Andrew Chafin Bio
Andrew Gregory Chafin, nicknamed “Big Country” and “the Sheriff,” is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Born on June 17, 1990, in Wakeman, Ohio, Chafin has spent more than a decade pitching in Major League Baseball (MLB) for multiple organizations across both the National League and the American League. Known for his left-handed relief work, he has built a reputation as a dependable situational arm who can handle high-leverage innings.
Over the course of his career, Chafin has suited up for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, and Los Angeles Angels. He earned recognition for being part of a combined no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021 and continues to be respected around the league for his durability and competitive presence on the mound.
Early Life and Background
Andrew Gregory Chafin was raised in Wakeman, Ohio, a small community in the northern part of the state. He attended Western Reserve High School in nearby Collins, Ohio, where he played for the school’s baseball team and developed into a promising left-handed pitcher. In his final high school game, Chafin pitched a no-hitter, a fitting final moment for a player whose professional career would later feature another no-hitter on an even bigger stage.
After graduating, Chafin enrolled at Kent State University to play college baseball for the Kent State Golden Flashes. As a freshman in 2009, he was named the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year after posting a 1.26 earned run average (ERA), recording eight saves, and striking out 55 batters over 35 and two-thirds innings pitched. The following season, however, he underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2010 campaign, a setback that tested his early commitment to the sport.
Chafin returned in 2011 as a starter and responded with a 2.02 ERA and 105 strikeouts across 89 innings. After the college season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the most prestigious amateur leagues in the country. That summer experience helped solidify his draft stock.
Path to Major League Baseball
Chafin’s strong 2011 season at Kent State and his performance in the Cape Cod League drew attention from professional scouts. The Arizona Diamondbacks selected him in the first round with the 43rd overall pick of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut that summer with the Arizona League Diamondbacks, pitching one game and recording two strikeouts over a single inning.
In 2012, Chafin pitched for the Visalia Rawhide, where he posted a 4.93 ERA and struck out 150 batters across 122 and one-third innings. He opened 2013 with Visalia before earning a midseason promotion to the Mobile BayBears, finishing the year with a 3.20 ERA and 119 strikeouts over 157 and one-third innings. His steady climb through the minor leagues prepared him for his first taste of the majors.
On August 13, 2014, Chafin made his Major League debut against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field, pitching five innings and allowing three hits, two walks, and three strikeouts while earning a no-decision. Later that September, he recorded his first Major League hit and run batted in against the Arizona Diamondbacks, a small but memorable milestone for a pitcher known primarily for his work on the mound.
Andrew Chafin Career
Early Career (2014-2016)
Chafin opened his big-league career as a starting pitcher but was converted into a reliever for the 2015 season. The move paid off, as he finished that year 5-1 with a 2.76 ERA in 66 games for the Diamondbacks, establishing himself as a reliable left-handed option out of the bullpen. His ability to get both left-handed and right-handed hitters out made him especially valuable in matchup situations.
The 2016 season proved more challenging, as Chafin struggled alongside much of the Arizona pitching staff. He appeared in 32 games and posted a 6.75 ERA, prompting questions about his role going forward. However, the Diamondbacks remained committed to his development and continued to give him opportunities to refine his approach on the mound.
Arizona Diamondbacks Resurgence (2017-2019)
In 2017, Chafin bounced back strongly, being used primarily as a situational left-hander out of the bullpen. Over 71 appearances, he recorded a 3.51 ERA and reasserted himself as a key piece of the Arizona relief corps. His performance that year signaled a return to form and set the stage for another heavy workload in the seasons that followed.
Chafin was used heavily again in 2018, appearing in a career-high 77 games and pitching 49 and one-third innings, although his record that season was 1-6. He matched that workload in 2019, once again appearing in 77 games and finishing with a 2-2 record across 52 and two-thirds innings. By the end of the 2019 campaign, Chafin had cemented his identity as one of the most used left-handed relievers in the National League.
Chicago Cubs and the No-Hitter (2020-2021)
On August 31, 2020, Chafin was traded to the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline of the shortened season in exchange for Ronny Simon. He pitched to a 3.00 ERA in four games with Chicago to close out the year. On February 2, 2021, he re-signed with the Cubs on a one-year, $2.25 million contract that included a mutual option for 2022.
