CHICAGO – After having his contract selected by the Padres on Saturday afternoon,
Chandler Seagle entered as a pinch hitter for San Diego in the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox, making his Major League debut in the penultimate game of the 2023 regular season.
"Chandler is the epitome of hard work and dedication," head coach
Kermit Smith said. "He has completely committed every area of his life to this goal, and to see him achieve it is surreal. We are so fortunate to have someone like him representing our great University and baseball program. I am so elated for him."
Seagle pinch-hit for Padres' all-star Juan Soto in the ninth inning Saturday, and hit a sharp ground ball up the middle, but was thrown out at first base on an exceptional defensive play by White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson.
Seagle becomes the eighth player in App State baseball history to make the Major Leagues, joining Don Cardwell, Ron Hodges, John Pychea, Mike Ramsey, Coakler Triplett, Jeffrey Springs and Jaylin Davis.
The 27-year-old catcher from New Bern, N.C. was selected by the Padres in the 30
th round of the 2017 first year player's draft. He has since played in 287 Minor League games across six seasons in the Padres organization.
Seagle began the season with the Double-A, San Antonio Missions, before being promoted to Triple-A, El-Paso in August. He played 16 games with the Chihuahuas prior to making his debut.
An All-State selection out of New Bern High School, Seagle was a three-year starter for the Mountaineers behind the plate, playing in 143 games and making 127 starts for the Black and Gold. Known most for his defense, Seagle nabbed 39 base stealers in his career, including a career-high 16 in 2016, which at the time was the most by an App State catcher since 2005.
