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Chris Kwitzer
Hagerstown Flying Boxcars
infielder
Born: (1995-01-26) January 26, 1995 (age 30)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right

Chris Kwitzer (born January 26, 1995) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He played for the Spain national baseball team in the 2023 and 2026 World Baseball Classic qualification.

Early life and college career

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Born on January 26, 1995, in Buffalo, New York, to Mark and Ann. Kwitzer attended St. 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 position.[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 to 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.[6]

Professional career

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Santa Fe Fuego

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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]

Pittsburg Diamonds

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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.

Sonoma Stompers

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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]

Washington Wild Things

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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]

Tri-City ValleyCats

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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]

New York Boulders (2022–2024)

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2022: RBI leader

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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]

2023: First All-Star selection and award

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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]

2024 season

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See also: 2024 Frontier League season

On April 8, 2024, Kwitzer re-signed with the Boulders.[22] On July 5, he was named an Eastern Division All-Star reserve for the 2024 Frontier League All-Star game.[23] In 93 appearances for the Boulders, Kwitzer batted .271/.321/.436 with 14 home runs, 62 RBI, and four stolen bases.

Kwitzer was released by the Boulders on March 27, 2025.[24]

Hagerstown Flying Boxcars

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On March 27, 2025, Kwitzer signed with the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[25]

Independent statistics

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Legend
Led league
Bold Career high
Year Team League Hitting
G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA
2018 Santa Fe PECO 32 158 140 43 60 7 1 11 42 3 1 11 25 .429
Salina CAMA 9 35 33 5 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 12 .152
Hollywood 9 38 35 3 10 2 0 1 4 0 1 2 8 .286
Pittsburg PACA 25 112 95 16 31 7 0 1 18 1 0 15 17 .326
2019 Sonoma PACA 58 273 236 50 73 14 2 9 56 2 2 29 61 .309
2020 Washington WASH 18 73 71 10 21 2 1 2 8 2 1 1 18 .296
Jersey AABC 13 60 54 8 19 3 1 1 6 3 1 5 14 .352
2021 Tri-City FRON 52 154 142 23 37 10 0 5 17 0 0 6 38 .261
2022 New York FRON 92 415 382 68 115 24 3 20 96 13 1 26 104 .301
2023 New York FRON 95 401 365 52 110 21 4 6 48 21 2 28 82 .301
2024 New York FRON 93 418 388 56 105 20 1 14 62 4 2 23 91 .271
Career 496 2,137 1,941 334 586 112 13 70 358 50 11 147 470 .302

Australian Baseball League statistics

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Year Team Hitting
G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA
2022–23 Canberra 37 148 140 18 34 4 1 3 19 0 1 4 28 .243

International career

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Spain

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Played for Spain in the 2023 World Baseball Classic qualification.[26] Played in all four games as a right fielder and designated hitter, with a .313 average (5 for 16, 2B, 2 RBI, BB).[27] He also represented Spain during the 2026 World Baseball Classic qualifiers and was described on the WBSC website as "known to be the centre of the offence."[28]

References

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  1. ^ "2016-17 Baseball Chris Kwitzer". ubbulls.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  2. ^ "UB's Chris Kwitzer Named MAC East Player Of The Week". pickinsplinters.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Marquardt Named MAC West Pitcher of the Week". ballstatesports.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  4. ^ "All-MAC Baseball Teams & Specialty Award Winners Announced". getsomemaction.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Five Dutchmen Selected to All-Star Game". dutchmenbaseball.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  6. ^ "PGCBL All-Stars take part in Home Run Derby". cbs6albany.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Mountain All Stars shine brightly at Central Park". worldjournalnewspaper.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  8. ^ "All Star home runs sail out of the park". worldjournalnewspaper.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Pittsburg Diamonds vs Vallejo Admirals: 13-3". pointstreak.com. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  10. ^ "FOUR STOMPERS WIN GILDED GLOVE AWARDS". Stompersbaseball.com.
  11. ^ "Statistics As of December 30, 2019". aguilasmetropolitanas.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Chris Kwitzer Overview". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Chris Kwitzer". empireproleague.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  14. ^ "2020 Transactions". frontierleague.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Former ValleyCat Chris Kwitzer does damage to his old team". timesunion.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  16. ^ "2021 Transactions". frontierleague.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  17. ^ "ValleyCats player suspended for rest of season". timesunion.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Cavalry recruit Chris Kwitzer looking to bring the party atmosphere to Canberra". canberratimes.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  19. ^ "Kwitzer Named All-Star Game Alternate". oursportscentral.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  20. ^ "2023 ALL-STAR SKILLS CONTEST AND HOME RUN DERBY TONIGHT". frontierleague.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  21. ^ "BOULDERS KWITZER WINS PLAYER OF THE WEEK, WILD THINGS FREGIO WINS PITCHER OF THE WEEK". frontierleague.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  22. ^ "2023-24 Transactions". frontierleague.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  23. ^ "2024 ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS ANNOUNCED". frontierleague.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  24. ^ "Frontier League Transactions". frontierleague.com. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  25. ^ "A Frontier League All-Star is heading to Western Maryland... welcome to Hagerstown, Chris Kwitzer!".
  26. ^ "Great Britain punches ticket to World Baseball Classic". mlb.com.
  27. ^ "MLB Gameday". mlb.com. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Taipei World Baseball Classic Qualifier: Favourites Chinese Taipei keep composed". World Baseball Softball Confederation. February 20, 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
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