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Chase Strumpf

Chase Strumpf
Strumpf with UCLA in 2019
Chicago Cubs
Second baseman / Third baseman
Born: (1998-03-08) March 8, 1998 (age 26)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Chase Aaron Strumpf (born March 8, 1998) is an American professional baseball second baseman and third baseman in the Chicago Cubs organization. He played college baseball at UCLA. Strumpf was selected by the Cubs in the second round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.

Early life

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Strumpf was born in Atlanta, Georgia, grew up in Dana Point, California, and is Jewish.[1][2][3] His parents are Gregg and Nani Strumpf, and he has a sister named Chloe.[3]

High school

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Strumpf attended JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, California.[4][5] During his freshman year, he committed to play college baseball at UCLA.[6] After his freshman year, he played on the USA Baseball 15U National Team, helping Team USA win a gold medal in Barranquilla, Colombia.[7][8] He was a 2014 Perfect Game USA second team Underclass All-American, a 2015 Perfect Game USA first team Underclass All-American, and a 2016 Rawlings/Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American.[3] He was not drafted out of high school in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, and enrolled at UCLA.

College

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In 2017, Strumpf's freshman year at UCLA, playing second base he appeared in 55 games (making 54 starts), hitting .239/.315/.399 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs.[9][10] That summer, he played for the Duluth Huskies in the wood bat Northwoods League, where after playing primarily shortstop and batting .335/.425/.549 (ninth in the league) over 164 at-bats with six home runs, he was named a post-season All-Star.[11][3] As a sophomore at UCLA in 2018, Strumpf started 58 games in which he slashed .363/.475/.633 with 59 runs, 23 doubles, 12 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 45 walks, ranking second in doubles and third in on-base percentage while ranking in the top ten in the other statistics (except RBIs) within the conference.[12][13] He was top-50 in the NCAA in doubles (13th), on-base percentage (25th), total bases (36th), and slugging percentage (49th).[3] He was named to the Pac-12 First Team, and was named D1Baseball, Collegiate Baseball, and Perfect Game All-American second team.[3][14][15][16] After the season, he was selected to play for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, but was unable to participate due to injury.[17]

Prior to his 2019 junior season, Strumpf was named a preseason All-American by D1Baseball, Perfect Game, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.[18][3][19] He finished his junior year batting .279/.416/.472 in 233 at bats with nine home runs, 44 RBIs, 48 walks (fifth in the conference), and eight hit by pitch (eighth) in 63 games.[14] He was again named to the Pac-12 First Team.[3][14][15][16] In his three-season college career he batted an aggregate .297/.409/.507, while playing second base where he had a .983 fielding percentage.[9][3]

Professional career

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Chicago Cubs organization

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2019–21

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Strumpf was considered one of the top prospects for the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.[20] He was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the second round with the 64th overall pick, and signed for a signing bonus of $1.05 million.[21][22][23][24]

Strumpf made his professional debut in 2019 with the Rookie-level Arizona League Cubs, and was promoted to the Eugene Emeralds of the Class A Short Season Northwest League after seven games. After 26 games with Eugene, he was promoted to the South Bend Cubs of the Class A Midwest League with whom he finished the year while playing through a back injury.[25][26] Over 39 games between the three clubs, Strumpf slashed .244/.374/.400 in 135 at-bats with three home runs and 17 RBIs, while playing second base.[9] He was named a 2019 Northwest League Mid-Season All Star.[27] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but in the instructional league he batted .375/.414/.792.[28][25]

To begin the 2021 season, Strumpf was assigned back to South Bend, now members of the High-A Central.[29] On June 1, he was promoted to the Tennessee Smokies of the Double-A South.[30] In late August, he was placed on the injured list and missed the remainder of the season.[27] Over 78 games played between South Bend and Tennessee, Strumpf slashed .231/.352/.381 in 268 at-bats with 19 doubles, seven home runs, and 36 RBIs.[31] He played 56 games at third base and 18 games at second base.[9]

