Chris Rowley
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Position:
RHP
Born:
08/14/90
Height:
6'2"
Weight:
195
B/T:
R/R
Acquired:
Signed as an undrafted free agent twice, first on June 25, 2013, and again on March 18, 2016 (TOR).
Most Recent Stats at Time of Debut
| 6-6 with a 2.29 ERA in 27 games, 11 of them starts, between New Hampshire (Double-A) and Buffalo (Triple-A), striking out 90, walking 24 in 106 1/3 innings, and allowing 84 hits for a .216 BAA. |
Info & MLB Debut Date
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Contract purchased from Buffalo on August 12, when RHP Chris Smith was designated for assignment. MLB Debut Date: 08/12/17 |
Debut Details
| August 12, in a 7-2 win over the Pirates. The starting pitcher, he tossed 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits and walking one while striking out three. Of 75 pitches, 47 were for strikes. In the first inning, Starling Marte grounded out to second, Adam Frazier lined out to left and Josh Harrison struck out swinging. In the second, Josh Bell led off with a triple to center before David Freese struck out swinging and Gregory Polanco lined out to first, but Jordy Mercer's single to center scored Bell with what would be the lone run Rowley would surrender before John Jaso grounded into a force out at second. In the third, Francisco Cervelli grounded out back to the mound and Marte singled to center before Frazier popped out to second and Harrison flew out to right. In the fourth, Bell struck out swinging before Freese singled to left but was stranded when Polanco flew out to center and Mercer grounded out to third. In the fifth, Jaso led off by flying out to right and Cervelli and Marte both grounded out to third and shortstop respectively. In the sixth, after Frazier lined out to left, Harrison singled to center and bell drew a walk, the first time all game Rowley allowed back-to-back runners to reach. At that point, right-handed reliever Dominic Leone came on and struck Freese out swinging, and then retired Sean Rodriguez on a soft groundout in front of the plate. |
Player Notes
| In case the "Acquired" column entry looks unusual, let us clarify Rowley's unique and frankly awesome situation: He was originally signed by the Blue Jays as an undrafted free agent out of the United States Military Academy (aka West Point) in 2013 but became a free agent officially so he could serve 30 months of active duty, deployed overseas in Bulgaria in 2014 and 2015. When he returned, he re-upped with the Jays. Right now, he is technically on reserve so let's all hope that there is no need for him to leave baseball again any time soon. Armed with a sinker, slider, cutter and changeup, he was extremely impressive in his 2013 debut in Bluefield (Rookie), going 4-0 with a 1.10 ERA in nine games, striking out 39 while walking three in 32 2/3 innings and allowing 19 hits for a .162 BAA. In his return to the mound in 2016 at Dunedin (High A), he was 10-3 with a 3.49 ERA in 31 games, 14 of them starts, fanning 86 while walking 30 in 123 2/3 innings, while giving up 128 hits. He made his big league debut two days shy of his 27th birthday, a lovely gift if ever there was one. |