Robert John Gsellman (/ɡəˈzɛlmən/ guh-ZELL-man;[1] born July 18, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
Robert Gsellman | |
---|---|
![]() Gsellman with the Mets in 2018 | |
Free agent | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Santa Monica, California, U.S. | July 18, 1993|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
Professional debut | |
MLB: August 23, 2016, for the New York Mets | |
NPB: August 27, 2022, for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars | |
MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
Win–loss record | 20–18 |
Earned run average | 4.60 |
Strikeouts | 289 |
NPB statistics (through 2023 season) | |
Win–loss record | 4–6 |
Earned run average | 4.02 |
Strikeouts | 55 |
Teams | |
Early life and amateur career
editGsellman is the son of Bob Gsellman, a former minor league catcher drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 23rd round of the 1984 MLB Draft from Culver City High School in California.[2][3] Gsellman attended Westchester High School in Los Angeles, where he played both basketball and baseball. He was a California Interscholastic Federation state champion in basketball as a junior and voted team captain as a senior.[4][5] As a junior baseball player, he had a .649 batting average and 1.67 ERA.[4] He was also named to ESPN RISE's Underclassmen All-California team.[6] As a senior, he finished with a .608 batting average with eight home runs and a 1.70 ERA.[6] He verbally committed to Los Angeles Harbor College as a senior.[7]
Professional career
editNew York Mets
editGsellman was drafted by the New York Mets in the 13th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.[8][9] He signed with the Mets and made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Mets. From 2012 to 2015 he played for the Kingsport Mets, Brooklyn Cyclones, Savannah Sand Gnats, St. Lucie Mets and Binghamton Mets.[10] During 2015 with St. Lucie, he was named to the FSL mid-season All Star team, however, did not participate due to his promotion to Binghamton. The Mets added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[11] Also, the team announced that Robert Gsellman was named the Sterling Organizational Pitcher of The Year. For the year Gsellman went 13-7 with a 2.89 ERA in 24 combined starts for St. Lucie and Binghamton. He led the organization with 13 wins and was third in the organization in ERA among qualified pitchers.
Gsellman began the 2016 season with the Las Vegas 51s of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League.[12] The Mets promoted him to the major leagues on August 22 when Steven Matz was placed on the disabled list.[13] Gsellman made his Major League debut on August 23, 2016. Taking over for Jonathan Niese, who had left the game with left knee pain after pitching 1⁄3 of an inning, Gsellman pitched 3 and 1⁄3 innings, racking up 2 strikeouts, giving up no runs, and earning his first Major League win, the second Met rookie to do so in his debut in 2016, after Gabriel Ynoa.[14] Due to an injury to his labrum, Gsellman was unable to swing the bat during his 2016 Major League stint.[15] Nevertheless, on September 25 at Citi Field, Gsellman picked up his first Major League hit on a bunt off of Phillies pitcher Jake Thompson.[16]
Gsellman began the 2017 season as a member of the Mets starting rotation.[17] He was 8-7 with a 5.19 ERA. Batters reached base against him on errors 16 times, tops in the major leagues.[18]
In the 2018 season, Gsellman pitched exclusively out of the bullpen for the Mets. He was 6-3 with a 4.28 ERA and 13 saves.[19] On May 20, he picked up five outs against the Arizona Diamondbacks and recorded the first save of his major league career.[20]
In 2019 for the Mets, Gsellman pitched to a 4.66 ERA in 63.2 innings across 52 appearances before suffering a partially torn right lat in August that would cause him to miss the remainder of the season.[21]
Gsellman opened the pandemic shortened 2020 season on the injured list due to right triceps soreness. On September 8, 2020, Gsellman suffered a fractured rib in an appearance against the Baltimore Orioles, and missed the remainder of the 2020 season.[22] On the year, Gsellman had pitched to a ghastly 9.64 ERA in six appearances, four of them starts, to go along with 9 strikeouts in 14.0 innings pitched.[23]
On June 23, 2021, Gsellman was placed on the 60-day injured list with a right lat strain.[24]
On November 30, Gsellman was non-tendered, making him a free agent.[25]
Chicago Cubs
editOn March 17, 2022, Gsellman signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.[26] He was assigned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs to begin the season, pitching to a 1.17 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 5 appearances. On May 3, Gsellman was selected to the active roster.[27] In 8 appearances with Chicago, he posted a 4.70 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 15.1 innings pitched. He was designated for assignment on May 30. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Iowa on June 2.[28] He was released on July 13, 2022.
