By Brandon Johnson (WSU Athletic Communications)
The best players always seem to get stronger as the year goes on. The 2022 season saw Washington State relief pitcher Chase Grillo do just that. In 2022, Grillo posted a 4.55 ERA to go along with 50 strikeouts in 31.2 innings of play, but those numbers don't tell the full story. As the team moved into conference play, Grillo showed plenty of flashes of being a dominant reliever, with a 3.05 ERA to go along with 29 strikeouts in 20.2 innings of work. He seemed to have saved his best for late in the season, when over the last nine games of the season he allowed just two earned runs to go with 17 strikeouts. Grillo seemed to have translated his end-of-season success into summer ball, where he spent the summer in Minnesota with the St. Cloud Rox as part of the Northwoods Summer League. Grillo was able to post a 2.60 ERA, while also registering 27 strikeouts in 17.1 innings, numbers that would allow him to make the All-Star team, where they would go onto win with the help of his performance.
At 6-3, 210lb, Grillo has the physical makeup of a very good reliever, to go along with the numbers he's accumulated. I was able to sit down with Chase to discuss the 2022 season, how summer went for him, the upcoming season, and much more. Here is what Chase had to say…
With last year being your first at WSU, talk to me about the season as a whole. How did the year play out compared to what your expectations were, for you and the team?
Speaking on the team, we had high expectations coming into the season, and we fell way short of them in my opinion. I think this offseason was good in that we have attacked the areas in which we were lacking last season, and I think because of that, we're poised for a much better season this year. As for myself, it was very exciting coming here and being able to compete in the Pac-12. I pride myself on going up against the best, so having that challenge was something I was ready for, and I looked forward to much of the same this season.
After the season ended, you then went on to play summer ball. What was summer ball like and what is the process of it.
Summer ball was fun. I went out Minnesota and played with the team out there. Coach Bellamy, one of our current coaches, had previously worked in this summer league and told me nothing but good things. The atmosphere was crazy, almost every game was packed. Traveling every couple of days, playing in front of packed stadiums, almost gave you a feel of what it's like to play pro ball, so it was a lot of fun. With a schedule like we had, you had to really make sure your body was ready to go through the grind of summer ball, which was challenging but also exciting. I also met plenty of people, some of whom I keep in touch with still, it was just a good time overall.
What was your favorite part the summer session?
Winning the All-Star game, 100%. Being able to be named an All-Star was an honor in itself, something that I'll never forget, then being able to play with the best that the league has to offer, while winning in the process, was a great feeling.
Last year, you ended the season on a very strong note. With only two earned runs allowed in your last nine games, how do u plan on carrying over that late season success, along with your success in summer ball, into this season?
The main thing is sticking with the same routine/process that we had last year. Obviously, ending the year the way I did allows me to have a lot of confidence coming into this year. Coach Claggett does a job of understanding hitters and how to pitch different hitters, and he puts us pitchers in a really good position to succeed. Every year presents a new challenge in that you must find more ways to get hitters out, as the hitters become more advanced. So I think just having that confidence and sticking with what has gotten me here will allow me to have the season I'm capable of having.
Who are some professional pitchers that you try to emulate in your game?
Max Scherzer and Edwin Diaz. Scherzer, I try to emulate his approach to the game. His attitude once he steps on the mound is to dominate whoever is in the batter's box, and I try to have that same approach when I get on the mound. With Diaz, I try to mirror my actual game off him. I have a fastball & slider as my two pitches, as does Diaz, so those two are definitely the ones that I look up to most.
What are some personal goals and how do you see the season playing out for yourself?
It's hard to say. As a closer, I would love to reach double digit saves, but I also wouldn't mind seeing us blowing teams out every game and me not having to pitch! I want to have sub 1.80 ERA, while hopefully parlaying that success into an All-Pac-12 honor and getting nationally recognized amongst the great relievers in the sport.
I know baseball players are very superstitious. Do you have those certain things that you HAVE to do before a game?
I'd say my only consistent one is listening to music before a game. It allows me to clear my head, while also getting into the right headspace for the game. My playlist consists of a lot of Rock, which gets me amped up to go out onto the mound. If I'm too amped up, I might listen to some hip hop or something like that, help calm myself just a bit.
