When the Chicago White Sox selected Chris Bassitt in the 16th round of the 2011 MLB Draft, the six-foot-five right-hander had just wrapped up his college career, where he served as a shutdown relief option at the University of Akron.
Fast forward 14 years, and Bassitt is once again putting his talents to use out of the bullpen. Only this October, it’s been for the Toronto Blue Jays on the post-season stage.
Bassitt has slowly worked his way into manager John Schneider’s circle of trust in these playoffs, culminating in Tuesday night’s scoreless two-inning outing in Game 4 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 36-year-old shut down the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh and eighth innings — important work for a Toronto bullpen that had just seen each of its relievers pitch the night prior in an 18-inning marathon.
That included Bassitt, who pitched on back-to-back days for the first time since he was a 23-year-old pitching in high-A for the Winston-Salem Dash.
He worked seamlessly through the top of the Dodgers’ order, getting Shohei Ohtani to ground out to end the seventh and erased a Mookie Betts leadoff single with an inning-ending double play off the bat of Will Smith in the eighth.
“I can’t speak highly enough about (Chris),” Schneider said post-game. “Just getting to know him over the past three years, he understands where we are and understands what last night was for everybody.
“So I kind of liked him at that spot of the lineup, too, with the sinker and breaking ball. And he wanted to finish it. It kind of speaks volumes to him as a teammate, as a person … He was really confident with how he felt, and he made pitch after pitch.”
It was his fifth appearance of the post-season, and Bassitt still hasn’t allowed a run to either of the powerful Dodgers or Seattle Mariners lineups in 6.2 innings of work.
In fact, Bassitt has been so dominant in relief that just two of the 21 batters he’s faced ended up reaching base and only three of those 21 matchups have gone to a three-ball count, according to Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling.
“I didn’t think it was going to be this role, but I’m happy (how) it’s playing out,” Bassitt said post-game.
The veteran starter has developed into one of baseball’s most reliable innings-eaters over the past four seasons. Since 2022, only five pitchers in baseball have thrown more innings than Bassitt.
Bassitt has found success at the MLB level by limiting hard contact and generating quick outs. It’s an ability that has ticked up in relief, as eight of the 11 balls he’s allowed in play have carried exit velocities of 83 m.p.h. or softer, per Zwelling.
“He’s been unbelievable. To kind of switch your role like that and do it seamlessly is impressive,” Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement said after the game.
“He’s nastier as a reliever. I think the set-up role is perfect for him.”