The highlight of Chafin’s 2021 season came on June 24, when he was part of a combined no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers, working alongside Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, and Craig Kimbrel. In 43 appearances for the Cubs that year, he posted a 2.06 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 39 and one-third innings, earning praise as one of the most effective relievers in the National League.
Oakland Athletics and Detroit Tigers (2021-2022)
On July 27, 2021, the Cubs traded Chafin to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Greg Deichmann and Daniel Palencia. Between the two teams in 2021, he pitched in 71 games and posted a 1.83 ERA with 64 strikeouts across 68 and two-thirds innings, one of the best statistical seasons of his career. That performance drew the attention of several teams looking for bullpen help.
On March 17, 2022, Chafin signed a two-year, $13 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. After a brief stint on the injured list with a left groin strain, he returned to make 64 appearances for the 2022 Tigers, recording three saves and a 2.83 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 57 and one-third innings. On November 6, 2022, he opted out of the second year of his contract and became a free agent.
Multiple Stints and Journeyman Years (2023-2024)
Chafin signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on February 15, 2023, returning to the organization that originally drafted him. He appeared in 43 games for the Diamondbacks and posted a 4.19 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 34 and one-third innings. On August 1, 2023, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Peter Strzelecki, where he appeared in 20 games and recorded a 5.82 ERA with 14 strikeouts across 17 innings before becoming a free agent.
On December 12, 2023, Chafin signed a one-year, $4.25 million contract with the Detroit Tigers that included a club option for 2025. In 41 appearances for the Tigers in 2024, he recorded a 3.16 ERA with 50 strikeouts across 37 innings. On July 30, 2024, he was traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Chase Lee and Joseph Montalvo, where he posted a 1-1 record and a 4.19 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 19 and one-third innings. The Rangers declined his option following the season.
Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels (2025)
On February 24, 2025, Chafin signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers and pitched for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, where he posted a 2-0 record and a 2.13 ERA with 17 strikeouts across 12 and two-thirds innings. He was released by the Tigers organization on April 30, and on May 1, 2025, he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Washington Nationals.
Chafin appeared in 26 games for the Nationals, recording a 2.70 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 20 innings. On July 30, 2025, the Nationals traded him and Luis Garcia to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Jake Eder and Sam Brown. Following the 2025 season, Chafin became a free agent once again.
Driving Style and Strengths
Chafin throws a four-seam fastball and a two-seam sinking fastball that each average 92 to 94 miles per hour and top out at 97 miles per hour. His main offspeed pitch is a mid-80s slider that he uses to generate swings and misses against both left-handed and right-handed hitters. The combination of velocity and sink has made him especially effective at inducing ground balls and limiting hard contact in high-leverage situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Chafin’s career came on June 24, 2021, when he was part of a combined no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers while with the Chicago Cubs. He also threw a no-hitter in his final high school game at Western Reserve High School, bookending his career with a pair of remarkable pitching achievements. Reaching the 77-appearance mark in both 2018 and 2019 further underscored his durability as a reliever.
Andrew Chafin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Chafin was raised in Wakeman, Ohio, and remains connected to his Midwestern roots. He attended Western Reserve High School in Collins, Ohio, and later played college baseball at Kent State University, where his family supported his development as a pitcher. His path from a small Ohio town to the Major Leagues reflects a steady family foundation that emphasized hard work and consistency.
Personal Life
Chafin is married to his wife, Shelbi. Together, the couple has two daughters and a son. They live on a farm near Massillon, Ohio, where Chafin has spent much of his time away from professional baseball. His commitment to family life in Ohio has remained a constant even as his career has carried him across many Major League cities.
2025 Season Performance
Chafin’s 2025 season began with a minor league deal in the Detroit Tigers organization, where he pitched for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens and posted a 2-0 record with a 2.13 ERA before being released in late April. Within days, he signed with the Washington Nationals and quickly worked his way into a meaningful bullpen role, appearing in 26 games and recording a 2.70 ERA with 18 strikeouts across 20 innings.
At the trade deadline on July 30, 2025, the Nationals dealt Chafin to the Los Angeles Angels, where he continued to provide veteran left-handed depth. His ability to step into new clubhouses and produce immediately made him a valuable trade target for contenders looking to bolster their bullpen.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, Chafin became a free agent once again. With more than a decade of Major League experience, multiple teams likely viewed him as a reliable late-inning option heading into the next offseason, and his future remained an open question as the calendar turned.