Justin Choate

Justin Cody Choate

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.
• School Stephen F. Austin University, Texarkana College
• High School Hooks High School

• Born December 31, 1990 in Hooks, TX USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Justin Choate flew completely under the radar until turning pro in 2013. He attended Texarkana College and the transferred to Stephen F. Austin University but went undrafted after graduation. After signing with the Tampa Bay Rays, he was assigned to the Hudson Valley Renegades of the New York-Penn League in 2013, where he pitched 16 times in relief. He did pretty well in spite of a record of 1-3, as attested by a 2.88 ERA and a K/W ratio of 35/9 in 40 2/3 innings. Considered a minor league roster filler until then, he was unexpectedly included in a major league trade after the season, moving to the Arizona Diamondbacks on December 3rd in a trade that brought P Heath Bell and C Ryan Hanigan to Tampa Bay. The trade was made primarily for salary reasons, but still, Choate was the only player to leave the Rays' organization in the deal, a sign that he was now considered as someone with some potential.