Chase Allsup has the ingredients to be a dominant starting pitcher. He has displayed flashes of his potential in his first two years at Auburn, and this spring, the right-handed pitcher hopes to put it all together.
As Allsup enters his junior season, he figures to serve as a full-time starter for Auburn. He also is drawing interest in preparation for the 2024 MLB draft. Scouts project Allsup as a possible early-round pick in the draft due to his size, pitch mix and potential.
“I fell in love with this game a long time ago,” Allsup said. “I can’t see myself doing anything else. This is all I’ve ever wanted to do. Having this opportunity just means the world.”
Allsup has primarily pitched out of the bullpen in his first two years. He posted a 3.38 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 17 walks allowed in 29 1/3 innings as a freshman. He was a spot starter for Auburn last year, making eight starts in his 20 appearances, and posted a 5.47 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 33 walks allowed in 49 1/3 innings.
In the offseason leading up to the fall, Allsup worked on his conditioning and consistency with his off-speed pitches.
Allsup is a 6-foot-2, 236-pound right-handed pitcher who uses a three-quarters arm slot and deceptive delivery. He throws a quality mid-90s fastball with riding action, a mid-80s slider and a mid-70s 12-to-6 curveball.
His fastball is an above-average offering that he’s leaned on consistently his first two years. He locates it well and uses it to attack the strike zone in all quadrants.
“My biggest strength right now is the command of my fastball,” Allsup said. “I can pitch it in and out and win two of the first three pitches with it. I also am in the zone as much as possible.”
Allsup has refined his secondary pitches, making slight adjustments to develop consistency. He hopes to cut down on his walks, as he allowed six walks per nine innings last year.
He also wants to grow his confidence and mound presence this spring.
“I need to grow on the maturity aspect,” Allsup said. “I can’t let the small things bother me, whether it is a call by the umpire or stuff behind me doesn’t go my way. It’ll be important to overlook it and get back at it.”
Allsup and right-handed pitcher Joseph Gonzalez figure to lead Auburn’s pitching staff this season. The Tigers posted a 34-23-1 record and qualified for a NCAA Tournament regional last season.
The Tigers advanced to the College World Series in 2022 and hope to return to Omaha, Nebraska, this season.
“We just need to play sound baseball and rely on one another,” Allsup said. “We just have to play together as a team and have good chemistry.”
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for nine years. He has interviewed 518 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
