| Forrest Whitley | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yomiuri Giants – No. 26 | |||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1997-09-15)September 15, 1997 (age 28) San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| April 16, 2024, for the Houston Astros | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 0–0 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 10.57 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 17 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Charles Forrest Whitley (born September 15, 1997) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theYomiuri Giants ofNippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theHouston Astros andTampa Bay Rays.
Whitley attendedAlamo Heights High School inSan Antonio, Texas. In the summer prior to his senior year he was a member of the18-and-under national team that won theWorld Cup.[1] Whitley threw ano-hitter with 14strikeouts in a game during his senior year.[2][3]
TheHouston Astros selected Whitley in the first round, with the 17th overall selection, in the2016 Major League Baseball draft.[4] He had committed toFlorida State University to playcollege baseball, but instead decided to sign with the Astros.[5] He was assigned on July 13, 2016, to theGulf Coast Astros of theRookie-levelGulf Coast League,[6] and was later promoted to theGreeneville Astros of the Rookie-levelAppalachian League. In18+2⁄3 innings pitched between both teams, he posted a 1-2 record and a 4.82earned run average (ERA).
Whitley began the 2017 season with theQuad Cities River Bandits of theSingle-AMidwest League and received promotions to theBuies Creek Astros of theHigh-ACarolina League in July,[7] and to theCorpus Christi Hooks of theDouble-ATexas League in August.[8] In 23 total games (18 starts) between the three teams, he pitched to a combined 5–4 record and 2.83 ERA with 143 strikeouts in92+1⁄3 innings pitched.[9]
On February 21, 2018, Whitley was suspended 50 games for violating MLB's drug prevention and treatment program.[10] He recorded a 3.76 ERA in 8 starts for Corpus Christi that season. The Astros invited Whitley tospring training in 2019,[11] and he began the season with theRound Rock Express of theTriple-APacific Coast League.[12] He was selected to play in theArizona Fall League for thePeoria Javelinas following the season.[13]
The Astros added Whitley to their 40-man roster after the2020 season.[14] On March 10, 2021, it was announced that Whitley would undergoulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, more commonly known as Tommy John surgery, and miss the 2021 season as a result.[15]
Whitley began a rehabilitation assignment on June 16,2022 with theFlorida Complex League (FCL) Astros. He delivered 38 pitches across two innings, allowed three runs and averaged 96 miles per hour (154 km/h) on hisfastball versus theFCL Nationals. It was his first competition in professional baseball since September 2, 2019.[16] He ended the season appearing in a total of 13 games split between the FCL Astros, Single-AFayetteville Woodpeckers, and Triple-ASugar Land Space Cowboys, posting a cumulative 0-2 record and 6.53 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 40.0 innings pitched.
The Astrosoptioned Whitley to Triple-A Sugar Land to begin the2023 season.[17] In 8 appearances (6 starts), he registered a 1–2 record and 5.70 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 30.0 innings pitched. On June 2, Whitley was ruled out for 3–4 months after being diagnosed with alat strain.[18] After spending much of spring training battling finger inflammation, the Astros again optioned Whitley to Sugar Land to begin the 2024 season.[19]
On April 16,2024, the Astros promoted Whitley to the major leagues for the first time.[20] He played in three games and pitched3+1⁄3 innings without allowing a run, with five strikeouts and three walks before getting demoted on September 5.[21]
Whitley began the2025 season on the injured list due to abone bruise. He was activated him from the injured list on April 19. Out of options, Whitley had to stay in the major leagues with the Astros.[22] A left knee sprain resulted in another IL stint. He pitched7+1⁄3 innings and surrendered six walks and two home runs for a 12.27 ERA. On June 8, 2025, Whitley wasdesignated for assignment to make room forBrandon Walter on the active roster.[23]
On June 13, 2025, Whitley was traded to theTampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations.[24] In five appearances for the Rays, he struggled to a 15.43 ERA with four strikeouts over4+2⁄3 innings pitched. Whitley was designated for assignment by Tampa Bay on June 28.[25] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-ADurham Bulls on July 3.[26] On November 6, the Rays added Whitley back to their roster to prevent him from reaching minor league free agency.[27] He was released by the Rays on November 18, in order to pursue an opportunity in Japan.[28]
On November 19, 2025, Whitley signed with theYomiuri Giants ofNippon Professional Baseball.[29]
