| Chris Kwitzer | |
| Team: | New York Boulders |
| Number: | 9 |
| Position: | infielder |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Right |
| Birth Date: | 26 January 1995 |
| Birth Place: | Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
Chris Kwitzer (born January 26, 1995) is an American professional baseball infielder for the New York Boulders of the Frontier League. He played for the Spain national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic qualification.
Born on January 26, 1995, in Buffalo, New York, to Mark and Ann. Kwitzer attended Saint Mary's High School in Lancaster. Kwitzer earned eight letters and was captain six times for St. Mary's, where he played hockey and football along with baseball.[1]
Kwitzer played college baseball for the Buffalo Bulls. On February 27, 2017, Kwitzer was named MAC East Player of the Week.[2] [3] In his Senior season he was named All-MAC First team at the third base postion.[4] Over 158 games, Kwitzer hit eight home runs, 30 doubles and 11 triples. He held a .287 batting average and scored 73 runs.
He also played three years of collegiate summer baseball from 2014–2016. In 2014, he played for the Cortland Crush of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. In 2015, he played for the Adirondack Trail Blazers of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. In 2016, he played for the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League. In late June, Kwitzer returned to the PGCBL where he played for the Glens Falls Dragons and was named a 2016 PGCBL Eastern Division All-Star.[5] He also participated and won the Home Run Derby contest.[6]
Kwitzer began his professional career for the Santa Fe Fuego of the Pecos League in 2018. After 11 games, Kwitzer joined the Salina Stockade and Hollywood Stars who were guest teams of the Canadian-American Association. After 18 games between the two clubs, Kwitzer returned to Santa Fe where he was selected to the New Mexico Division All-Star team. He also participated and won the Home Run Derby.[7] [8]
See also: 2018 Pacific Association season. On July 31, 2018, Kwitzer appeared in his first game with the Pittsburg Diamonds of the Pacific Association. In his first game with the Diamonds, Kwitzer hit a grand slam in a 13–3 victory against the Vallejo Admirals.[9]
Over his first professional season across four teams and three leagues, Kwitzer had 33 extra base hits over 75 games while holding a .350 average and 65 runs batted in.
See also: 2019 Pacific Association season. In 2019, the corner infielder produced at a .309/.385/.500 clip with 56 RBIs in 58 games for the Sonoma Stompers of the Pacific Association. His play earned him 2019 Gilded Glove winner at the third base position.[10]
In the winter, Kwitzer played for Aguilas Metropolitanas of the Panamanian Professional Baseball League.[11]
In 2020, Kwitzer signed with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he played an abbreviated 18 games with the Wild Things where he held a .296 average over 71 at-bats.
He then joined the Jersey Wise Guys of the All-American Baseball Challenge where he hit .352 over 13 games.[12] In September, Kwitzer joined the Saranac Lake Surge of the Empire Professional Baseball League. Over 11 games, Kwizter went 17–44 with six home runs and 15 RBIs.[13]
On November 9, 2020, Kwizter signed with the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League.[14] In April, Kwitzer appeared in games for the newly formed Party Animals who played against the Savannah Bananas.[15]
On May 21, 2021, the Lake Erie Crushers traded Kwitzer to the Tri-City ValleyCats before ever appearing in a game.[16] In June, Kwitzer served a three-game suspension for an on-field altercation against the New Jersey Jackals. In August, Kwitzer was suspended 12-games by the Frontier League for a benches-clearing fight in the ninth inning against the Sussex County Miners.[17]
See also: 2022 Frontier League season and 2022–23 Australian Baseball League season. In 2022, Kwitzer signed with the New York Boulders of the Frontier League. Over 92 games, Kwitzer had a career high 20 home runs, 24 doubles and a league leading 96 RBIs. He also stole a then career-high 13 bases in 14 attempts while holding a .301 average.
In the fall, Kwitzer signed with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League. Over 37 games, Kwitzer had eight extra base hits and 19 RBIs.[18]
See also: 2023 Frontier League season. In 2023, Kwitzer batted .301 for the second consecutive season over 95 games. He was successful in 21 of 23 stolen bases attempts, which was a career-high. On July 6, 2023, Kwitzer was named an Eastern Division alternate All-Star for the 2023 Frontier League All-Star game.[19] He also participated and won the Outfield throwing competition.[20] On August 7, Kwitzer was named Frontier League Player of the Week where he had a 1.429 OPS, nine RBIs, 2 home runs and a .455 average.[21]
See also: 2024 Frontier League season. On April 8, 2024, Kwitzer re-signed with the Boulders.[22] On July 5, he was named a Eastern Division All-Star reserve for the 2024 Frontier League All-Star game.[23]
Played for Spain in the 2023 World Baseball Classic qualification.[24] Played in all four games as a right fielder and designated hitter. Held a .313 average (5 for 16, 2B, 2 RBI, BB).[25]