The Oakland Starting Rotation Still a Mystery
Sep 22, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Bassitt (61) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The case for Chris Bassitt:
He could be viewed as either a throw-in or the undervalued prize in the trade that sent Samardzija to the Chicago White Sox. Bassit, a 2011 16th-round draft pick, ascended slowly through the Sox’s system. He started 2014 on the disabled list due to a broken hand, but rose from rookie ball all the way to the majors where he compiled a 3.94 ERA across 29.2 innings and five starts. Bassit has shown good strikeout rates in the minors, but walked nearly four per inning through his career.
He throws hard, in the mid-90’s as a starter and upper 90’s as a reliever, and has showed favoritism toward relieving.
New #Athletics RHP Chris Bassitt - @C_Bass419 - told me he actually prefers to relieve, but he'd be happy to start. "Whatever they want."
— John Hickey (@JHickey3) December 10, 2014
Career highlight: Defeating the Detroit Tigers on September 22, 2014 by throwing 7.2 scoreless innings.
Next: Jarrod Parker