Cole Gillespie

Cole Braden Gillespie (born June 20, 1984) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, and Miami Marlins.

Cole Gillespie
Gillespie with the New Orleans Zephyrs
Outfielder
Born: (1984-06-20) June 20, 1984
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 21, 2010, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Last MLB appearance
July 27, 2016, for the Miami Marlins
MLB statistics
Batting average.251
Home runs6
Runs batted in46
Teams

Amateur career

Gillespie was born in Portland, Oregon[1] and raised in West Linn, Oregon, attending West Linn High School, the alma of former MLB pitcher Mitch Williams. For West Linn, Gillespie was a three-year letterman and won All-State honors as a shortstop and was also a standout pitcher. Gillespie also competed in football and basketball at West Linn, and later attended Oregon State University. After redshirting his freshman year at Oregon State, Gillespie won the Most Improved Player award his junior season and then later became a captain of the team. As a senior captain, Gillespie helped lead the Beavers to the 2006 Division I National Championship over the North Carolina Tar Heels and was also named the Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year.[2]

Career

Milwaukee Brewers

Gillespie was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the third round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. After going pro in 2006, Gillespie played for their Rookie league Helena Brewers. He was promoted to the Class A-Advanced Brevard County Manatees in 2007. Gillespie spent the entire 2008 season with the Double-A Huntsville Stars. In 2009, he was promoted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.[3]

Gillespie batting for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011 spring training

Arizona Diamondbacks

In late July 2009, he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks with Roque Mercedes for Felipe López and assigned to Triple-A Reno. Following the season, he was added to the 40 man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, and made his major league debut in a pinch hitting opportunity on April 21, hitting a double and later scoring a run.

San Francisco Giants

On December 21, 2012, Gillespie signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. On July 5, 2013, the Giants purchased his contract and he joined the big league club.[4] After going hitless in 10 plate appearances, he was designated for assignment on July 9, 2013.

Chicago Cubs

On July 13, 2013, the Chicago Cubs claimed Gillespie off waivers. He was activated on July 14, and got a pinch hit single that night in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was designated for assignment on September 4, 2013.

Seattle Mariners

Gillespie signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners in December 2013. He was added to the 25 man roster, starting in left field for the Mariners on April 25, 2014. Going into a June 10 game against the New York Yankees, Gillespie was batting .327 with four multi-hit games, and batted in the cleanup spot for the first time in his major league career.[5] He was designated for assignment on July 4.

Toronto Blue Jays

On July 5, 2014, Gillespie was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners by the Toronto Blue Jays. Kenny Wilson was designated for assignment to make room for Gillespie.[6] He made his debut with Toronto on July 6 against the Oakland Athletics. He was assigned outright to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on August 3. He elected free agency after the season ended.[7]

Miami Marlins

Gillespie signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins on December 6, 2014.[8]

He had his contract purchased by the Miami Marlins on June 27, 2015.

Pericos de Puebla

On February 27, 2017, Gillespie signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican Baseball League.[9]

Acerceros de Monclova

On May 20, 2017, he was traded to the Acereros de Monclova for first baseman Nate Freiman. He was released on June 4, 2017.

Sugar Land Skeeters

On June 16, 2017, Gillespie signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He became a free agent after the 2017 season.

San Diego Padres

On February 28, 2018, Gillespie signed a minor-league contract with the San Diego Padres.[10] He was released on May 3, 2018.

References
  1. Kasinitz, Aaron (June 17, 2014). "Former Beaver Cole Gillespie earns playing time with Mariners: MLB local ties". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  2. "Cole Gillespie - Oregon State University Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on 2015-09-26. Retrieved 2015-07-31.
  3. "Cole Gillespie Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  4. "Giants transfer Pagan to 60-day DL, clear roster spot". Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. July 5, 2013. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  5. Eggers, Kerry (June 11, 2014). "Cole Gillespie having a 'blast'". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  6. Creech, Edward (July 5, 2014). "Jays Claim Cole Gillepie, Designate Kenny Wilson". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  7. "Tuesday Tidbits: Minor League Free Agents, Drew Hutchison, Blue Jays Roster Tree". Bluebird Banter. September 30, 2014. Archived from the original on September 30, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  8. "Marlins sign Cole Gillespie, Chris Narveson to minor-league deals". 6 December 2014.
  9. "Cole Gillespie Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com.
  10. "Padres' Cole Gillespie: Inks minors pact with Padres". CBS Sports. March 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
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