| Chris Archer | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_(Cropped).jpg) Archer with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1988-09-26)September 26, 1988 (age 37) Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| June 20, 2012, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |||||||||||||||
| Last MLB appearance | |||||||||||||||
| September 10, 2022, for the Minnesota Twins | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 63–89 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 3.93 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 1,454 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Christopher Alan Archer (born September 26, 1988) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theTampa Bay Rays,Pittsburgh Pirates andMinnesota Twins.
Archer attendedClayton High School inClayton, North Carolina. He was drafted by theCleveland Indians in the fifth round of the2006 MLB draft. After he was traded to theChicago Cubs and then the Rays, he made his MLB debut in 2012. Archer was selected to the2015 and2017MLB All-Star Games.
Archer attendedClayton High School inClayton, North Carolina, where he played for the school's baseball team. He signed aletter of intent to attend theUniversity of Miami, but decided to turn professional after high school.[1] Archer pitched to an 8–3win–loss record with a 1.75earned run average (ERA) during his senior season at Clayton.[1]
Archer was drafted by theCleveland Indians in the fifth round of the2006 MLB draft.[2] He joined theRookie-levelGulf Coast Indians after signing.[3] He also pitched in one game for theBurlington Indians of the Rookie-levelAppalachian League.[4]
Archer remained with the Gulf Coast Indians to start the 2007 season.[5] In 2008, Archer had a 4–8win–loss record in 27games started for theLake County Captains of theSingle–ASouth Atlantic League.[6]
On December 31, 2008, Archer was traded, withJohn Gaub andJeff Stevens to theChicago Cubs forMark DeRosa.[7]
Archer pitched for thePeoria Chiefs of the Single–AMidwest League during the 2009 season, and was 6–4 with a 2.81 ERA and 119 strikeouts (seventh in the league) in 109 innings while leading the league with 66 walks, and not allowing any home runs.[8][9][10]
In 2010, Archer had a 15–3 win–loss record with a 2.34earned run average (ERA) and 149 strikeouts in 142.1 innings between theDaytona Cubs of theHigh–AFlorida State League andTennessee Smokies of theDouble–ASouthern League. He was third among all minor league pitcher in wins, and seventh in ERA.[10] With Daytona, Archer had a streak of 41innings pitched without allowing anearned run.[11] He was named the Cubs' Minor League Pitcher of the Year,[12] and the Cubs added him to their40-man roster to protect him from being selected by another team in theRule 5 Draft.[13] After the season, Archer pitched for theUnited States national baseball team in the qualifying tournament for the2011 Pan American Games.[14] Defeating theCuban national baseball team,USA Baseball called Archer's game the International Performance of the Year.[15]
In January 2011, the Cubs traded Archer to theTampa Bay Rays withHak-ju Lee,Brandon Guyer,Robinson Chirinos, andSam Fuld forMatt Garza,Fernando Perez, andZac Rosscup.[16][17] At the start of the season, he was rated the 27th-best prospect in baseball byBaseball America. Pitching for theMontgomery Biscuits of theDouble–ASouthern League, Archer had a 5.85 ERA through the first two months of the season[18] and a 5.27 ERA at the end of the first half of the season.[19] In the second half, he made a turnaround, going 5–4 with a 3.45 ERA.[19] Archer received a promotion to theDurham Bulls of theTriple–AInternational League, making two starts for the Bulls at the end of the season, and allowing only onerun.[19] Between the two teams he was a combined 9–7 with a 4.09 ERA, and 130 strikeouts in 147.1 innings, and led the Southern League with 18wild pitches.[20][10]
Baseball America rated Archer the Rays' third-best prospect and the 89th-best prospect in baseball before the 2012 season.[21] Archer pitched to a 4–8 win–loss record with a 4.81 ERA in 14games started for Durham to start the 2012 season. He was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on June 20, starting in place of the injuredJeremy Hellickson.[22] In his MLB debut, Archer allowed three hits and three runs (one earned) while recording seven strikeouts in six innings, becoming the first pitcher the Rays did not draft to start a game for the team sinceMatt Garza on September 30, 2010.[23]
Archer became the first pitcher to register an at-bat atOriole Park at Camden Yards when he finished an at-bat for injuredRyan Roberts, striking out under orders not to swing. He recorded his first major league win on September 19, 2012, against the Boston Red Sox atTropicana Field after going five innings and giving up three earned runs.
In 2012 with the Bulls, he was 7–9 with a 3.66 ERA, and led the league with 139 strikeouts in 128 innings.[24]
Archer began the 2013 season with Triple-A Durham. He was called up on June 1, 2013, to start against theCleveland Indians.In his first extended action in the majors, Archer went 9–7 with a 3.22 ERA in 23 starts. Among AL rookies, Archer ranked first in ERA, opponents' average (.226), complete games (two), shutouts (two), hits per nine innings (7.5) and WHIP (1.13). He was named the AL Pitcher of the Month and AL Rookie of the Month for July. Archer finished third in voting for AL Rookie of the Year, behind Detroit'sJose Iglesias and teammateWil Myers.[25][26][27]
On April 2, 2014, it was announced that Archer had agreed to a six-year extension with the Rays worth $25.5 million guaranteed. The two option years would pay Archer about $9 million and $11 million, with the total contract maxing out at $43.75 million for all eight seasons.[28] For the season, he went 10–9 with a 3.33 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 173 strikeouts in194+2⁄3 innings pitched.
