Chad Sobotka

Chad Sobotka
Sobotka with the Atlanta Braves in 2018
Pitcher
Born: (1993-07-10) July 10, 1993 (age 31) Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 10, 2018, for the Atlanta Braves
Last MLB appearance
September 5, 2020, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	1–0
Earned run average	5.36
Strikeouts	61
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Atlanta Braves (2018–2020)

Chad Nicholas Sobotka (born July 10, 1993) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves.

Early life

Chad Sobotka was born in Sarasota, Florida, on July 10, 1993, to parents David and Kim. He has a brother Matt and a sister Stefanie.^[1][2]

Career

Amateur career

Sobotka attended Riverview High School in Sarasota, Florida, where he first became a pitcher.^[3][4] Sobotka attended the University of South Carolina Upstate, playing for the Spartans baseball team. In his first collegiate season, Sobotka saved twelve games, pitched 31+1⁄3 innings, and recorded a .196 batting average against, a 1.72 earned run average, and 34 strikeouts. The next year, Sobotka made 26 appearances, with a 3.86 earned run average and .225 batting average against in 37+1⁄3 innings pitched.^[5][6] In 2013, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.^[7][8] Sobotka sat out the 2014 season with a stress fracture in his back.^[5][9]

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves selected Sobotka in the fourth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.^[10][11] Sobotka received a signing bonus of $400,000 from the organization.^[12] Upon his selection by the Braves, Sobotka became the first Spartan baseball player to be drafted as high as the fourth round.^[13] The Braves assigned Sobotka to the Rome Braves in 2015. During his first season, Sobotka missed two months due to injury.^[14] He returned to Rome at the start of the 2016 season.^[15] In July, Sobotka was promoted to the Carolina Mudcats,^[16] and ended the season with the Mississippi Braves.^[14] Sobotka was placed on the Mississippi Braves' Opening Day roster in 2017,^[17][18] and also spent time with the Florida Fire Frogs.^[19] In the Southern League, Sobotka pitched to a 5.52 ERA. His Florida State League earned run average was 6.75.^[20] Sobotka started the 2018 season on the Fire Frogs' roster.^[19] He joined the Mississippi Braves on May 15,^[21][22] prior to his selection as a Florida State League All-Star.^[23] On July 21, 2018, Sobotka was promoted to the Gwinnett Stripers,^[24][25] making his International League debut three days later.^[26]

On August 10, 2018, the Braves promoted Sobotka to the major leagues.^[27][28] He faced the Milwaukee Brewers later that night, pitching one inning in relief of Kevin Gausman and recording his first career strikeout.^[29][30] In 2019 for Atlanta, Sobotka made 32 appearances, pitching to an ugly 6.21 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 29.0 innings pitched.^[31] In 2020, Sobotka only appeared in 4 games for the Braves, recording a ghastly 12.27 ERA with only 2 strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work.^[32]

Milwaukee Brewers

On April 6, 2021, the Braves traded Sobotka and Patrick Weigel to the Milwaukee Brewers for Orlando Arcia.^[33] On June 16, Sobotka was outrighted off of the 40-man roster without making a major league appearance for Milwaukee.^[34]

Gastonia Honey Hunters

On June 22, 2022, Sobotka signed with the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He made 11 appearances for Gastonia, allowing zero runs and striking out 15 across 11.0 innings pitched. On July 25, Sobotka retired from professional baseball.^[35]

Pitching style

Sobotka is known for the speed of his fastball.^[36] During the 2017 minor league season, Sobotka issued five walks per nine innings pitched, a rate that was reduced in 2018 when he adjusted the grip on his slider.^[37]

References

1. "32 Chad Sobotka". University of South Carolina Upstate. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
2. "Matt Sobotka". University of Wisconsin. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
3. Brockman, Jim (June 6, 2014). "MLB dreams come true for five area baseball players". Herald-Tribune. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
4. Brockman, Jim (June 8, 2014). "Davis is first of five picked on final day". Herald Tribune. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
5. "Sobotka Selected by Atlanta Braves in MLB Draft". University of South Carolina Upstate. July 6, 2014. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
6. Yanity, Pete (August 10, 2018). "USC Upstate Alum Sobotka Called-Up By Braves". WSPA. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
7. Bowman, Mark (June 6, 2014). "Braves take college righty Sobotka in fourth round". MLB.com. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
8. "#24 Chad Sobotka". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
9. Shanesy, Todd (June 6, 2014). "SMC's Rogers, Upstate's Sobotka taken in MLB draft". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
10. LeCompte, Ricardo (June 6, 2014). "Upstate players taken on second day of MLB Draft". WYFF. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
11. Walton, Carroll Rogers (June 6, 2014). "Braves emphasize tall power arms in early draft rounds". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
12. Brockman, Jim (June 12, 2014). "Top six area MLB draftees ready to start pro careers". Herald Tribune. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
13. Brockman, Jim (June 7, 2014). "Five area players go in MLB draft". Herald Tribune. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
14. "Atlanta Braves Scouting Report on Pitcher Chad Sobotka". Fox Sports. June 30, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
15. Stewart, Jeremy (April 6, 2016). "Rome Braves ready to roll this season". Rome News Tribune. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
16. "Beckham joins Mudcats, Minter to Miss". MLB.com. July 2, 2016. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
17. "Mississippi Braves reveal 2017 Opening Day roster". WLBT. April 4, 2017. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
18. Black, Miranda (April 4, 2017). "M-Braves Announce Opening Day Roster". MILB.com. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
19. Jackson, Ken (April 6, 2018). "Fire Frogs open 2018 Osceola schedule Saturday at 4 p.m." Osceola News Gazette. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
20. Shanesy, Todd (August 11, 2018). "Former Spartan Chad Sobotka perfect in debut with Braves". Spartanburg Herald. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
21. "RHP Chad Sobotka added from High-A Florida". MILB.com. May 15, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
22. Wellham, David (May 23, 2018). "Braves prospect updates: Allard, five others". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
23. Norris, Josh (June 1, 2018). "Florida State League Announces 2018 All-Star Rosters". Baseball America. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
24. "M-Braves: RHP Sobotka promoted to Gwinnett, LHP Brothers to Mississippi". WLBT. July 22, 2018. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
25. Harris, Chris (July 21, 2018). "RHP Chad Sobotka promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett, LHP Rex Brothers to Mississippi". MILB.com. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
26. "IronPigs rally past Stripers in series opener". Gwinnett Daily Post. July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
27. Tucker, Tim (August 10, 2018). "Braves encouraged about Sanchez's status for next start". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
28. Bowman, Mark (August 10, 2018). "Toussaint being considered for spot start". MLB.com. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
29. Tucker, Tim (August 10, 2018). "Braves rout Brewers in Gausman's home debut". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on August 11, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2018. Alt URL
30. "USC Upstate's Chad Sobotka makes major league debut". Spartanburg Herald Journal. August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
31. "2019 Atlanta Braves Season in Review: Chad Sobotka". November 5, 2019.
32. "2020 Atlanta Braves Player Reviews: Chad Sobotka". November 13, 2020.
33. "With commitment to Luis Urías at shortstop, Brewers trade Orlando Arcia to Braves for two big pitchers".
34. "Brewers Claim Ryan Weber". June 16, 2021.
35. "Transactions – Atlantic League Pro Baseball".
36. Bowman, Mark (August 11, 2018). "Sobotka provides depth to young Braves 'pen". MLB.com. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
37. Bowman, Mark (August 17, 2018). "Sobotka impressing in big league showings". MLB.com. Retrieved August 18, 2018.

External links

• Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)