| Chris Okey | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Okey with theLouisville Bats in 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Los Angeles Dodgers | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Catcher | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: (1994-12-29)December 29, 1994 (age 30) Altamonte Springs, Florida, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||||||||
| June 10, 2022, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||||||||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through 2023 season) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .143 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Christopher Campbell Okey (born December 29, 1994) is an American professionalbaseballcatcher in theLos Angeles Dodgers organization. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theCincinnati Reds andLos Angeles Angels. He playedcollege baseball for theClemson Tigers ofClemson University.
Okey attendedEustis High School inEustis, Florida. Playing for the school's baseball team, Okey was a four-yearletterman. He also played for theUnited States national youth baseball team.[1] In his senior year, Okey had a .411batting average with fourhome runs and 29runs batted in (RBIs).[2] TheSan Diego Padres selected Okey in the 31st round of the2013 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign.[3]
Okey enrolled atClemson University in order to playcollege baseball for theClemson Tigers. He split time during his freshman year betweencatcher anddesignated hitter.[1] As a freshman, Okey batted .248 with four home runs, and 41 RBIs in 61games played.[4] In 2015, his sophomore year, Okey started at catcher in all of the Tigers' 61 games,[5][6] and had a .315 batting average and led the team with 12 home runs and 57 RBIs. He was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team, anAll-American, and a semifinalist for theJohnny Bench Award.[1][7] In 2016,Baseball America rated Okey as the 25th-best collegeprospect available in the2016 Major League Baseball draft.[3] He was named a Preseason All-American before the 2016 season.[5]
TheCincinnati Reds selected Okey in the second round, with the 43rd overall selection, of the 2016 draft.[8] Okey signed with the Reds, receiving a reported $2 millionsigning bonus,[9] and made his professional debut with theBillings Mustangs of theRookie-levelPioneer League.[10] After playing in nine games for Billings, he was promoted to theDayton Dragons of theSingle-AMidwest League.[11] Okey finished the 2016 season with a .227 batting average, six home runs and 22 RBIs in 51 games.[12]
Okey spent the 2017 season with theDaytona Tortugas of theHigh-AFlorida State League,[13] posting a .185 batting average with three home runs, 28 RBIs, and a .514 OPS in 93 games.[14] He began 2018 with Daytona before being promoted to thePensacola Blue Wahoos of theDouble-ASouthern League. In 86 games between the two clubs, Okey slashed .199/.259/.315 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs.[12] He split the 2019 with theChattanooga Lookouts of the Double-A Southern League and theLouisville Bats of theTriple-AInternational League, batting .209 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs over 58 games.[15] The Reds invited Okey tospring training as a non-roster player in 2020.[16] After the cancellation of the 2020 season, Okey played for Louisville in 2021[17] and returned there in 2022. On June 4, 2022, while playing for Louisville, Okey hit for the cycle in an 11–3 victory over theGwinnett Stripers. He became the 7th player in Bats history to do so.[18]
The Reds promoted Okey to the major leagues on June 10, 2022, following an injury to regular catcherTyler Stephenson.[19] He made his major league debut that same day as a defensive substitute forAramis Garcia in a 2–0 loss to theSt. Louis Cardinals.[20][21] On June 13, Okey collected his first career hit, slapping a single up the middle off ofArizona Diamondbacks starterMerrill Kelly.[22]
The Reds optioned Okey back to Louisville on June 29[23] anddesignated him for assignment on July 5.[24] Okey cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A on July 6.[25] He was released on August 13.
On March 30, 2023, Okey signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Angels. He played in 13 games for the Triple-ASalt Lake Bees, hitting .125/.205/.225.[12] On May 9, Okey had his contract selected to the active roster afterChad Wallach was placed on the concussion injured list. He was subsequently slotted into the starting lineup in that day's game against theHouston Astros.[26] He went hitless in two games for the Angels before he wasdesignated for assignment on June 24.[27] On June 26, Okey cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A.[28] On October 10, he elected free agency.[29]
On January 3, 2024, Okey signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers[30] and he was assigned to the Triple–AOklahoma City Baseball Club to start the season.[31] He played in 45 games, batting .236/.283/.327 with two home runs, 13 RBI, and four stolen bases.[12] Okey elected free agency following the season on November 4.[32]
On January 24, 2025, Okey re-signed with the Dodgers organization on a new minor league contract.[33]
Okey's father, Chuck, playedcollege football atPresbyterian College. His mother, Kim, was acheerleader for Clemson. He has two older brothers, Chase and Mitch.[1]
