Gavin Hollowell Bio
Gavin Ernest Hollowell is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball. Born on November 4, 1997, in Montgomery Township, New Jersey, Hollowell has established himself as a reliever across both the minor and major leagues. He made his MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies in September 2022 and has since appeared in 40 major league games, compiling a career win-loss record of 2-2 with an earned run average of 5.73 and 53 strikeouts through June 2026.
Early Life and Background
Gavin Ernest Hollowell grew up in Montgomery Township, Somerset County, New Jersey. He attended Montgomery High School in his hometown, where he developed his skills as a baseball pitcher. His performance in high school earned him recognition and provided the foundation for his collegiate baseball career.
After graduating from Montgomery High School, Hollowell continued his academic and athletic career at St. John’s University in Queens, New York. At St. John’s, he played for the Red Storm baseball team, competing at the NCAA Division I level. His collegiate career helped refine his pitching abilities and prepared him for the professional ranks.
In the summer of 2018, Hollowell played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the premier amateur summer leagues in the United States. This experience against top college talent further accelerated his development and increased his visibility ahead of the 2019 MLB Draft.
Path to Professional Baseball
Following his standout performances at St. John’s University and in the Cape Cod Baseball League, Hollowell entered the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft. The Colorado Rockies selected him in the sixth round, with the 189th overall selection. Being drafted by a Major League organization marked the beginning of his professional baseball career and set him on the path toward his ultimate goal of reaching the majors.
Hollowell signed with the Rockies and reported to their organization for his first professional season. He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Grand Junction Rockies, where he began learning the nuances of professional pitching and adapting to the increased competition.
The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented Hollowell from playing in any official games that year. Despite this setback, he continued to develop his skills and prepared for the 2021 season when play resumed.
Gavin Hollowell Career
Minor League Development (2019-2022)
Hollowell spent the 2021 season split between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Rockies and Single-A Fresno Grizzlies. In 24 combined appearances, he posted an impressive 3-0 record with a 2.25 earned run average, 33 strikeouts, and 5 saves across 24.0 innings pitched. These strong numbers demonstrated his effectiveness as a relief pitcher and his ability to miss bats at the lower levels of professional baseball.
He began the 2022 season with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats, continuing his ascent through the Rockies minor league system. With Hartford, he pitched to a 4-2 record with a 3.14 ERA, 64 strikeouts, and 16 saves in 42 appearances. His 16 saves and 64 strikeouts highlighted his value as a late-inning reliever capable of recording outs in high-pressure situations.
Colorado Rockies (2022-2023)
On September 18, 2022, Hollowell received his first major league call-up and was promoted to the Colorado Rockies. He made his MLB debut that same day, realizing his dream of reaching the highest level of professional baseball. In his rookie campaign with Colorado, he appeared in 6 games, posting an 0-2 record with a 7.71 ERA and 8 strikeouts in 7.0 innings pitched.
Hollowell was optioned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes to begin the 2023 season. After performing well in the minors, he returned to the major leagues and appeared in 26 games for the Rockies during the regular season. He logged a 5.88 ERA with 32 strikeouts across 33 2/3 innings pitched. His ability to contribute at the major league level while shuttling between Triple-A and MLB demonstrated his durability and consistency as a professional pitcher.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2024)
On June 18, 2024, Hollowell was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks, joining a new organization for the first time in his career. He reported to the Triple-A Reno Aces and appeared in 18 games, logging a 3.63 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 17 1/3 innings pitched. His strong performance with Reno showed his ability to adapt to new teams and continue producing at the Triple-A level.
The Diamondbacks designated Hollowell for assignment on August 20, 2024, which opened the door for another team to claim him off waivers.
Chicago Cubs (2024-Present)
On August 23, 2024, Hollowell was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs, marking a new chapter in his major league career. He made one scoreless appearance for Chicago, striking out one batter across 1 1/3 innings pitched to begin his tenure with the organization.
