Qualls is a native of Lomita, California. He was a Dodgers fan when he was growing up. And his father would take Chad and the rest of the famliy to games every season.

Asked if he had a favorite player, Chad said, "Growing up as a Dodgers fan, you're not supposed to like the San Francisco Giants. But I fell in love with Will Clark. He was my favorite player growing up, and I'm not sure if it was because of the way I swing the bat or his stance, but I knew I had to swing Wiffle ball left-handed because I always had to be him."

Before 2004 spring training, Chad was rated the 7th-best prospect in the Astros' organization by Baseball America. They dropped him to #11 in the spring of 2005.

June 18, 2007: Qualls threw a baseball into the stands at Anaheim Stadium in frustration. He was suspended for three games and fined $3,000 by Major League Baseball. He had allowed five runs in the 7th innings, his Astros blowing a 9-4 lead to the Angels, who rallied for a 10-9 victory.

"I was just mad about the way the inning went, the way the runs had scored, and I fired the ball into the third deck," Qualls said. "It was frustrating. We've been playing so well, we had scored nine runs, I didn't get the job done. The way they scored their runs made me angry."

Qualls was asked what his job would be if he weren't playing baseball: "I probably would do something for my Dad," he said. "He's a computer graphic artist. He does stuff for trade shows. All the car shows and stuff, he does exhibits for them. He used to do exhibits for baseball cards, like Upper Deck, and Disney stuff. I always found that intriguing."

Chad is a good guy in the clubhouse, getting along real well with all of his teammates.

Chad and his wife, Tara, were married in 2007. She is a Houston native, and her family still lives there.

April 7, 2009: Tara gave birth to their first child, a son, Caiden.

July 14, 2013: Chad and Tara celebrated the birth of their second child, Cavin Chance.

TRANSACTIONS

June 2000: After his senior year at the University of Nevada, the Astros chose him in the second round. He signed with scout Gene Wellman for a bonus of $410,000. 

December 14, 2007: The Diamondbacks sent P Jose Valverde to the Astros, acquiring Qualls, INF Chris Burke, and P Juan Gutierrez.

January 18, 2008: Chad and the D'Backs avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, $1,312,500 contract.

January 20, 2009: Qualls and the Diamondbacks again avoided salary arbitration, agreeing on a one-year, $2.54 million contract.

January 18, 2010: Chad signed with the Diamondbacks, avoiding arbitration one more time, receiving $4.185 million.

July 31, 2010: The Rays sent RHP Matt Gorgen to the Diamondbacks, acquiring Qualls.

January 19, 2011: Chad and the Padres agreed on a one-year, $2.55 million contract. In an unusual deal, Qualls gets a $1.5 million salary for 2011; and the deal includes a $6 million club option for 2012 with a $1.05 million buyout.

January 31, 2012: Qualls and the Phillies agreed on a one-year, $1.15 million contract.

July 1, 2012: The Yankees sent cash to the Phillies, acquiring Chad.

July 31, 2012: The Pirates sent Casey McGehee to the Yankees, acquiring Qualls.

February 2013: Qualls signed with the Marlins.

December 7, 2013: Chad signed with the Astros.

November 3, 2015: Qualls became a free agent after declining the Astro's option.

Qualls has a two-seam, sinking FASTBALL in the 88-93 mph range as his best pitch. He also has a 92-95 mph four-seam fastball with explosive late life: a tight 85-87 mph SLIDER with late, tight tilt; a decent CHANGEUP; and an 80-81 mph SPLIT-FINGER FASTBALL (for use against lefthanded batters). He uses the splitter as a changeup, too.

Chad has really good command of his fine slider. Mostly, Qualls is a sinker/slider pitcher.

2016 Season Pitch Usage: Sinker 60.7% of the time; Change 3.1%; and Slider 36.3% of the time.

In 2001, his first year of pro ball, Qualls led the Midwest League in wins with 15, and was named the loop's best pitching prospect.

UNIQUE DELIVERY

Chad's delivery is still distinctive, explosive, and violent. He sometimes punctuates his move to the plate by rotating his glove hand like a windmill. It intimidates righthanded hitters, but scouts see physical problems down the road. So the Astros had him work on that delivery after the 2002 season in the Arizona Fall League.

Qualls' three-quarters arm angle is different, and it is death to righthanded hitters. It is a nice delivery, but he can rush it sometimes. Mechanically, he is very sound, now, having smoothed them out. But he has difficulty maintaining his mechanics. When he drops down too low, he loses his heavy sink and hitters sit on flat fastballs. His inconsistent delivery also hampers his control.

On September 14, 2008, the Diamondbacks had Qualls replace Brandon Lyons as closer for the team. Lyons had posted an 11.57 ERA since the All-Star break, allowing 21 runs in 16 innings.

But on June 15, 2010, Qualls was out as the D'Backs' closer after struggling to a 1-3 record and an 8.46 ERA in 28 games. He blew 4 saves in 16 opportunities. Aaron Heilman replaced Chad as closer.

August 30-end of 2009 season: Qualls dislocated his left kneecap while reacting to a comebacker hit by the Astros' Jason Michaels with two outs in the ninth and the tying run on base. Qualls deflected the soft liner with his glove to shortstop Stephen Drew—who threw out Michaels at first for the game-ending out.

Qualls collapsed atop the mound and was signaling to the dugout for help even before the ricocheted ball reached Drew. His kneecap was dislocated and on the side of his leg. With all of his teammates, as well as former teammate Lance Berkman of the Astros, surrounding him on the mound, Qualls was treated by the team's training staff for several minutes before being helped off the field. His season was over. Surgery on September 3, 2009, by team physician Dr. Michael Lee was required to repair a tear of patellofemoral ligament—the ligament that holds your kneecap in place. Recovery time is three months.

August 25-September 8, 2012: Qualls was on the D.L. with irritation in his left big toe.

June 25-July 10, 2015: Chad went on the D.L. with a pinched nerve in his neck.

July 16-Aug 19, 2016: The Rockies placed Qualls on the 15-day disabled list (colitis).

April 1-26, 2017: Qualls began the year on the DL with right forearm soreness.