Bassitt Becomes 80th Player to Go from Kannapolis to Big Leagues Since 1995

Published on August 30, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Aug. 30, 2014) - Former Kannapolis Intimidators relief pitcher Chris Bassitt will become the 80th player to go from Kannapolis to the Major Leagues since 1995 and 56th since the Intimidators became a White Sox affiliate in 2001. The right-handed pitcher is scheduled to start on the mound for the Chicago White Sox in the second game of the team's doubleheader today against the Detroit Tigers. The White Sox purchased his contract from Double-A Birmingham.

Bassitt, the White Sox 16th round selection in the June 2011 First-Year Player Draft, appeared out of the bullpen in 16 games with Class A Kannapolis during his professional debut season in 2011. He went 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA (5 ER/24.2 IP) with 29 strikeouts while holding South Atlantic League hitters to a .202 average during his time with the Intimidators. The White Sox promoted Bassitt to High-A Winston-Salem for his final appearance of 2011, and he spent his entire 2012 campaign with the Winston-Salem Dash. He split 2013 between Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham. In 2014, Bassitt made six starts for the Birmingham Barons, going 3-1 with a 1.56 ERA (6 ER/34.2 IP).

Bassitt becomes the third former Intimidators player to reach the Major Leagues this season, all with the White Sox. Earlier this year, infielder Carlos Sanchez and reliever Taylor Thompson each made their Major League debuts.

The Kannapolis Intimidators are in the 20th season of professional baseball in Kannapolis and the team's 14th as the Class A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Since the team moved to Kannapolis in 1995, a total of 80 players that have played in Kannapolis have gone on to the Major Leagues. This year's team is managed by Pete Rose Jr. and features some of the top prospects in the White Sox farm system. CMC-NorthEast Stadium is located off I-85 at exit 63. For ticket information, please contact the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or visit www.IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

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