MLB Prospect from South Jersey Raising Money For Charity This Fall

Many Professional Athletes who come from humble beginnings use their new connections and visibility to help raise awareness for causes that are important to them. But one South Jersey athlete is not waiting until he signs his first major contract to raise money for charity.

Since being drafted with the 26th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, Chase Petty has taken the road-less-traveled as a Professional Baseball Player. Less than a year after being drafted by the Minnesota Twins, Petty was the centerpiece of a trade that sent him to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for All-Star Pitcher Sonny Gray.

Heading into the 2024 season, Petty was rated one of the Top 100 Prospects in Major League Baseball. But the 21-year-old Right Handed Pitcher had not gotten the opportunity to play at the MLB Level yet.

What you need to know about Chase Petty's Upcoming Fundraiser

A graduate of Mainland Regional High School, Petty will be hosting a Charity Golf Outing at Harbor Pines Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township. The October 20th event will be raising money for the Chase Petty Foundation, an organization that works to improve the lives of underprivileged children in Millville, New Jersey.

Chase Petty knows first-hand what it is like to grow up in an underprivileged environment. When the South Jersey High School Graduate spoke with 973 ESPN, he gave great to his coaches at Mainland Regional for becoming the top-tier MLB prospect he is today:

"I can't even describe what Billy Kern and Michael Edwards and that entire (Mainland Regional) Coaching Staff did for me. They worked wonders for me through my whole recruiting process when I was committing to the University of Florida.  Through my whole Senior Year with (College and Professional) Scouts everywhere, (Mainland Coaches) making sure my head was in the right place. (Kern and Edwards) just made sure I wasn't getting to caught up in the outside noise and they did more than I could ever thank them for."

Mainland Regional's Athletic Director, Billy Kern, was Chase Petty's Head Baseball Coach at Mainland during his years playing High School Baseball.  Michael Edwards was the Assistant Baseball Coach on Billy Kern's staff during those years.

Everything Petty went through during his childhood built into him the resilience and perservering attitude that he needs to deal with an unusual Professional Baseball Journey. The Right-Handed Pitcher has already played in four different cities during his time in the Minor Leagues.

Chase Petty spoke with 973 ESPN about the experience of being traded less than a year after the Minnesota Twins drafted him:

"At first it was very difficult. Eight months into my (professional baseball) career I got traded right off the bat and my whole world just got spun around. It was crazy but you have to look at it from the outside looking in. At the end of the day, I got traded for a player (who) had an unbelievable year and the following year.

I'm going to be able to take advantage of this opportunity (with the Cincinnati Reds) and make the most of it. Hopefully one day I can be better than (Sonny Gray) and that's the goal to make this career the best I can make it. (The goal) is to become a Hall of Famer one day, win some Cy Young Awards, and make the most of (these opportunities)."

For more information about the Chase Petty Foundation Charity Golf Classic on October 20th and how you can contribute, you can visit their website here.

The Mainland Regional High School Graduate is working towards joining this list of South Jersey Athletes who have played games in the Major Leagues: