The incredible story of former Alabama pitcher Chase Lee continued this week as the former walk-on was called up to the Major Leagues by the Detroit Tigers. Lee also made his debut on the same day he was summoned, Tuesday. The side winding righty from McCalla, AL tossed 1.2 scoreless innings against the red hot San Diego Padres. Lee was with the Tide from 2019-2021.
Lee was by his on account “a mediocre high school player” with no offers after graduation. Instead he headed to Tuscaloosa armed with an academic scholarship to study aerospace engineering. At 5’10” and 150 pounds Lee walked on to the team in the fall of his freshman year and positioned himself at shortstop. Then head coach Brad Bohannon and pitching coach Jason Jackson noticed he was a small kid with a strong arm. After letting Lee know he had not made the squad the coaches suggested he learn to throw sidearm and come back and try again the next year.
Lee took that to heart, studying YouTube videos on side arm pitchers and joining the Univeristy’s Club Team. With the Alabama Club Team, Lee posted a 7-0 record with a 0.21 ERA. The falling fall Lee tried out for the Crimson Tide again and this time made the squad.
In the 2019 season Lee made 22 appearances out of the bullpen, pitching 31 innings with 24 strikeouts and a 2.67 ERA. In the summer of 2019 Lee played for the Bethesda Big Train in the Cal Ripken League and after earning seven saves with 51 strikeouts and 1.03 ERA was named the leagues pitcher of the year.
The big summer season propelled Lee into the closer role in 2020, the season was unfortunately cut short by the Covid Pandemic, but in five appearances the righty struck out 19 batters with a 1.94 ERA. As a redshirt junior in 2021 Lee was named a third team All American when he posted a 7-0 record with seven saves and 51 strikeouts with a 1.33 ERA in 40.2 innings pitched.
The Texas Rangers selected Lee in the 6th round of the 2021 draft and after one appearance in Rookie ball was promoted to AA. After two solid season’s in the Rangers organization Lee was traded to the Detroit Tigers on July 30, 2024. Lee made enough of an impression to be added to the Tigers 40 man roster in the winter, protecting him from being taken in the Rule 5 draft.
On April 22, 2025 Lee got the call that every baseball player dreams of, being called up to the Major Leagues. In a tight game against the San Diego Padres, Lee was called into face none other than Manny Machado with a runner on base. With the Tigers trailing 2-0 in the 8th inning, Lee was summoned. On a 1-2 count Machado lunged at one of Lee’s patented wiffle balls and hit a soft liner back toward the mound. The pitch was measured with a 3122 spin rate. Lee snared the ball and doubled off the runner at first base. The rookie finished his outing with 1.2 innings pitched with no hits, two walks, one strikeout, and no runs allowed.
Lee had his wife and son as well his parents and other family and friends for his debut. Things could not have gone better. Hopefully this will be the start of a long career to a guy that never gave up. Whatever happens he will always have the AeroSpace Engineering degree in his back pocket.
Roll Tide
Roll Viper!
