Connor Brammer Gillispie (born November 10, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher who has appeared in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Cleveland Guardians and Miami Marlins. He made his major league debut in August 2024, becoming one of the few players to advance from independent league baseball to the majors in recent memory. Gillispie was selected in the ninth round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles and spent several seasons building his craft through their minor league system before catching on with the Guardians organization.
Connor Brammer Gillispie Bio
Connor Brammer Gillispie is a right-handed pitcher who has developed into a durable arm capable of working both as a starter and reliever. Throughout his professional career, Gillispie has demonstrated the ability to miss bats and log significant innings, which helped him transition from the lower levels of the minors to Triple-A and eventually to the major leagues. His professional journey reflects persistence and steady improvement at each level of competition.
Early Life and Background
Connor Brammer Gillispie grew up in Virginia and attended the Miller School of Albemarle in Charlottesville. The private boarding school provided him with opportunities to develop his baseball skills while pursuing his academic studies. After completing high school, Gillispie enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he played college baseball for the VCU Rams program. His collegiate experience at VCU helped refine his pitching mechanics and prepared him for the demands of professional baseball.
Path to Professional Baseball
Following his collegiate career, Gillispie entered the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft. The Baltimore Orioles selected him in the ninth round with the 258th overall selection. Being drafted by an MLB franchise marked the beginning of his professional journey, though he would soon learn that the path to the majors would require patience and continuous development. His selection by the Orioles represented an opportunity to pursue his dream of pitching at the highest level of the sport.
Connor Brammer Gillispie Career
Minor League Development (2019–2023)
Gillispie made his professional debut with the Low-A Aberdeen IronBirds in 2019. He made 14 appearances and posted an impressive 1.77 earned run average with 21 strikeouts, demonstrating early promise as a pitcher capable of retiring professional hitters. The 2020 season was lost due to the cancellation of the minor league campaign because of the COVID-19 pandemic, denying him a full season of development that year.
He returned to Aberdeen in 2021, now classified as a High-A affiliate. That season, Gillispie worked primarily as a starting pitcher, appearing in 21 games with 12 starts. He compiled a 4-8 record with a 4.97 ERA and 78 strikeouts across those appearances. The following year in 2022, he returned to Aberdeen for a third consecutive season and showed significant improvement, posting an 8-5 record with a 3.79 ERA and 113 strikeouts over 25 appearances including 14 starts. His strikeout numbers demonstrated his ability to generate swings and misses at the Low-A level.
Gillispie received a promotion to Double-A in 2023, joining the Bowie Baysox. He appeared in 27 games with 14 starts, accumulating a 7-4 record and 3.89 ERA with 99 strikeouts across 115 and two-thirds innings pitched. He also recorded 2 saves that season, showcasing his versatility in different roles. His strong performance with Bowie earned him recognition within the Orioles organization and positioned him for an opportunity with another club.
Cleveland Guardians (2024)
On December 6, 2023, the Cleveland Guardians selected Gillispie from the Orioles in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. This transaction gave him an opportunity to continue his career within a new organization. He reported to Triple-A Columbus Clippers to begin the 2024 season, where he continued to refine his craft against more experienced hitters.
On August 4, 2024, the Guardians selected Gillispie to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time in his career. He made his MLB debut shortly thereafter, appearing in three games during his rookie campaign. In those three relief appearances covering eight innings, he posted an outstanding 2.25 ERA with eight strikeouts, demonstrating that his stuff could compete at the highest level. However, the Guardians designated Gillispie for assignment on November 19, 2024, and non-tendered him on November 22, making him a free agent.
Miami Marlins (2025)
On November 29, 2024, Gillispie signed a one-year major league contract with the Atlanta Braves organization. However, he did not remain with Atlanta long, as the Braves designated him for assignment on January 23, 2025. Later that month, on January 28, 2025, the Miami Marlins claimed Gillispie off waivers, providing him with another opportunity to compete at the major league level.
Gillispie made the Marlins Opening Day roster and joined their starting rotation. He made six starts for Miami, but struggled with his command and results during this stretch. Across 26 innings of work, he went 0-3 with an 8.65 ERA and 23 strikeouts. The Marlins designated Gillispie for assignment following the promotion of Robinson Pina on June 19, 2025, ending his tenure with the club.