Yokohama DeNA BayStars
editOn July 28, 2022, Gsellman signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball. He re-signed a one-year contract extension for the 2023 season on November 26, 2022. He became a free agent following the 2023 season.
Washington Nationals
editOn January 31, 2024, Gsellman signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.[29] In 17 games for the Triple–A Rochester Red Wings, he struggled to an 8.75 ERA with 34 strikeouts across 36 innings of work. On June 19, Gsellman was released by the Nationals organization.[30]
References
edit- ^ Wagner, James (June 12, 2018). "When Spanish Names (Don't) Flummox English-Speaking Baseball Announcers". The New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- ^ McShane, Chris (June 11, 2015). "Robert Gsellman is a prospect on the rise". Amazin' Avenue. SB Nation. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Bob Gsellman Register Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ a b Collin, Phil (March 5, 2011). "Westchester's Gsellman a man for all seasons". Daily Breeze. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ "California state boys basketball championship brackets: CIF (CIF Division I)". MaxPreps. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ a b Taube, Aaron (June 7, 2011). "Higher learning: Mets target college arms". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ Kalbrosky, Bryan (June 30, 2011). "2011 MLB Draft: Prospect Robert Gsellman Looking To Shine for the New York Mets". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ "Eastern League notes: New York Mets prospect Robert Gsellman continues to grow in Binghamton - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ^ "Westchester's Gsellman a man for all seasons". March 5, 2011. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ^ "Farm Report: Robert Gsellman excelling with sinking feeling". Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ^ "Mets protect four players from Rule 5 Draft". Archived from the original on November 21, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ^ Helfand, Betsy (August 12, 2016). "Now healthy, 51s' Robert Gsellman impresses on mound". Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ^ Guardado, Maria (August 23, 2016). "Who is new Mets call-up Robert Gsellman?". NJ.com. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ Major League Baseball. "Box Score: Mets @ Cardinals, August 23, 2016". MLB.com.
- ^ Puma, Mike (February 15, 2017). "Why Mets pitcher secretly couldn't swing last year". New York Post. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
- ^ "Gsellman's first MLB hit". New York Mets. Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ Wagner, James (March 30, 2017). "Mets Add Zack Wheeler and Robert Gsellman to Rotation". New York Times. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
- ^ 2017 Major League Baseball Baserunning/Situ | Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ "Robert Gsellman Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ Walker, Ben (May 20, 2018). "Rosario Hits 2 HRs, Helps Syndergaard, Mets Beat Arizona". Hartford Courant. Associated Press. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ "NY Mets Robert Gsellman has partially torn lat". Northjersey.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- ^ "Robert Gsellman out for season with fractured rib". MLB.com.
- ^ "NY Mets' Robert Gsellman out for season after fracturing rib". Northjersey.com. September 8, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- ^ Anthony Franco (June 23, 2021). "Mets Activate Michael Conforto, Select Corey Oswalt". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- ^ "National League Non-Tenders 11/30/21". MLB Trade Rumors. November 30, 2021.
- ^ "Cubs Sign Robert Gsellman, Adrian Sampson". March 17, 2022.
- ^ "Scott Effross Will Start in Place of Drew Smyly (Bereavement List) Tonight (UPDATE)". May 3, 2022.
- ^ "Cubs' Robert Gsellman: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ https://x.com/jonheyman/status/1752850140732207603?s=61&t=HxhNL9AjbBTu85lLTRjdFw.
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External links
edit- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)