Kevin Gowdy

Kevin Gowdy
Toronto Blue Jays
Pitcher
Born: (1997-11-16) November 16, 1997 (age 27)
Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
U-18 Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2015 Osaka Team

Kevin R. Gowdy (born November 16, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He attended Santa Barbara High School in Santa Barbara, California and was considered a top prospect for the 2016 MLB draft.[1][2][3] Gowdy was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the second round, with the 42nd overall pick.[4]

Amateur career

Gowdy made Santa Barbara High School's varsity team as a sophomore. That year, he had a 0–2 win-loss record and 1.27 earned run average (ERA) in 23 innings pitched. As a junior, he improved to 3–0 with a 0.27 ERA in 26 innings pitched, signing a national letter of intent to University of California, Los Angeles after leading his team to the CIF-SS Division II playoffs for the second straight year.[5] He also won a gold medal with the United States at the 2015 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Japan. He earned a win against Mexico, and pitched two scoreless innings to lead the United States to a comeback win over Cuba in the semifinal.[6]

After his junior year, the Philadelphia Phillies selected Gowdy in the second round of the 2016 MLB draft. He bypassed a college career and signed with the Phillies for $3.5 million.[7]

Professional career

Philadelphia Phillies

Gowdy was assigned to the GCL Phillies, where he spent the remainder of the season, posting a 4.00 ERA in nine innings pitched.[8] He did not report to a minor league club to begin the 2017 season and instead underwent Tommy John surgery in August, which caused him to miss the 2018 season.[9] He returned to pitch in 2019 with the Lakewood BlueClaws, going 0–6 with a 4.68 ERA in 24 games (16 starts), striking out 53 batters over 77 innings.[10] He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] Gowdy opened the 2021 season with the Jersey Shore BlueClaws of the High-A East, going 4–5 with a 4.42 ERA and 63 strikeouts over 61 innings.[12]

Texas Rangers

On July 30, 2021, Gowdy, Spencer Howard, and Josh Gessner were traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Hans Crouse, Kyle Gibson, and Ian Kennedy.[13] He finished out the 2021 season with the Hickory Crawdads of the High-A East, going 2–1 with a 3.71 ERA and 26 strikeouts over 29 innings.[14]

Gowdy opened the 2022 season back with Hickory.[15] However, he instead spent the season with the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders, posting a 2-3 record and 9.90 ERA with 33 strikeouts across 40 innings pitched. Gowdy elected free agents following the season on November 10, 2022.[16]

Los Angeles Dodgers

Gowdy signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 23, 2023. The Dodgers assigned him to the Double–A Tulsa Drillers, where he appeared in 31 games with a 4.93 ERA and 41 strikeouts.[14] He was assigned to the Triple–A Oklahoma City Baseball Club for the 2024 season,[17] where he made 42 appearances and allowed 25 earned runs in 51+1⁄3 innings for a 4.38 ERA.[14] Gowdy elected free agency following the season on November 4, 2024.[18]

Toronto Blue Jays

On December 3, 2024, Gowdy signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.[19]

References

  1. ^ Belinsky, Hudson (March 10, 2016). "Kevin Gowdy Among SoCal's Top Prospects". Baseball America. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  2. ^ Punzal, Barry (April 11, 2016). "Kevin Gowdy Impresses Coach With His Poise Under Pressure". Noozhawk. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  3. ^ Zielinski III, Dan (March 21, 2016). "An advanced high school pitcher: Kevin Gowdy". The3rdManIn. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  4. ^ Helfand, Zach (June 9, 2016). "Santa Barbara's Kevin Gowdy is taken No. 42 overall by Phillies in MLB draft". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  5. ^ "UCLA Baseball Signs 13 Players to NLIs". UCLA Athletics. November 23, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  6. ^ Punzal, Barry (September 7, 2015). "Gowdy is a world champion with USA U18s". Presidio Sports. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  7. ^ "Phils reach deals with 4 more from Draft haul". MLB.com. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  8. ^ "Kevin Gowdy Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  9. ^ "Phillies pitching prospect Kevin Gowdy sidelined for a year after Tommy John surgery". NBC Sports. August 15, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  10. ^ Seidman, Corey (September 17, 2020). "Revisiting 1st round of 2016 MLB draft when Phillies took Moniak". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  11. ^ Brookover, Bob (May 8, 2021). "Phillies prospect Kevin Gowdy hopes new pitch rekindles his big-league dream | Bob Brookover". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  12. ^ Chris Hilburn-Trenkle, and J. J. Cooper (July 30, 2021). "Phillies Acquire Ian Kennedy, Kyle Gibson, Hans Crouse From Rangers For Spencer Howard, Kevin Gowdy and Josh Gessner". Baseball America. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  13. ^ Landry, Kennedi (July 30, 2021). "Howard, prospects headed to TEX (sources)". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  14. ^ a b c "Kevin Gowdy Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  15. ^ "Rangers Release Crawdads Break Camp Roster". MiLB.com. March 31, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  16. ^ Morris, Adam J. (November 12, 2022). "Rangers have 25 minor leaguers become free agents". Lone Star Ball. SB Nation. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  17. ^ Stephen, Eric (March 29, 2024). "Dodgers Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City sets preliminary roster for 2024". SB Nation. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  18. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  19. ^ "Blue Jays sign INF Michael Stefanic, RHP Kevin Gowdy to minor-league deals". sportsnet.ca=en. Retrieved December 3, 2024.