Minnesota Twins (2025)
On June 23, 2025, the Minnesota Twins claimed Gillispie off waivers. He reported to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints, where he made four appearances including three starts. Unfortunately, he struggled significantly in his stint with Minnesota’s top affiliate, posting a 1-1 record and a 14.49 ERA with just six strikeouts across 13 and two-thirds innings. The Twins designated Gillispie for assignment on July 28, 2025. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A St. Paul on July 30, where he finished the season. Following the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, Gillispie elected free agency on November 6, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gillispie features a power arm that generates swing-and-miss stuff, particularly against right-handed hitters. Throughout his minor league career, he demonstrated the ability to work as both a starter and reliever, showing adaptability to different roles. His strikeout ability has been a consistent tool at every level, and he has shown the capacity to log heavy workloads as a starting pitcher. His experience working with various coaches and organizations has helped him develop a diverse approach to getting hitters out.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gillispie’s most significant career milestone remains his MLB debut on August 4, 2024, with the Cleveland Guardians. His three appearances during that initial stint showcased his potential, as he recorded eight strikeouts in eight innings while maintaining a 2.25 ERA. The Rule 5 Draft selection that brought him to Cleveland represented a turning point in his career, providing the opportunity he needed to prove he belonged on a major league roster.
Connor Brammer Gillispie Career Wins
Throughout his professional career spanning six seasons, Gillispie has accumulated victories at the minor league level across multiple affiliates in the Orioles, Guardians, Twins, and other organizations. At the major league level, his record stands at 0-3 across his time with Cleveland and Miami. His minor league career highlights include an 8-5 season in 2022 with Aberdeen and a 7-4 campaign in 2023 with Double-A Bowie.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Through the 2025 season, Gillispie has appeared in 13 major league games across his time with Cleveland and Miami. He has recorded 31 total strikeouts at the MLB level with a career earned run average of 7.15. His best stretch came during his initial promotion to Cleveland, where he recorded eight strikeouts in eight innings. He has yet to record his first major league win as a professional.
Minor League Career Highlights
At the minor league level, Gillispie compiled an impressive record across five seasons. His 2022 season with Aberdeen produced his highest single-season win total at 8-5, while his 2023 performance with Bowie at Double-A demonstrated his ability to compete against more advanced hitters. He recorded a career-high 113 strikeouts in 2022 and followed that with 99 strikeouts in 2023.
| Level | Wins | Losses | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (Cleveland/Miami) | 0 | 3 | 7.15 | 31 |
| Minor League (Career) | 20 | 17 | 3.99 | 311 |
Connor Brammer Gillispie Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information regarding Connor Gillispie’s family background, parents, or siblings is not widely available in verified sources. He has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout his professional baseball career, with limited public disclosures about his family circumstances. As he continues his baseball journey, details about his personal relationships and family may emerge through media profiles or interviews.
Personal Life
Gillispie has focused his attention on developing his baseball career since being drafted in 2019. His professional path has taken him through multiple organizations, requiring relocations and adjustments to new clubhouses and cities. As a free agent following the 2025 season, he continues to pursue opportunities to pitch at the major league level. He remains active in baseball and is working toward establishing himself as a reliable MLB pitcher.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a challenging year for Gillispie as he navigated the complexities of major league baseball. After beginning the year with the Atlanta Braves organization and quickly moving to the Miami Marlins via waivers, he made the Opening Day roster for Miami. However, his six starts with the Marlins resulted in an 0-3 record and elevated 8.65 ERA, indicating he was still adjusting to the intensity and competition of the major leagues. The Marlins’ decision to designate him for assignment in June ended his tenure with the club after a difficult stretch.
Following his claim by the Minnesota Twins in late June, Gillispie reported to Triple-A St. Paul where he experienced further struggles. His four appearances with the Saints produced a 14.49 ERA, his highest at any professional level. The difficult numbers reflected both bad luck and the ongoing adjustments required at the Triple-A level. He cleared waivers and finished the season with the Saints, eventually electing free agency in November 2025.
Looking ahead, Gillispie enters the 2026 season as a free agent seeking an opportunity to reset and prove himself at the professional level. His career statistics demonstrate he possesses the tools to succeed, with over 300 minor league strikeouts and encouraging initial MLB results. Finding the right organizational fit and role will be crucial as he works to recapture the form that earned him his initial promotion to the majors in 2024.