In 2023, Chase Solesky finally made it to AAA with the Charlotte Knights in the Chicago White Sox organization. Solesky struggled that year with a 2-9 record and a high 6.35 ERA. He had an uncharacteristic 42 walks to 63 strikeouts for a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 1.5:1. He also had a high WHIP of 1.59 that brought about his release by the White Sox at the end of the season.

In 2024, Solesky signed a minor league contract with the Nationals and was assigned to AA Harrisburg Senators, where he pitched the entire season. His ERA dropped over three runs from the previous year's 6.35 to a 3.02 ERA at Harrisburg. Washington took a low-risk chance on Solesky, and it looks like it may pay some good dividends. Scouts said, “Solesky is a very good pitcher when he’s ahead in the count, but his pitches are catching too much of the plate when he’s behind in the count and is then being hit hard.”

Solesky has made seven appearances with the AAA Rochester Red Wings this season, and six of them have been as a starter. The one who was not a starter, he relieved Andry Lara when he was injured. When you first take a glance at his pitching metrics, you may not be impressed. In baseball, though, you must look beyond the season’s numbers and look for patterns and trends. His first couple of outings were good but not stellar. He was adjusting to AAA ball again and adapting to a very cold, wet spring in western New York. After his first three games this year, his ERA was close to 8; it is now 5.06, and his WHIP is 1.37. In his last three games, two as a starter and one in relief, his ERA is 3.06. His WHIP in the last three games is a phenomenal 0.82. In these games, he has walked three batters and has struck out 17, which is close to a 6:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. What’s been the difference? As the scout said, “Solesky is a very good pitcher when he’s pitching ahead early in the count, but his pitches are catching too much of the plate when he’s behind in the count and is then being hit hard.”

Chase Solesky, throughout his minor league career, has been used primarily as a starter but was not surprised before a game with Worcester when he was told that he might be used in relief today, “My pitching coach had a conversation with me the day prior and said we have a couple of pitchers coming down and rehabbing so using me in relief could help save the bullpen. It worked out well for me, and you never know what your role may be when you get to the big club.” Lara went 1.1 innings, giving up four runs before coming down with an injury. Solesky came in and saved the bullpen that had pitched several innings the day before. He went 5.2 innings, giving up two runs, on three hits, while not walking anyone and striking out four. “Getting warmed up in relief is different than warming up as a starter, but you have to be adaptable.”  

Chase Solesky has been very adaptable to the play in AAA baseball and to the weather conditions in western New York. He can start. He can relieve, and he’s never shy about signing autographs for the fans in Rochester. The low-risk chance the Nationals took signing him to a minor league contract is looking like a nice deal for Washington. As I said before, Solesky had a start to this season that wasn’t stellar, but he is adapting and adjusting with his play and contagious positive attitude to be an exceptionally good pitcher in the Nationals organization, and he is trending UP!

Chase Solesky will start Friday night’s game against the second-place Durham Bulls. Game time is 6:45!