Chris Archer is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on September 26, 1988, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and attended Clayton High School. Archer was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the fifth round of the 2006 MLB draft but did not sign with the team. Instead, he attended junior college before transferring to the University of Miami, where he played college baseball for the Miami Hurricanes.
Archer was eventually drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round of the 2008 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the team in 2012. He played for the Cubs for a short time before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011. It was with the Rays that Archer made a name for himself as a dominant pitcher.
During his time with the Rays, Archer was named an All-Star twice and finished in the top ten in American League Cy Young Award voting twice. He was known for his high strikeout rate and his ability to pitch deep into games. In 2015, he led the American League in strikeouts with 252.
In 2018, Archer was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he played for three seasons. His time with the Pirates was marred by injuries and inconsistency, and he struggled to replicate the success he had with the Rays. In 2021, Archer signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, but he was released by the team in August after posting a 6.88 ERA in 23 innings pitched.
Overall, Archer had a successful career in MLB, finishing with a record of 63-81 and an ERA of 3.86. He recorded 1,207 strikeouts in 1,243 innings pitched and was known for his competitive spirit and work ethic. Despite his struggles in recent years, Archer will be remembered as one of the most dominant pitchers of his era and a fan favorite in Tampa Bay.
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