Chad Tracy (baseball, born 1985)

Chad Samuel Tracy (born July 4, 1985) is an American professional baseball first baseman who has retired from playing to manage in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim minor league system. Prior to beginning his professional career, he played college baseball at Pepperdine University. Tracy has also competed for the United States national baseball team.

High School & College

Tracy attended Claremont High School in Claremont, California and Pepperdine University, where he played college baseball for the Pepperdine Waves baseball team in the West Coast Conference (WCC) of the NCAA Division I. At Pepperdine, Tracy was named the WCC All-Star catcher and Player of the Year in 2005, as he led the WCC with a .367 batting average, 94 hits, 12 home runs, 61 runs batted in, and 22 doubles. He was named a preseason All-American and a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award, given to the top catcher in NCAA Division I, in 2006.

Texas Rangers

Tracy was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the third round (88th overall) of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut with the Spokane Indians of the Class-A Short Season Northwest League that season, being named the Northwest League All-Star catcher. In 2007, Tracy played for the Clinton LumberKings of the Class-A Midwest League. In 2008, he played for the Bakersfield Blaze of the Class-A Advanced California League and Frisco RoughRiders of the Class-AA Texas League. After spending all of 2009 with Frisco, being named the Texas League All-Star designated hitter, he was promoted to the Oklahoma City RedHawks of the Class-AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL) in 2010. The Rangers invited him to spring training as a non-roster player in 2011, and then assigned him to the Round Rock Express of the PCL in 2011.

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies acquired Tracy from the Rangers before the 2012 season and invited him to spring training.

Kansas City Royals

He signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals prior to the 2013 season. On July 3, Tracy was released. In 44 games, he hit .187/.297/.288 with 4 HR and 18 RBI with Triple-A Omaha.

Baltimore Orioles

Tracy signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles in January 2014.

International competition

Tracy played for the United States national baseball team in the 2011 Baseball World Cup and the 2011 Pan American Games, winning the silver medal.

Managerial career

Tracy managed the Burlington Bees, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim minor league affiliate in the Midwest League, in 2015, leading them to a 63-76 record. He was named the new Field Manager of the Inland Empire 66ers, the Angels affiliate in the California League, in January 2016.

Tracy's father, Jim Tracy, is a former Major League Baseball player and former manager of the Rockies. His grandfather, Jim Tracy, Sr., and brothers, Brian Tracy and Mark Tracy, have also played baseball professionally.