Cole Gillespie
Encyclopedia
Cole B. Gillespie is an American professional baseball
outfielder
in the Arizona Diamondbacks
organization. He is from Portland, Oregon
.
Gillespie was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers
in the 3rd round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft
out of Oregon State University
where he helped lead the Beavers to the 2006 Division I National Championship
over the North Carolina Tarheels and he was named the Pac 10 Conference Player of the Year. 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
.
In late July 2009, he was traded to the 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.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
organization. He is from Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
Gillespie was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the 3rd round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft
2006 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 6 and 7. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.-First Round Selections:...
out of Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
where he helped lead the Beavers to the 2006 Division I National Championship
National championship
A national championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest in a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best team, individual in a particular nation and in a particular field...
over the North Carolina Tarheels and he was named the Pac 10 Conference Player of the Year. After going pro in 2006, Gillespie played for their Rookie league Helena Brewers
Helena Brewers
The Helena Brewers are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League and are the Advanced Rookie League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Helena, Montana...
. He was promoted to the Class A-Advanced Brevard County Manatees
Brevard County Manatees
The Brevard County Manatees are a minor league baseball team of the Florida State League, and are the A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers...
in 2007. Gillespie spent the entire 2008 season with the Double-A Huntsville Stars
Huntsville Stars
The Huntsville Stars are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Huntsville, Alabama and are named for the space industry with which Huntsville is economically tied .The Stars play their home games at Joe W...
. In 2009, he was promoted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
.
In late July 2009, he was traded to the Diamondbacks with Roque Mercedes for Felipe López and assigned to Triple-A Reno
Reno Aces
The Reno Aces are a minor league baseball franchise based in Reno, Nevada, in the United States. The team is a member of the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks....
. Following the season, he was added to the 40 man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
, and made his major league debut in a pinch hitting opportunity on April 21, hitting a double and later scoring a run.