Archer was named the Rays' Opening Day starter afterAlex Cobb was placed on the 15-day Disabled List to begin the season.[29] On June 2, Archer struck out 15 batters in a 6–1 victory over theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim.[30] Archer was selected to the2015 MLB All-Star Game, where he pitched 1.1 innings and gave up one run.[31] On August 20, he threw a one-hit shutout against theHouston Astros, in which he threw only 98 pitches and struck out 11.[32]
Archer finished the season 12–13 with a 3.23 ERA (fifth in the league) and 252 strikeouts (second), in 212 innings (sixth).[33] His strikeout total surpassedScott Kazmir's 2007 total of 239 for the most in a single season by a Rays pitcher. Archer finished 5th in the American LeagueCy Young Award voting, behindDallas Keuchel,David Price,Sonny Gray, andChris Sale.[34] Archer also provided guest color commentary forESPN in their coverage of the2015 American League Wild Card Game, and served as a guest commentator forBaseball Tonight andESPN Radio during that year'sWorld Series.[35]
Archer was a favorite among many baseball writers and fans to win theCy Young Award before the season started after his strong 2015. Despite these expectations, Archer took a step back in 2016, posting a 4.66 ERA in the first half of the season.[36] Archer rebounded strongly in the second half, however, and posted a 3.25 ERA.[37] He finished the season with a 4.02 ERA, 233 strikeouts (tied for second in theAmerican League behindJustin Verlander), and a 10.4strikeouts per nine ratio, in 201.1 innings (8th). He also led the majors with 19 losses, which can be attributed to his giving up 30 home runs and poor 3.48run support.[36] Following the season, Archer once again served as a guest analyst for ESPN and ESPN Radio during the2016 World Series.[38]
After pitching in the World Baseball Classic, Archer received the nod as the Rays opening day starter. He allowed only 2 runs in 7 innings, receiving the win. In May, Archer set a franchise record for strikeouts in a month with 58, toppingDavid Price's record of 53. On July 6, Archer was named to his second careerall-star game.[39] On August 17, Archer recorded his 1,000th career strikeout, becoming the 9th player in history to achieve this feat in 154 games or less.[40] After a strong end to August, capped off by a 7 inning, one run performance in St. Louis, Archer looked poised to finish above .500 for the first time since 2014, ending the month of August at 9–7 with a 3.66 ERA. However over his next 5 games he went 0–5 allowing 18 runs and failing to get past the 4th inning in 4 of the 5 games played, and his ERA skyrocketed to 4.18.[41] His ended his season with a 10–12 record and a 4.07 ERA, a career high. He did, however, finish the season with 249 strikeouts, good for 3rd in the American League, as well as an 11.1 strikeouts per nine ratio, in 201 innings (6th).[42] He tied for the major league lead in wild pitches, with 15.[43]
Archer was chosen as the opening day starter for the fourth year in a row. On May 1, Archer threw his 1,000th career inning.[44] On June 5, Archer was put on the10-day disabled list with an abdominal strain.[45]
On July 31, 2018, Archer was traded to thePittsburgh Pirates in exchange forTyler Glasnow,Austin Meadows and aplayer to be named later, later revealed to beShane Baz.[46][47]
In a game on April 7, 2019, against theCincinnati Reds, Archer gave up a second-inning, two-run home run toDerek Dietrich. As the ball flew over the wall, Dietrich stayed at home plate and admired the ball for a few seconds as it went over before he started running. When Dietrich returned to bat in the fourth inning, Archer threw a ball behind Dietrich's back. Benches cleared, five people were ejected, and Archer struck out Dietrich when play resumed.[48] Archer denied intent, but received a five-game suspension on April 9.[49] For the season, he was 3–9 with a career-worst 5.19 ERA.[42]
On June 3, 2020, it was announced that Archer would be out until 2021 after he underwent surgery forthoracic outlet syndrome.[50]
On October 31, 2020, the Pirates declined Archer's club option for 2021, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.[51][52]
On February 9, 2021, Archer signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract with Tampa Bay.[53][54] On May 8, 2021, Archer was placed on the 60-day injured list with forearm tightness.[55] On August 22, the Rays activated Archer from the injured list.[56]
On March 28, 2022, Archer signed a one-year contract with theMinnesota Twins.[57] On November 7, 2022, the Twins declined the option on his 2023 season, making him a free agent.[58]
On December 4, 2023, Archer took a job with theLos Angeles Dodgers as an assistant in their baseball operations department for the 2024 season.[59]
Archer pitched forTeam USA in the2017 World Baseball Classic.[60] In his only start of the tournament, the first game for Team USA, Archer pitched four perfect innings againstColombia in a 3–2, extra-inning victory for the US.[61]
Archer is listed at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and 200 pounds (91 kg). He threw afour-seam fastball between 93–96 miles per hour (150–154 km/h) that could reach 99 mph (159 km/h). His secondary pitches included a dominatingslider at 86–89 mph, andcircle change from 86 to 90 mph.[62] According toPedro Martinez, Archer was prone to expose the ball too early, long before release, leading to batters getting clear clues to his pitches, and compounded by his slow release time compared to other right-handed low-three-quarters-position pitchers likeEdinson Vólquez andJacob deGrom.[63]
Archer's biological mother, Sonya Clark, is Caucasian. His biological father, Darryl Magnum, is African-American. Archer was raised by Donna and Ron Archer, his maternal grandparents, who adopted him when he was two years old.[64]
