Chris DeRue begins his professional career with the Windy City ThunderBolts in 2018. He was signed on January 30, 2018. DeRue spent two seasons at Carthage College and went 5-5 with a 4.69 ERA in 19 games (18 starts). He posted an ERA of 3.38 as a senior in 2017. He attended the College of Lake County for his first two collegiate years and was named first team all-region as a freshman, when he went 4-1 with a 1.41 ERA. Chris attended Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa, Illinois.