2022–present

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Strumpf returned to Tennessee for the 2022 season.[32] Over 116 games and 393 at bats, he slashed .234/.379/.461 with 73 runs (seventh in the league), 22 doubles, 21 home runs (seventh), 57 RBIs, 73 walks (fifth), and 19 hit by pitch (second).[33] In the field he played second base (59 games), third base (55 games), and first base (3 games).[9] He was named an MiLB Organization All Star.[34]

Strumpf returned to Tennessee to open the 2023 season, and hit .258/.401/.500.[35] In late May, he was promoted to the Iowa Cubs of the Triple-A International League.[36] Over 104 games between both teams, Strumpf hit .229/.373/.464 with 72 runs, 21 home, runs, 66 RBIs, and 72 walks in 349 at bats.[34] Between the two teams, in the field he played 45 games at third base, 43 games at second base, and seven games at first base.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "JBN welcomes two more players | Jewish Baseball News".
  2. ^ "MINOR LEAGUERS".
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Chase Strumpf - Baseball - UCLA". UCLA.
  4. ^ "Scoreboard: Strumpf Selected in MLB Draft and Signs with Cubs, DPYB Opens PONY All-Star Schedule". June 21, 2019.
  5. ^ "UCLA commit Chase Strumpf immune to pressure". 247sports.com. Retrieved May 23, 2019.[dead link‍]
  6. ^ "JSerra freshman Chase Strumpf commits to UCLA". Los Angeles Times. December 20, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  7. ^ "Baseball: All eyes will be on sophomore Chase Strumpf". Los Angeles Times. September 25, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  8. ^ "JSerra's Strumpf Makes USA Baseball 15U National Team". The Capistrano Dispatch. July 30, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Chase Strumpf Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ^ "UCLA Baseball: The Bruins' Road Leads to Salt Lake City This Weekend". Bruins Nation. April 13, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  11. ^ "Huskies Strumpf, Tapani Named to Northwoods League Postseason All-Star Team". WDIO. October 16, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  12. ^ "2018 Pac-12 Conference Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ^ "UCLA's Chase Strumpf uses a steady approach to become one of the nation's best players". Los Angeles Times. February 14, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  14. ^ a b c "2019 Pac-12 Conference Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. ^ a b "Baseball boasts bounty of Pac-12 awards as regular season comes to a close". Daily Bruin. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  16. ^ a b "Cubs Sign Infielder Chase Strumpf". MLB.com.
  17. ^ "Strumpf Selected to USA Baseball Collegiate National Team". USA Baseball. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  18. ^ Foley, Brian (February 5, 2019). "2019 NCBWA Preseason All-American Teams Announced". College Baseball Daily.
  19. ^ "UCLA infielder Chase Strumpf named second-team All-American". Springfield News-Sun. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  20. ^ "MLB.com 2019 Prospect Watch". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  21. ^ Bannon, Tim. "The Cubs drafted Chase Strumpf with the No. 64 pick. Seconds later, he hit a home run for UCLA". chicagotribune.com.
  22. ^ "Cubs' Chase Strumpf: Goes to Cubs in second round". CBSSports.com.
  23. ^ "Cubs Sign 2nd-Round Pick Chase Strumpf". www.audacy.com. June 19, 2019.
  24. ^ "MLB Draft Tracker". MLB.com.
  25. ^ a b "Chase Strumpf". Ivy Futures.
  26. ^ "Strumpf Headed Up To South Bend". MiLB.com.
  27. ^ a b "Chase Strumpf Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com.
  28. ^ West, Jenna. "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Canceled". Sports Illustrated.
  29. ^ "Toyota Road Report: May 11-16". MiLB.com.
  30. ^ Timmers, Josh (June 5, 2021). "Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 5". Bleed Cubbie Blue.
  31. ^ "2021 Season In Review: Tennessee Smokies". CubsHQ.com. October 7, 2021.
  32. ^ "Here's where Cubs Top 30 prospects are starting '22". MLB.com.
  33. ^ "Chase Strumpf Stats, Fantasy & News".
  34. ^ a b "Chase Strumpf Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com.
  35. ^ "Where the Cubs' Top 30 prospects are starting season". MLB.com.
  36. ^ Postins, Matthew (June 2, 2023). "Cubs Exciting Prospect Hits Home Run in Triple-A Debut". Sports Illustrated Inside The Cubs.
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