Chris Okey

Christopher Campbell Okey (born December 29, 1994) is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels. He played college baseball for the Clemson Tigers of Clemson University.

Chris Okey
Okey with the Louisville Bats in 2021
Free agent
Catcher
Born: (1994-12-29) December 29, 1994
Altamonte Springs, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 10, 2022, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.143
Home runs0
Runs batted in0
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
18U Baseball World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2012 Seoul Team

Amateur career

Okey attended Eustis High School in Eustis, Florida. Playing for the school's baseball team, Okey was a four-year letterman. He also played for the United States national youth baseball team.[1] In his senior year, Okey had a .411 batting average with four home runs and 29 runs batted in (RBIs).[2] The San Diego Padres selected Okey in the 31st round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign.[3]

Okey enrolled at Clemson University in order to play college baseball for the Clemson Tigers. He split time during his freshman year between catcher and designated hitter.[1] As a freshman, Okey batted .248 with four home runs, and 41 RBIs in 61 games played.[4] In 2015, his sophomore year, Okey started at catcher in all of the Tigers' 61 games,[5][6] and had a .315 batting average and led the team with 12 home runs and 57 RBIs. He was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team, an All-American, and a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award.[1][7] In 2016, Baseball America rated Okey as the 25th-best college prospect available in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[3] He was named a Preseason All-American before the 2016 season.[5]

Professional career

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds selected Okey in the second round, with the 43rd overall selection, of the 2016 draft.[8] Okey signed with the Reds, receiving a reported $2 million signing bonus,[9] and made his professional debut with the Billings Mustangs of the Rookie-level Pioneer League.[10] After playing in nine games for Billings, he was promoted to the Dayton Dragons of the Single-A Midwest League.[11] Okey finished the 2016 season with a .227 batting average, six home runs and 22 RBIs in 51 games.[12]

Okey spent the 2017 season with the Daytona Tortugas of the High-A Florida State League,[13] posting a .185 batting average with three home runs, 28 RBIs, and a .514 OPS in 93 games.[14] He began 2018 with Daytona before being promoted to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos of the Double-A Southern League. In 86 games between the two clubs, Okey slashed .199/.259/.315 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs.[15] He split the 2019 with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Double-A Southern League and the Louisville Bats of the Triple-A International League, batting .209 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs over 58 games.[16] The Reds invited Okey to spring training as a non-roster player in 2020.[17] After the cancellation of the 2020 season, Okey played for Louisville in 2021[18] and returned there in 2022. On June 4, 2022, while playing for Louisville, Okey hit for the cycle in an 11-3 victory over the Gwinnett Stripers. He became the 7th player in Bats history to do so.[19]

The Reds promoted Okey to the major leagues on June 10, 2022, following an injury to regular catcher Tyler Stephenson.[20] He made his major league debut that same day as a defensive substitute for Aramis Garcia in a 2-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.[21][22] On June 13, Okey collected his first career hit, slapping a single up the middle off of Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly.[23]

The Reds optioned Okey back to Louisville on June 29[24] and designated him for assignment on July 5.[25] Okey cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A on July 6.[26] He was released on August 13.

Los Angeles Angels

On March 30, 2023, Okey signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He played in 13 games for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, hitting .125/.205/.225 with 1 home run and 3 RBI. On May 9, Okey had his contract selected to the active roster after Chad Wallach was placed on the concussion injured list. He was subsequently slotted into the starting lineup in that day's game against the Houston Astros.[27] He went hitless in two games for the Angels before he was designated for assignment on June 24.[28] On June 26, Okey cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A.[29] On October 10, Okey elected free agency.[30]

Personal life

Okey's father, Chuck, played college football at Presbyterian College. His mother, Kim, was a cheerleader for Clemson. He has two older brothers, Chase and Mitch.[1]

References
  1. Keepfer, Scott (February 18, 2016). "A Tiger all the way: Chris Okey always knew where he'd play baseball". The Greenville News. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  2. Williams, Joe (June 5, 2013). "Eustis' Chris Okey waiting on draft to make decision Clemson or MLB". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  3. "Clemson catcher Chris Okey leads list of state's top college draft prospects". The Post and Courier. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  4. Roy, Eleanor (June 25, 2014). "Eustis grad Chris Okey behind the plate again for USA Baseball". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  5. "Clemson catcher Chris Okey named 2nd team preseason All-American". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. December 22, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  6. Senkiw, Brad (May 27, 2015). "Chris Okey is iron man behind the plate for Clemson". The State. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  7. "It's winter and there is no baseball; Clemson's Chris Okey is here to help". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  8. "Clemson catcher Chris Okey drafted 43rd by Cincinnati". The State. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  9. "Clemson's Pat Krall to return; Chris Okey signs with Reds". The Post and Courier. June 13, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  10. Keepfer, Scott (June 10, 2016). "Okey bound for Billings". Greenville News. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  11. Buchanan, Zach (July 3, 2016). "Nick Senzel, Chris Okey big part of Reds' future in Dayton". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  12. "Chris Okey Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Milb.com. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  13. "Reds catcher inspired by stars | Sports". herald-dispatch.com. February 1, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  14. "Chris Okey Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  15. "Chris Okey Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  16. "Cincinnati Reds: Taking a look at internal catching depth". September 23, 2019.
  17. "Cincinnati Reds roster: Position-by-position breakdown before spring training". Courier-journal.com. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  18. "The Courier-Journal". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  19. "Louisville's Okey hits for the cycle". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  20. "Watch: Chris Okey, Louisville Bats catcher, finds out he's MLB-bound, joining Reds". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  21. Kaycee Sloan (June 12, 2022). "'A dream come true': Louisville Bats Chris Okey made his first MLB start on Saturday". Wlwt.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  22. "Chris Okey makes his big league debut for Cincinnati Reds". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  23. "Chris Okey's first Major League hit | 06/13/2022". MLB.com. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  24. "Michael Papierski added to roster; Justin Dunn update: Reds notes". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  25. Steve Adams (July 5, 2022). "Reds Claim RHP Ian Gibaut Off Waivers From Dodgers". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  26. "Reds' Chris Okey: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  27. "Angels' Chris Okey: Contract selected from Salt Lake". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  28. "Angels' Chris Okey: Designated for assignment". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  29. "Angels' Chris Okey: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  30. https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-10-10
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