Bass Becomes a Blue Jay

Right-handed pitcher Anthony Bass fits the profile of a baseball journeyman. Selected by San Diego in the fifth round of the 2008 draft, Bass has since suited up for six MLB organizations and also spent 2016 playing in Japan.

After a season on the other side of the globe and an injury-shortened 2017 campaign, 2018 was the beginning of a resurgence for the righty. Bass, now 32, spent his first and only season with the Cubs that year, splitting time between Iowa and Chicago.

Bass allowed two earned runs through 1.0 inning in his first outing as an I-Cub, but thereafter controlled the game with a 1.59 ERA (4ER/22.2IP), 20 strikeouts and six walks through 17 outings to earn a call up to Chicago in early June.

From June 11-July 4, Bass allowed one earned run through 14.1 big league innings (0.63 ERA). His dominant run was halted by a right mid-thoracic strain that required an IL stint. He would appear in two more games for the Cubs after one rehab game in Iowa, but was eventually Designated for Assignment and spent the balance of the campaign as an I-Cub. Bass totaled a 3.38 ERA (12ER/32.0IP) through 27 games with Iowa, and a 2.93 ERA (5ER/15.1IP) in 16 games with Chicago.

In 2019, Bass tabbed a 3.10 ERA (5ER/20.1IP) through 19 games with Louisville, Cincinnati’s Triple-A team, before he received his release in May and signed with Seattle. The righty spent the remainder of the season with the Mariners, logging a 3.56 ERA (19ER/48.0IP) through 44 games.

Jump to the present and Bass has become the closer for Toronto, filling a hole left by an injured Ken Giles. Bass was claimed off waivers by the club in October. With three saves in four opportunities, Bass leads the Blue Jays and is third (10.0+IP) with a 2.13 ERA (3ER/12.2IP). All three of his earned runs on the season came in a single two-out outing against Miami on Aug. 11. Otherwise, he has not allowed an earned run in 11 games.

Including his time with Chicago, Bass holds a 3.19 ERA (27ER/76.0IP) through 72 major league games over his last three seasons. In this time, he’s walked just 23 and struck out 66.