falls Voyagers players
Category:Winston-Salem Dash players
Category:Birmingham Barons players