Chris Pennell, a 2014 Rye Neck High School graduate in Westchester County, New York, was a versatile athlete in high school. Pennell wowed younger students on the basketball court with his jumping ability, ball handling, and speed. The now 28-year-old also plays golf, but his passion was on the baseball diamond, especially the rubber slab sixty feet six inches from home plate.
After high school, Pennell played four years of Division II college baseball at St. Thomas Aquinas College, or STAC, for short, in Sparkill, New York. He helped lead STAC to two East Coast Conference championships and posted an impressive 1.88 ERA in 81 career games, averaging 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
World Baseball Network spoke to Pennell about his decision to attend STAC and his professional baseball career in the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, Frontier League, and American Association of Professional Baseball.
“When I visited STAC, I felt very comfortable,” Pennell said. “It was a tight-knit community where everyone was willing to help everyone, and I felt at home when I toured the campus. I also really connected with the coaching staff, which made me want to play for the Spartans and help continue their tradition of winning championships.”
In 2018, Pennell received his first taste of professional baseball in the Canadian-American Association (Can-Am League) with the Rockland Boulders and Salina Stockade.
“I always dreamt about playing professional baseball, and when I got the call to play for the Rockland Boulders, it was a dream come true,” Pennell told World Baseball Network. “The Boulders were not too far from home, so family and friends could come to watch me play, which meant a lot. One of the games I remember most was my first professional win. We were playing the Trois-Rivieres Aigles, and I didn’t give up a hit until the seventh inning.”
The transition from the collegiate to the professional level is apparent, and there are many differences regarding player skill level and lifestyle. Pennell experienced those differences firsthand.
“One of the most significant differences I noticed going from college to professional baseball was the plate discipline of hitters,” Pennell said. “In college, I got away with poor pitches and used my fastball to my advantage. If you make a mistake in pro ball, whether a hanging slider or missing a spot with your fastball, you pay the price more often than not.”
In 2019, when Pennell joined the High Point Rockers in the Atlantic League, an independent professional league based in the United States, several pitchers with Major League Baseball and minor-league baseball experience were on the roster. Naturally, Pennell tried to soak up as much advice and information from them as possible.
“One of the things I learned most from playing on the Rockers was how to prepare for games and develop a routine, so I was ready to pitch,” said Pennell. “You are at the stadium many hours before game time, so learning how to go through my throwing routines, conditioning, and workouts to ensure I was ready for the game and to stay healthy.”
In today’s baseball landscape, many American pitchers sign professional contracts in other countries to play the game they love and experience baseball culture in another environment. The list is endless for players to pursue a unique opportunity. Although Pennell did not play professional baseball in another country, he told World Baseball Network he would have enjoyed playing in Australia.
“I never really considered playing baseball in another country, but I know a few guys who played over in Australia, and they said it was a really good time,” said Pennell.
Pennell played his last game with the Rockland Boulders in 2020 in the All-American Baseball Challenge League, an organization formed after the Frontier League canceled the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He made four appearances for the Boulders, as each team, which featured independent, affiliated minor league, and college baseball players, took part in an abbreviated 20-something game schedule.
“Baseball was my life for as long as I can remember,” Pennell told World Baseball Network. “One of the things I miss most about playing baseball, especially at the professional level, is meeting a bunch of guys all around the country with the same goal of playing in MLB.”
Like countless former ballplayers, Pennell said he misses the people and teammates he met along the way rather than playing the game. Nobody can replace bonds, and memories made on the field and in the clubhouse cannot be duplicated.
“Everyone you meet playing baseball has a different story of how they got to where they are, and building connections and relationships with the guys was so amazing.”
