As Chris Bassitt celebrates his membership in baseball’s 10-year fraternity, he remains all about the team

NEW YORK -- It’s several hours before first pitch at Yankee Stadium when Chris Bassitt and Shane Baz emerge from the Baltimore Orioles’ dugout and head out to left field for some pregame work under a bright blue late afternoon sky. If you believe in the concept of veterans mentoring, guiding and otherwise facilitating the development of younger teammates, the image checks all the boxes.

Baz, the 12^th pick in the 2017 MLB draft, is continuing his ascent as a starting pitcher with his second big-league team at age 26. And Bassitt, who exudes wisdom and calm in a been-there, done-that kind of way, is happy to be a resource for his young teammate while pursuing his own goal of a World Series ring at age 37. Despite the age gap (or perhaps because of it, given the good-natured banter it generates), the two pitchers have built a rapport watching games together from the dugout, hanging out in airport lounges and hotel lobbies, and playing spirited rounds of golf during off days on the road.

 “It's as competitive as anything,’’ Baz said, “so it’s probably not a gentleman's game when we're playing it. Maybe PG-13. But it’s a lot of fun.’’

Bassitt puts the official stamp on his “mentor’’ status this week when he reaches 10 years of major-league service -- a milestone attained by an estimated 7 percent of the nearly 24,000 players who have appeared in the big leagues. The achievement is universally admired in clubhouses, eliciting testimonials and gift-giving while prompting the players at the heart of the celebrations to reflect on all the moments that define a career.

As Bassitt sifts through 15 years of memories as a professional ballplayer, his sense of pride is less about numbers accrued than relationships forged over time.  He built enduring friendships with teammates during six years with Oakland, had the privilege of pitching with generational starters like Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, and bonded with Toronto teammates during a memorable World Series run in 2025.

“I never really had a goal of five or eight or 10 years,’’ Bassitt said. “I just said, ‘I'm going to try my best, and as long as this (lasts), I'll have no regrets.’ I'm super grateful for playing as long as I have because of the amount of people I've been able to cross paths with. That's the biggest thing I look at – how many great people I've been able to meet and become friends with. I'll always be grateful for that.’’

Bassitt began his professional journey as a multisport athlete in the town of Genoa, Ohio, and signed with the Chicago White Sox out of the University of Akron as a 16th round pick in the 2011 June draft. With 85 career wins, more than 1,300 innings, a 2021 American League All-Star selection and that 2025 World Series appearance on his resume, he is the most accomplished of eight Akron Zips to have reached the majors.

His “welcome to the big leagues’’ moment came on Aug. 30, 2014, when the White Sox summoned him from the Double-A Southern League to face a Tigers lineup that featured Ian Kinsler, Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez. Bassitt grew up less than an hour from Detroit, so he had a small army of family members and friends in the Comerica Park stands. After striking out Cabrera to end the first inning, he uncharacteristically sprinted off the mound to the dugout.

“Miguel Cabrera was someone I idolized,’’ Bassitt said. “He was one of my favorite hitters in the world. Obviously, you don’t face Miguel Cabrera in the minor leagues. So I was like, ‘Dang, this is not Birmingham anymore.’ I got lucky against him and just blacked out and lost my mind. I think it’s the only time in my entire career that I ran off the mound.’’

Inevitably, plot twists and assorted obstacles threatened to upend Bassitt’s career narrative. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016 and suffered a fractured right cheekbone on Aug. 17, 2021, when he was struck in the face by a line drive off the bat of White Sox outfielder Brian Goodwin. Five weeks after leaving the field on a cart with a towel covering his face, Bassitt beat the projected recovery time and threw three shutout innings against the Mariners. After the game, Oakland teammate Tony Kemp described Bassitt as a “workhorse,’’ a “grinder’’ and a “fearless cat.’’

Bassitt’s resilience stems in part from a mindset he embraced in the low minors. It helped him navigate on-field challenges and the business side of the game, which can seem so cold and arbitrary at times.

“It’s a trap to constantly worry about your numbers and worry about yourself and what you’re doing,’’ he said. “If you’re constantly grinding and worrying about your batting average or your ERA or whatever you care about individually, the slumps and the dark times are going to be really, really dark. I always worry about how the team is doing and how I can help the team. That's different every single game, every week, every month. I found beauty in that.’’

Through the years, Bassitt’s thoughtfulness and steady demeanor prompted several teammates to suggest he become involved in Players Association leadership. In December 2024, he joined Marcus Semien as one of two Association Player Representatives on the PA’s eight-member executive subcommittee.

Bassitt’s broad range of experiences helps him empathize with players across the spectrum. He knows what it’s like to have success as a 16^th round draft pick and to overcome potentially career-threatening injuries. He’s been traded in mid-March and waited until mid-February to sign with a new team as a free agent. In his first minor-league season, he shared a condo with several players from Venezuela and the Dominican Republic and gained insight into the challenges they face with the language barrier and numerous cultural adjustments.

“I lived with a lot of guys in many houses in the minor leagues,’’ Bassitt said. “I come from the cornfields of Ohio, so it always fascinated me to hear other guys’ stories and what they went through.’’

Craig Albernaz, Baltimore’s first-year manager, saw Bassitt’s impact from the moment he arrived at spring training in Sarasota in February.

“He's seen a lot and been through a lot,’’ Albernaz said. “He's played in big markets. He's played in small markets. And now he's about to play for 10 years. That doesn’t happen by accident.

“He embodies what I want all our guys to embody -- the ability to adjust and problem solve and keep trying to get better. When it comes to his messaging, he has a great feel and a great presence. He’s the same person every day, and he has a high standard for himself and everyone around him.’’

Bassitt’s formula for longevity is rooted in the basics: Tend to the details. Don’t let the setbacks deter you, and carry yourself in a way that prompts teams to appreciate what you bring to the park each day beyond the numbers and the analytics.

“My only advice I give to guys is, ‘Try your best and be a good person,’’’ Bassitt said. “It’s such an easy thing to say, but the reality is, if you’re a good person, you’ll get a lot more chances than if you’re not. Care for people. Care for who they are. Care for their background and what they stand for. Then just work your butt off, and whatever happens, happens. Don’t have any regrets.’’