The best players always seem to get stronger as the year goes on. The 2022 season saw Washington State relief pitcher Chase Grillo do just that. In 2022, Grillo posted a 4.55 ERA to go along with 50 strikeouts in 31.2 innings of play, but those numbers don't tell the full story. As the team moved into conference play, Grillo showed plenty of flashes of being a dominant reliever, with a 3.05 ERA to go along with 29 strikeouts in 20.2 innings of work. He seemed to have saved his best for late in the season, when over the last nine games of the season he allowed just two earned runs to go with 17 strikeouts. Grillo seemed to have translated his end-of-season success into summer ball, where he spent the summer in Minnesota with the St. Cloud Rox as part of the Northwoods Summer League. Grillo was able to post a 2.60 ERA, while also registering 27 strikeouts in 17.1 innings, numbers that would allow him to make the All-Star team, where they would go onto win with the help of his performance.
At 6-3, 210lb, Grillo has the physical makeup of a very good reliever, to go along with the numbers he's accumulated. I was able to sit down with Chase to discuss the 2022 season, how summer went for him, the upcoming season, and much more. Here is what Chase had to say…
With last year being your first at WSU, talk to me about the season as a whole. How did the year play out compared to what your expectations were, for you and the team?
Speaking on the team, we had high expectations coming into the season, and we fell way short of them in my opinion. I think this offseason was good in that we have attacked the areas in which we were lacking last season, and I think because of that, we're poised for a much better season this year. As for myself, it was very exciting coming here and being able to compete in the Pac-12. I pride myself on going up against the best, so having that challenge was something I was ready for, and I looked forward to much of the same this season.
After the season ended, you then went on to play summer ball. What was summer ball like and what is the process of it.
Summer ball was fun. I went out Minnesota and played with the team out there. Coach Bellamy, one of our current coaches, had previously worked in this summer league and told me nothing but good things. The atmosphere was crazy, almost every game was packed. Traveling every couple of days, playing in front of packed stadiums, almost gave you a feel of what it's like to play pro ball, so it was a lot of fun. With a schedule like we had, you had to really make sure your body was ready to go through the grind of summer ball, which was challenging but also exciting. I also met plenty of people, some of whom I keep in touch with still, it was just a good time overall.
What was your favorite part the summer session?
Winning the All-Star game, 100%. Being able to be named an All-Star was an honor in itself, something that I'll never forget, then being able to play with the best that the league has to offer, while winning in the process, was a great feeling.
Last year, you ended the season on a very strong note. With only two earned runs allowed in your last nine games, how do u plan on carrying over that late season success, along with your success in summer ball, into this season?
The main thing is sticking with the same routine/process that we had last year. Obviously, ending the year the way I did allows me to have a lot of confidence coming into this year. Coach Claggett does a job of understanding hitters and how to pitch different hitters, and he puts us pitchers in a really good position to succeed. Every year presents a new challenge in that you must find more ways to get hitters out, as the hitters become more advanced. So I think just having that confidence and sticking with what has gotten me here will allow me to have the season I'm capable of having.
Who are some professional pitchers that you try to emulate in your game?
Max Scherzer and Edwin Diaz. Scherzer, I try to emulate his approach to the game. His attitude once he steps on the mound is to dominate whoever is in the batter's box, and I try to have that same approach when I get on the mound. With Diaz, I try to mirror my actual game off him. I have a fastball & slider as my two pitches, as does Diaz, so those two are definitely the ones that I look up to most.
What are some personal goals and how do you see the season playing out for yourself?
It's hard to say. As a closer, I would love to reach double digit saves, but I also wouldn't mind seeing us blowing teams out every game and me not having to pitch! I want to have sub 1.80 ERA, while hopefully parlaying that success into an All-Pac-12 honor and getting nationally recognized amongst the great relievers in the sport.
I know baseball players are very superstitious. Do you have those certain things that you HAVE to do before a game?
I'd say my only consistent one is listening to music before a game. It allows me to clear my head, while also getting into the right headspace for the game. My playlist consists of a lot of Rock, which gets me amped up to go out onto the mound. If I'm too amped up, I might listen to some hip hop or something like that, help calm myself just a bit.