He was optioned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs to begin the 2025 season. During the regular season, Hollowell appeared in 7 games for the major league club, recording a 4.82 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 9 1/3 innings pitched. His contributions in a setup role provided the Cubs bullpen with depth and flexibility throughout the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hollowell has built his professional career as a relief pitcher, specializing in recording outs in the middle and late innings. His minor league track record includes 21 career saves, demonstrating his ability to handle high-pressure situations in closing roles. He has shown the capacity to strike out batters at an effective rate throughout his professional career, with his 64 strikeouts at Double-A Hartford in 2022 being particularly notable. His experience across multiple minor league levels and three major league organizations has shown his adaptability to different clubhouse environments and pitching philosophies.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hollowell reached a significant career milestone when the Colorado Rockies promoted him to the majors on September 18, 2022, nearly three years after being drafted. His journey through the minor leagues included a productive 2021 season where he posted a 2.25 ERA with 5 saves in 24 appearances, and his standout 2022 campaign at Double-A Hartford where he recorded 16 saves and 64 strikeouts. His August 2024 waiver claim by the Chicago Cubs represented another pivotal moment, as he joined a new organization and appeared in games for a National League team. These milestones reflect his persistence and steady improvement throughout his professional career.
Gavin Hollowell Career Wins
Throughout his professional baseball career, Gavin Hollowell has compiled experience at both the minor and major league levels while playing for multiple organizations. His minor league career includes stints in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Single-A Fresno, Double-A Hartford, Triple-A Albuquerque, Triple-A Reno, and Triple-A Iowa. At the major league level, he has appeared for the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Chicago Cubs, accumulating 40 games of MLB experience.
Major League Highlights
Across his MLB career spanning the 2022 through 2025 seasons, Hollowell has appeared in 40 games with the Rockies, Diamondbacks, and Cubs. He has compiled a career win-loss record of 2-2 with a 5.73 earned run average and 53 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings pitched. His two career wins came during his time with the Chicago Cubs across the 2024 and 2025 seasons. While he has not yet recorded a save at the major league level, his minor league career includes 21 total saves, including 16 with Double-A Hartford in 2022 and 5 with Single-A Fresno in 2021.
Minor League Highlights
Hollowell’s minor league career has featured several standout seasons. His 2021 campaign split between the Arizona Complex League Rockies and Single-A Fresno Grizzlies saw him post a 3-0 record with a 2.25 ERA and 5 saves in 24 appearances. His 2022 season with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats was particularly impressive, as he went 4-2 with a 3.14 ERA, 64 strikeouts, and a team-high 16 saves in 42 games. His ability to miss bats and convert save opportunities helped him climb through the Rockies organization.
| Competition Level | Games | Record | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (2022-2025) | 40 | 2-2 | 5.73 | 53 |
| Minor Leagues (Career) | 90+ | 11-4 | 3.21 | 157 |
Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
No verified information regarding Gavin Hollowell’s family background, parents, siblings, or any family lineage in professional baseball is available in the provided sources.
Personal Life
Gavin Hollowell was born on November 4, 1997, in Montgomery Township, New Jersey. He attended Montgomery High School in his hometown before enrolling at St. John’s University. He is currently active with the Chicago Cubs organization. No verified information regarding his marital status, spouse, or children is available in the provided sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented another year of major league experience for Hollowell with the Chicago Cubs organization. He reported to spring training with the club and was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to begin the regular season. His performance with the Iowa Cubs provided him with regular work and the opportunity to refine his craft in a competitive environment. The Cubs organization values depth in their bullpen, and Hollowell’s ability to pitch effectively at both the Triple-A and MLB levels made him a valuable asset throughout the season.
Hollowell appeared in 7 games for the Chicago Cubs during the 2025 regular season, recording a 4.82 earned run average with 10 strikeouts across 9 1/3 innings pitched. His ability to work multiple innings and provide the team with quality relief appearances contributed to the Cubs’ bullpen depth throughout the year. Working with the Cubs coaching staff, he continued to develop his approach against major league hitters and adjust to the National League style of play.
Throughout the 2025 season, Hollowell balanced time between Triple-A Iowa and the major league club, demonstrating the versatility that MLB organizations value in their relievers. His experience with three different major league teams and his consistent minor league track record have established him as a professional pitcher capable of contributing at the highest level. The 2025 campaign added to his growing body of major league experience and positioned him for continued opportunities within the Cubs organization or beyond as he progresses in his career.