Chase C. Shugart Bio
Chase C. Shugart (born October 24, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox. Shugart began his career as a starting pitcher in college before transitioning to a bullpen role in the minor leagues and eventually reaching the major leagues as a reliever in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Chase C. Shugart was born on October 24, 1996, in Bridge City, Texas. He grew up in Bridge City and attended Bridge City High School, where he was a two-sport athlete. In addition to playing baseball, Shugart played football during his high school years.
As a junior in 2014, Shugart compiled a 10–1 win–loss record and a 1.64 earned run average (ERA) with 127 strikeouts in 72⅔ innings pitched on the mound. In 2015, as a senior, he went 10–2 with a 0.67 ERA, and as a batter he hit .544 with nine home runs and 27 runs batted in (RBIs). Despite his strong senior season, Shugart was not selected in the 2015 MLB draft.
After going unselected, Shugart enrolled at the University of Texas to play college baseball for the Texas Longhorns.
Path to Baseball
As a freshman at Texas in 2016, Shugart made 32 appearances, all in relief, and pitched to a 2–3 record with a 4.53 ERA. In 2017, as a sophomore, he went 3–2 with a 3.43 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 42 innings out of the bullpen. Following that season, he pitched for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, a well-known summer showcase for top college players.
Heading into his junior year in 2018, Shugart transitioned from a reliever to a starting pitcher for the Longhorns. He helped Texas reach the 2018 College World Series, where the team was eventually eliminated by the Florida Gators on June 19. He finished his junior year with a 5–3 record and a 4.36 ERA in 84⅔ innings pitched.
Chase C. Shugart Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
On June 6, 2018, Shugart was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 12th round of the 2018 MLB draft with the 370th overall pick. On June 22, he announced via Twitter that he would forego his final year at Texas in order to sign with the Red Sox, and he signed with Boston on July 6. He first pitched in mid-August for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox, where he made three appearances with a 1.80 ERA in five innings of work before being assigned to the Lowell Spinners of the Low–A New York-Penn League.
On March 22, 2019, MLB suspended Shugart for fifty games after a second positive test violating the drug prevention and treatment program. He made his first appearance of the 2019 season on May 27 with the Greenville Drive of the Single-A South Atlantic League, spending the rest of the year there. Over 16 starts, Shugart went 6–4 with a 2.81 ERA, striking out 73 over 89⅔ innings. After the 2020 minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was invited to participate in the Red Sox fall instructional league. For the 2021 season, Shugart returned to Greenville, now members of the High-A East, started 22 games, and pitched to a 6–6 record with a 4.78 ERA and 93 strikeouts over 105⅓ innings.
Red Sox Organization Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Shugart opened the 2022 season with the Portland Sea Dogs of the Double-A Eastern League and moved into the bullpen. In early July, he was promoted to the Worcester Red Sox of the Triple-A International League. On August 4, he pitched two innings of a combined no-hitter alongside Michael Wacha and Andrew Politi versus the Durham Bulls. Over 45 games (one start) between the two affiliates, Shugart went 5–5 with a 5.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts over 62⅔ innings.
Shugart spent the entirety of the 2023 season with Triple-A Worcester. In 40 appearances with the club, he posted an 8.22 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 4 saves over 46 innings pitched. He returned to Worcester to begin the 2024 campaign.
On August 12, 2024, Shugart was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. In 6 games for Boston, he logged a 4.15 ERA with 8 strikeouts and 1 save across 8⅔ innings pitched. Shugart was designated for assignment following the acquisition of Blake Sabol on January 15, 2025.
Pittsburgh Pirates Era (2025–Present)
On January 17, 2025, Shugart was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Matt McShane. He was optioned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians to begin the season. On April 22, 2025, Shugart recorded his first career major league win after tossing two scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels.
Notable Events and Milestones
Shugart’s most prominent early professional milestone came on August 4, 2022, when he combined with Michael Wacha and Andrew Politi to throw a no-hitter for the Worcester Red Sox against the Durham Bulls. He later reached the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox in August 2024, recording his first big league save during that debut stretch, and earned his first major league victory on April 22, 2025, with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Chase C. Shugart Family
Personal Life
Chase C. Shugart is a native of Bridge City, Texas. Public details about his parents, spouse, or other personal relationships have not been verified.
2025 Season Performance
Chase C. Shugart entered the 2025 season as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox in a January trade. He was assigned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians to begin the year as he adjusted to his new club. His role in the Pittsburgh system provided him an opportunity to refine his relief work in a new environment.
On April 22, 2025, Shugart recorded his first career major league win, tossing two scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels. That appearance marked a significant step forward as he looked to establish himself in the Pirates’ bullpen after a brief but productive major league debut with Boston the previous summer.
As the 2025 season progresses, Shugart’s outlook centers on building consistency out of the bullpen for Pittsburgh, leveraging his prior major league experience with the Red Sox, and continuing to develop as a reliable late-inning option.