Chris Rowley
Rowley in Toronto in 2017
Pitcher
Born: (1990-08-14) August 14, 1990
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 12, 2017, for the Toronto Blue Jays
Last MLB appearance
July 15, 2018, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
Win–loss record1–3
Earned run average7.91
Strikeouts11
Teams

Christopher Ryan Rowley (born August 14, 1990) is an American law student and former professional baseball pitcher.[1] He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays. He is also a first lieutenant in the United States Army, assigned to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Upon his major-league debut in August 2017, Rowley became the first West Point graduate to play in MLB.[2][3]

High school and college

Rowley attended South Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia, where he set school records in wins, earned run average (ERA), and strikeouts.[4] After high school, Rowley was offered college baseball scholarships by Mercer University and the United States Military Academy (also called West Point). He chose the Military Academy over Mercer, as the Army Black Knights offered him a chance to start games, while the Mercer Bears wanted him in the bullpen, working as a relief pitcher.[5] In his first season with Army, he appeared in three games for the Black Knights and posted a 13.00 ERA in nine innings pitched.[4] The following year, Rowley pitched to a 5–4 win–loss record, 4.68 ERA, and 54 strikeouts in 73 total innings.[4] Rowley finished the 2012 campaign with an 11–1 record, which included six complete games and five shutouts, and added a 2.40 earned run average and 80 strikeouts in 971⁄3 innings. Following the season, he was named the Patriot League's Pitcher of the Year.[4] In his final season with the Black Knights, Rowley went 9–4 with a 2.67 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 972⁄3 innings pitched.[4]

Professional career

Toronto Blue Jays

Minor leagues and military

Chris Rowley
Born (1990-08-14) August 14, 1990
Atlanta, Georgia
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service2013–2016
Rank First lieutenant

Undrafted after graduation, Rowley was invited by the Toronto Blue Jays to play for the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays for the remainder of the 2013 season, after which he would begin his five-year active duty obligation to the United States Army.[6] In nine games played, he pitched to a 4–0 record, 1.10 ERA, and 39 strikeouts in 322⁄3 innings.[7] Rowley began his military service assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and was later assigned to Bulgaria and Romania as a Field Artillery fire support officer.[8][9][10] While assigned to Bulgaria for Operation Atlantic Resolve, first lieutenant Rowley pitched to his company's senior medic to keep his arm in shape.[11][12] After serving 30 months in the military, Rowley's application for an exception to the remainder of his commitment was approved on January 22, 2016, and he was assigned to Individual Ready Reserve.[9][13] He played the entire year with the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays, and posted a 10–3 win–loss record, 3.49 ERA, and 86 strikeouts in a career-high 1232⁄3 innings.[7] He was assigned to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats to begin the 2017 season, and earned a promotion to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on June 19.[14][15] Rowley initially pitched out of the bullpen for Buffalo, and joined the starting rotation on July 4.[16]

Major Leagues

On August 12, 2017, Rowley was called up from Triple-A Buffalo to start against the Pittsburgh Pirates.[17] He pitched 51⁄3 innings and allowed a single run on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts, and earned the win in the 7–2 victory.[18] In his rookie season, Rowley recorded a 6.75 ERA and 1–2 record in 6 games. Rowley was outrighted off the 40-man roster on November 20, 2017.[19] On January 24, 2018, the Blue Jays invited him to spring training as a non-roster invitee.[20] He did not make the club and was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo to begin the year. Rowley was added to the active roster on July 14, 2018.[21] In two games for Toronto in 2018, Rowley allowed four runs in 2⁄3 innings pitched.

Texas Rangers

On July 23, 2018, Rowley was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers.[22] He spent the remainder of the season with the Triple-A Round Rock Express, logging a 2–3 record and 3.46 ERA in 7 games. On September 10, Rowley was outrighted off of the 40-man roster.[23] He declared free agency on October 5, 2018.[24]

San Diego Padres

On February 28, 2019, Rowley signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres organization. He was assigned to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, where he pitched to a 11.02 ERA in 16.1 innings of work, missing much of the year due to injury. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.[25]

Minnesota Twins

On January 28, 2020, Rowley signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization.[26] Rowley did not play in a game in 2020 due to a career-ending shoulder injury and the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][27] He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.

