On Friday evening as I watched the Great Lakes Loons I was focused on the pitching performance by Grant Holmes, the Dodgers first round selection in the 2014 First Year Player Draft. Holmes was definitely dialed in pitching six shut out innings. I expected 22-year old Spencer Navin or 23-year old Brant Whiting to be behind the plate for Holmes. However, I soon discovered the young right-hander’s battery mate was 26-year-old Austin Chubb.

Chubb had been signed by the Dodgers to a minor league contract after being released by the Washington Nationals in February. He was assigned to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League but his season got off to a slow start when he was placed on the 7-day disabled list on February 14th. He was activated from the disabled list on May 15th and reassigned to the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League.

At 26 years old, Austin Chubb is the oldest member of the Great Lakes Loons.
(Photo courtesy of AllProLessons.com)

Chubb was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 21st round in the 2012 MLB Draft out of Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL. He was a first-team All-Sunshine State Conference selection for his last two seasons at FSC. In his senior year, Chubb hit .291 with eight home runs and 33 RBI. He had a team high 17 doubles. As a junior, he hit .295 with five home runs and 26 RBI. His scouting report described him as: “A plus defender with an average arm, not quite as adept a hitter or a defender, but still a potentially useful late-round low-minors catcher worth a look; 6-2, 215 pounds.”

Perhaps one of the better known baseball alumni out of FSC is Matt Joyce, an outfielder with the Los Angeles Angels. Chubb’s teammate with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes – Daniel Tillman – also played with the FSC Moccasins but the two missed playing together by a year.

Following his senior year of College ball Chubb played 23 games with the rookie league Gulf Coast Nationals hitting .209 with two home runs and 12 runs batted in.

In 2013, the 6’2”- 220 lb catcher reported to the Low-A Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League. His 105 at bats were the most he had in any of his three professional seasons. He hit .200 but boosted his average to .286 in three games with the Doubledays in 2014. Following a promotion to the Class-A Hagerstown Suns of the South Atlantic League he hit .221 in 21 games.

In his first three plate appearances with the Loons Chubb drew one walk, but perhaps his greatest value to the team is his ability to work exceptionally well with the Loons young pitching staff, which he did on Friday evening with Holmes, Bubby Rossman and Joe Broussard who combined for 13 strikeouts against the South Bend Cubs.

It’s always a good thing when you catch the eye of the Director of Player Development.