Kevin Gausman

Kevin John Gausman (born January 6, 1991), nicknamed "Gaus", is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB).

He previously played for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and San Francisco Giants.

Before his professional career, Gausman attended Louisiana State University (LSU) and played college baseball for the LSU Tigers, with whom he was an All-American.

In his junior year, he was 7-2 with a 2.15 ERA, and in 2010, his senior year, he was 9–2 with a 3.12 ERA.

As a batter, playing for his high school varsity, he hit .322/.431/.576 with seven home runs and 40 runs batted in (RBIs) in 145 plate appearances.

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Gausman in the sixth round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, but he did not sign.

He attended Louisiana State University (LSU), where he played college baseball for the LSU Tigers baseball team.

In 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

The Orioles selected him in the first round (4th overall) of the 2012 MLB draft.

In 2012, as a sophomore at LSU, he was 12–2 (leading the Southeastern Conference in wins) with a 2.77 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) and 135 strikeouts (leading the Conference) in 123.2 innings.

He was named an All-American in 2012.

Gausman pitched in both Games 1 and 2 of the Baton Rouge Super Regional, coming out in relief in the completion of the rain-delayed first game and earning a win, but taking a loss in the second game as LSU suffered a historic upset at the hands of Stony Brook.

In an interview with Jake Arrieta ten years later, Gausman said, "That's probably the one thing in baseball that I constantly look back on."

The Baltimore Orioles selected Gausman in the first round with the fourth overall selection in the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.

He signed with the Orioles for a signing bonus of $4.32 million on July 13, 2012.

He made his MLB debut in 2013.

He was an All-Star in 2021 and 2023.

Gausman attended Grandview High School in Aurora, Colorado, where he played for the school's baseball team as a pitcher.

In his sophomore year he pitched to a 5–2 win–loss record with a 2.79 earned run average (ERA).

Gausman started the 2013 season with the Double-A Bowie Baysox.

The Orioles promoted Gausman to the major leagues to make his debut in Toronto against the Blue Jays on May 23, 2013.

Gausman pitched five innings and allowed seven hits, four runs, and two walks, while striking out five.

He picked up the loss as the Orioles fell 12–6 to the Blue Jays.

On June 14, Gausman was optioned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.

He was recalled again on June 24, and on June 28 he earned his first Major League win, against the New York Yankees, pitching in relief of T. J. McFarland, going innings, striking out four and allowing no walks and three hits.

Gausman was optioned back to Norfolk on July 10.

He was again recalled from the Norfolk Tides on August 28 and earned his second big league win, on September 1, also against the Yankees, this time at Yankee Stadium.

On June 7, 2014, Gausman earned his first win as a starting pitcher, going seven innings against the Oakland Athletics, allowing only one run, walking one, and striking out six.

Following the best outing of his young career, Gausman pitched against the AL East leading Toronto Blue Jays where he went six innings, again allowing one run and striking out three.

In the 2014 postseason, Gausman pitched out of the bullpen for the Orioles.

Gausman pitched eight innings in three relief appearances, posting a 1.13 ERA and an 0.75 WHIP.

The Orioles would sweep the Tigers in the ALDS before being swept in the ALCS by the Kansas City Royals.

Gausman finished the 2014 campaign having made 20 starts, with one complete game (five innings, due to rain), posting a 3.57 ERA and a 7–7 win–loss record.

Gausman made 25 appearances in 2015 (17 starts).

He posted a moderate 4.25 ERA, but struck out a career-high 103 batters, averaging 8.3 K/9.

He posted a 4–7 record, as the Orioles finished 81–81 and didn't make the playoffs.

Gausman started the 2016 season on the disabled list.

He made his season debut on April 25 against the Rays, earning a tough loss after going five innings and giving up one run on three hits.

He earned a no decision in his next start, as the Orioles lost 8–7 against the White Sox.

Gausman went six innings, allowing three runs (two earned).