Law School

During the cancelled 2020 minor league season, during which minor league contracts were voided and players were not paid, Rowley grew frustrated with the labor conditions and lack of collective bargaining for minor league players.[28][1] Rowley began work in the minor league grassroots labor movement with Advocates for Minor Leaguers, a nonprofit formed to help players attain a "collective voice," and subsequently enrolled in the University of Colorado Law School.[29] While there, he was awarded the Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies.[1]

Publications

Following minor league players' unionization in September 2022,[30] Rowley authored a law review article on the labor relationship in Minor League Baseball; the article, titled "It’s Past Time: Unionization and Labor Management in Minor League Baseball," is forthcoming in the University of Colorado Law Review.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Miller, Scott (2023-05-09). "As Minor Leaguers Unionized, One Went to Law School". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  2. ↑ Nicholson-Smith, Ben (August 11, 2017). "Blue Jays pitcher Chris Rowley set to join exclusive club". Sportsnet. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  3. ↑ Buffery, Steve (August 11, 2017). "Blue Jays' Rowley about to make West Point history". Toronto Sun. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Army West Point Athletics – Chris Rowley 2013". goarmywestpoint.com. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  5. ↑ Rainey, Tammy (June 23, 2017). "The unusual journey of Blue Jays prospect Chris Rowley". baseballprospectus.com. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  6. ↑ Joyce, Gare (May 15, 2014). "A New Target". Sportsnet. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Chris Rowley Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  8. ↑ Joyce, Gare (July 30, 2017). "The Outlier". Sportsnet. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  9. 1 2 Joyce, Gare (March 7, 2016). "Chris Rowley's most unlikely path to Blue Jays camp". Sportsnet. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  10. ↑ "MLB notebook: West Point grad Chris Rowley takes long route to major leagues". Ohio.com. Associated Press. August 13, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  11. ↑ Zickel, Tyler (May 26, 2017). "Duty, Honor, Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  12. ↑ Frazer, Ian (July 12, 2017). "Baseball: South Forsyth alum Chris Rowley is just a step away from the majors". forsythnews.com. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  13. ↑ Matheson, Keegan (August 11, 2017). "US Army vet Rowley wowed by 1st MLB callup". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  14. ↑ Castner, Kat (June 29, 2017). "2013 Grad Chris Rowley called up to Buffalo Bisons". pointerview.com. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  15. ↑ Prusak, Heather (July 5, 2017). "Chris Rowley's journey from the Army to the Bisons". wgrz.com. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  16. ↑ Moritz, Amy (July 3, 2017). "On July 4, ex-military man Chris Rowley takes the ball for the Bisons". buffalonews.com. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  17. ↑ Armstrong, Laura (August 11, 2017). "Blue Jays call-up Rowley first West Point grad to pitch in bigs". Toronto Star. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  18. ↑ "West Point grad Chris Rowley wins MLB debut, Blue Jays beat Pirates 7-2". USA Today. Associated Press. August 12, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  19. ↑ Chisholm, Gregor (November 20, 2017). "Blue Jays acquire Ngoepe from Bucs". MLB.com. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Blue Jays announce non-roster invitees to major league camp". Sportsnet. January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  21. ↑ Zwelling, Arden (July 14, 2018). "Blue Jays call up Chris Rowley, option Ryan Borucki". Sportsnet. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Blue Jays right-hander Chris Rowley claimed off waivers by Rangers". Sportsnet. July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Rangers Outright Chris Rowley". 10 September 2018.
  24. ↑ Todd, Jeff (October 8, 2018). "Players Electing Free Agency". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  25. ↑ Matt Eddy (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Free Agents 2019". Baseball America. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Major League Baseball Transactions". MLB.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  27. ↑ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". 30 June 2020.
  28. ↑ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  29. ↑ "Who We Are | Advocates for Minor Leaguers". www.advocatesforminorleaguers.com. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  30. ↑ "Minor leaguers are joining the MLBPA: Here's what the unionization means". ESPN.com. 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
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