Chase Lee Bio
Chase Alexander Lee, born on August 13, 1998, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers and came up through the Texas Rangers organization after being selected in the 2021 MLB Draft. Lee is recognized for his sidearm delivery and his work as a reliever, a role that earned him organizational honors in the minor leagues before his major league debut in 2025.
A native of McCalla, Alabama, Lee played shortstop in high school before transitioning to pitching at the University of Alabama. His path from a walk-on with the Alabama club baseball team to an MLB bullpen is a study in steady improvement, and his progression through Double-A, Triple-A, and eventually the major leagues has followed that same pattern of gradual ascent.
Early Life and Background
Chase Alexander Lee grew up in McCalla, Alabama, a small community in the southern part of the state. He attended McAdory High School, where he was used primarily as a shortstop and only sparingly as a pitcher during a single season. Despite his limited pitching experience at the high school level, his arm and athletic background drew attention from college programs, and he ultimately decided to continue his baseball career at the University of Alabama.
At Alabama, Lee initially tried out for the Crimson Tide baseball team as a freshman but was not offered a roster spot. Under the guidance of Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon, he adjusted his pitching motion to a sidearm delivery, a change that would later define his professional profile. Lee joined the Alabama club baseball team and thrived there, posting a 7-0 record with a 0.21 ERA, an exceptional mark that helped him earn a place on the varsity roster the following season as a walk-on.
Path to Professional Baseball
After making the Crimson Tide as a walk-on, Lee recorded a 2.67 ERA across 22 appearances, striking out 24 batters in 31⅓ innings. He spent his summer in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League with the Bethesda Big Train, where he was named Pitcher of the Year after leading the league with 51 strikeouts and seven saves while posting a 1.03 ERA. The following spring, Alabama named him the team’s closer, and he recorded a 1.64 ERA with 19 strikeouts in five appearances before the season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.
As a junior, Lee earned third-team All-American recognition after going 7-0 with a 1.33 ERA and 51 strikeouts across 40⅔ innings. His combination of command, ground-ball tendencies, and a difficult angle for hitters made him an attractive draft prospect. The Texas Rangers selected Lee in the sixth round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft, formally launching his professional career.
Chase Lee Career
Texas Rangers Minor League Years (2021–2024)
After signing with the Rangers, Lee was assigned to the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Rangers, where he made one appearance before being promoted to the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders. He closed his first professional season with a 0-1 record, a 3.71 ERA, and 27 strikeouts over 17 innings for Frisco. The following year, Lee opened 2022 back at Frisco, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 24 innings, before earning a promotion to the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League on June 14.
With Round Rock in 2022, he went 1-1 with a 5.46 ERA and 41 strikeouts over 31⅓ innings, and his overall performance that year was strong enough to earn him the title of Texas Rangers 2022 minor league Reliever of the Year. He received a non-roster invitation to major league spring training in 2023 and spent the year at Round Rock, going 3-4 with a 3.98 ERA and 87 strikeouts across 63⅓ innings. He made eight appearances for Round Rock in 2024, recording a 1.69 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 10⅔ innings before his trade to Detroit.
Detroit Tigers Era (2024–2025)
On July 30, 2024, the Texas Rangers traded Lee and Joseph Montalvo to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Andrew Chafin, giving Lee a new organization midway through the season. He joined the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens and made 17 appearances, logging a 1-3 record and 3.27 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 22 innings. After the season, the Tigers added Lee to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, signaling that he was a part of their future plans.
Lee was optioned to Triple-A Toledo to begin the 2025 season, but his time in the minors was brief. On April 22, 2025, Detroit promoted him to the major leagues for the first time, and he made his MLB debut that evening against the San Diego Padres, tossing 1⅔ scoreless innings with one strikeout. He recorded his first career win on May 21, working two scoreless innings of relief against the St. Louis Cardinals, and finished his rookie campaign with 32 appearances, a 4-1 record, a 4.10 ERA, and 36 strikeouts across 37⅓ innings.
Toronto Blue Jays Era (2025–Present)
On December 12, 2025, the Detroit Tigers traded Lee to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for minor league pitcher Johan Simon, giving him a fresh start in the American League East. He was optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons to begin the regular season and was called up for one appearance on April 27, 2026, before being optioned back to the Bisons the following day. He wears uniform number 52 for the Blue Jays.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lee’s game is built around his sidearm delivery, which he adopted in college at the suggestion of head coach Brad Bohannon. The low arm slot creates a difficult angle for opposing hitters and complements his sinking fastball, helping him generate ground balls and limit hard contact. His poise in high-leverage relief situations and his ability to attack hitters rather than nibble at the strike zone have been central to his development from a walk-on college pitcher into a trusted late-inning option.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Lee’s signature moments are his 2022 Texas Rangers minor league Reliever of the Year award, his MLB debut against the San Diego Padres on April 22, 2025, and his first career win over the St. Louis Cardinals on May 21, 2025. Being added to Detroit’s 40-man roster to avoid the Rule 5 draft and being traded to Toronto in December 2025 both marked turning points in his career trajectory.
Chase Lee Career Wins
Chase Alexander Lee’s win totals have grown steadily as he has moved up through professional baseball. His most celebrated victory came in his MLB debut season with the Detroit Tigers, where he went 4-1 in 32 appearances. He has also added wins at the Double-A and Triple-A levels with the Rangers organization and in the International League with Toledo, building a record that reflects his role as a late-inning reliever.
MLB Highlights
Through his rookie MLB season with the Tigers in 2025, Lee finished 4-1 with a 4.10 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 37⅓ innings across 32 appearances. His first career MLB win came on May 21, 2025, when he delivered two scoreless innings of relief against the St. Louis Cardinals. Entering his time with Toronto, his major league record stood at 4-1 with 37 strikeouts.
Minor League and Amateur Highlights
In his final season at the University of Alabama, Lee went 7-0 with a 1.33 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 40⅔ innings and was named a third-team All-American. He was also named Pitcher of the Year in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League with the Bethesda Big Train, where he led the league with 51 strikeouts and seven saves. The Texas Rangers honored him as their 2022 minor league Reliever of the Year after a strong split season between Frisco and Round Rock.
Chase Lee Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Chase Alexander Lee’s immediate family is limited. He was raised in McCalla, Alabama, and credits the University of Alabama community, including head coach Brad Bohannon, with helping him reshape his career by introducing the sidearm delivery that became his trademark. Details about his parents, siblings, spouse, and children are not publicly available in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Chase Alexander Lee’s 2025 campaign was a milestone year, as it marked his first full season in the major leagues. He debuted on April 22 against the San Diego Padres and went on to make 32 appearances for the Detroit Tigers, finishing 4-1 with a 4.10 ERA and 36 strikeouts across 37⅓ innings. His first career MLB win on May 21 against the St. Louis Cardinals was a highlight, and his late-inning reliability earned him a regular role in the Tigers’ bullpen.
Following the season, Lee was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on December 12, 2025, in a deal that sent minor league pitcher Johan Simon to Detroit. The move signaled that Toronto viewed him as a contributor for their bullpen moving forward. He was optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons to begin 2026 and was briefly called up for an appearance on April 27, 2026, before being optioned back the next day.
Heading into the remainder of 2026, Lee is positioned as a depth option for the Blue Jays’ bullpen, with the ability to step in for high-leverage situations when needed. His combination of a sidearm delivery, ground-ball profile, and prior MLB experience gives him a clear path back to a consistent major league role, and his development arc from a walk-on at Alabama to a 4-1 rookie season suggests continued growth.
