Chris Gissell
Encyclopedia
Christopher Odell Gissell (born January 4, 1978 in Tacoma, Washington
) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Colorado Rockies
organization.
Gissell graduated from Hudson's Bay High School
in Vancouver, Washington
. He was named the Washington State High School Player of the Year following his senior season. He entered the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft
and the Chicago Cubs
selected him in the 4th round as the 112th overall pick.
From to , Gissell played in the Cubs minor league system, reaching Triple-A in 2002 and never played for the Cubs. Gissell was primarily a starter
, with a few relief
appearances here and there. He became a minor league free agent after the 2002 season.
On November 7, 2002, he signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros
that included an invitation to spring training
. After being reassigned to minor league camp on March 14, 2003, he was cut 15 days later by the Astros on March 29. The Colorado Rockies
then signed him to a minor league contract on April 3, 2003. He would then go on to spend the whole season with the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox
, posting an 8-4 record with a 3.55 ERA
in 38 games that included 10 starts. On August 2, 2003, Gissell combined with Jesus Sanchez to throw a no-hitter for the Sky Sox against the Nashville Sounds, 3-0, at Herschel Greer Stadium in Nashville (Gissell 7 IP, Sanchez 2 IP). On October 15, 2003, he became a minor league free agent. On December 19, 2003, he signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants
that included an invitation to Spring Training
. He did not make the major league club and was sent to Triple-A Fresno
. The Giants released him on April 7, 2004, without ever getting into a game for the Grizzlies.
A month later, on May 12, 2004, the Rockies signed him again to a minor league contract and sent him to Triple-A. He posted an excellent season for the Sky Sox, leading the Pacific Coast League
with 14 wins, despite making 16 relief appearances and only 8 starts. His contract was purchased by the Rockies on August 19, 2004. On August 22, 2004, he made his major league debut against the Montreal Expos
. He pitched 2 innings in relief, giving up a solo home run only to Juan Rivera. After making another relief appearance, he was optioned to Triple-A on August 27, 2004. He would be called up again in September on the 7th when rosters expanded and finished out the season with the Rockies. He ended up pitching in 5 games, made 1 start, and had a 0-1 record with a 14.54 ERA. Gissell became a free agent after the season.
On January 12, 2005, Gissell signed a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training with the St. Louis Cardinals
. He did not make the team and was assigned to Triple-A Memphis
, where he spent the entire 2005 season. Pitching in 23 games (all starts), he had an 8-8 record with a 3.54 ERA. After the season, he became a free agent and from there went to play baseball in Japan.
From -, Gissell played for the Seibu Lions
in the Pacific League
of Nippon Professional Baseball.
Gissell returned to Major League Baseball on November 20, 2007, when he signed a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training with the Oakland Athletics
. He became a free agent at the end of the season and signed with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
organization.
Gissell graduated from Hudson's Bay High School
Hudson's Bay High School
Hudson's Bay High School is located in Vancouver, Washington, USA, in the Central Park area of Vancouver. Hudson's Bay is known for having two strong magnet programs, as well as a children's day care and district-wide mothers transportation program. It is located across from Clark College, where...
in Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
. He was named the Washington State High School Player of the Year following his senior season. He entered the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft
1996 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1996 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 4 and 5, 1996...
and the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
selected him in the 4th round as the 112th overall pick.
From to , Gissell played in the Cubs minor league system, reaching Triple-A in 2002 and never played for the Cubs. Gissell was primarily a starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, with a few relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
appearances here and there. He became a minor league free agent after the 2002 season.
On November 7, 2002, he signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
that included an invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. After being reassigned to minor league camp on March 14, 2003, he was cut 15 days later by the Astros on March 29. The Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
then signed him to a minor league contract on April 3, 2003. He would then go on to spend the whole season with the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
, posting an 8-4 record with a 3.55 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 38 games that included 10 starts. On August 2, 2003, Gissell combined with Jesus Sanchez to throw a no-hitter for the Sky Sox against the Nashville Sounds, 3-0, at Herschel Greer Stadium in Nashville (Gissell 7 IP, Sanchez 2 IP). On October 15, 2003, he became a minor league free agent. On December 19, 2003, he signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
that included an invitation to Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. He did not make the major league club and was sent to Triple-A Fresno
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
. The Giants released him on April 7, 2004, without ever getting into a game for the Grizzlies.
A month later, on May 12, 2004, the Rockies signed him again to a minor league contract and sent him to Triple-A. He posted an excellent season for the Sky Sox, leading the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
with 14 wins, despite making 16 relief appearances and only 8 starts. His contract was purchased by the Rockies on August 19, 2004. On August 22, 2004, he made his major league debut against the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. He pitched 2 innings in relief, giving up a solo home run only to Juan Rivera. After making another relief appearance, he was optioned to Triple-A on August 27, 2004. He would be called up again in September on the 7th when rosters expanded and finished out the season with the Rockies. He ended up pitching in 5 games, made 1 start, and had a 0-1 record with a 14.54 ERA. Gissell became a free agent after the season.
On January 12, 2005, Gissell signed a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He did not make the team and was assigned to Triple-A Memphis
Memphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and were owned as a...
, where he spent the entire 2005 season. Pitching in 23 games (all starts), he had an 8-8 record with a 3.54 ERA. After the season, he became a free agent and from there went to play baseball in Japan.
From -, Gissell played for the Seibu Lions
Seibu Lions
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based west of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Prince Hotels, which in turn is owned by the Seibu Group...
in the Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
of Nippon Professional Baseball.
Gissell returned to Major League Baseball on November 20, 2007, when he signed a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. He became a free agent at the end of the season and signed with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.