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Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Chris Czarnik got high-A no-hitter, saw 3 pro seasons

Chris Czarnik 1990 Durham Bulls card, Czarnik up close

Durham Bulls hurler Chris Czarnik got credit for a seven-inning no-hitter in May 1990 and his manager Grady Little described to The Raleigh News and Observer why.

"He's been a good, solid pitcher for us," Little told The News and Observer afterward of Czarnik. "He's aggressive and challenges the hitters. His fastball kind of bores in on the hitters."

Czarnik had that success at high-A Durham in his third season as a pro, one where he also saw time at AA Greenville and AAA Richmond. That season, however, also proved his last. He topped out at AAA.

Czarnik's career began in 1988, signed by the Braves as a free agent out of the University of Detroit Mercy.

Cznarik started with the Braves at rookie Idaho Falls. He went 4-5, with a 4.92 ERA over 14 starts. He then moved to single-A Burlington for 1989. He went 5-4 there, with a 2.77 ERA. 

Czarnik arrived at Durham to start 1990. He went 5-1, with a 1.15 ERA over 17 outings, five starts there and earned a promotion to AA by early June.

"This was one of those half-seasons that I'll look back on and say, 'Gee, everything went right," Czarnik told The Durham Morning Herald after his promotion. "If I would have sat down and written a script, things couldn't have gone any better for me than they did in Durham."

At Greenville, Cznarik saw 21 games, four starts. He went 4-4, with a 2.98 ERA. He then saw five relief outings at Richmond. He gave up seven earned in nine innings of work. 

Cznarik, however, was then released by 1991. He then returned to Detroit Mercy as an assistant coach.

Chris Czarnik 1990 Durham Bulls card, Czarnik up close


1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,153
Made the Majors:1,372-33.0%
Never Made Majors:2,781-67.0%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:557
10+ Seasons in the Minors:338

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