Kevin John Gausman (born January 6, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, and Toronto Blue Jays.
Gausman played college baseball for the LSU Tigers, with whom he was an All-American. He was selected by the Orioles in the first round (4th overall) of the 2012 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2013. He was an All-Star in 2021 and 2023 and led the American League in strikeouts in 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). 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.
Gausman 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. 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+2⁄3 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 loss to 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."
Draft and MLB debut (2012–2013)
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.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. He 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 4+1⁄3 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 Norfolk 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 American League (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 AL Division Series (ALDS) before being swept in the AL Championship Series (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 strikeouts per nine innings pitched (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 Tampa Bay Rays, earning a 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). His next start was the best of his career, as he pitched eight shutout innings, allowing only three hits along with no walks and four strikeouts. He earned a no decision, though, as the Orioles eventually won the game 1–0 in the tenth inning.
Gausman pitched to a 4.15 ERA and 1–6 record in 15 pre-All Star Break starts.
On August 28, Gausman pitched seven scoreless innings against the Yankees. In his next start against the Yankees, Gausman pitched six shutout innings, raising his scoreless innings streak to 192⁄3 innings. He struck out eight batters and won his career-high fourth straight start. Gausman also tied his career high with his seventh win of the year, while lowering his ERA to 3.58. He extended the scoreless innings streak to 211⁄3 against the Tigers before allowing a run in the second inning of a 4–3 loss. Following this start, he threw eight scoreless innings in a 1–0 victory over the Red Sox, improving to 8–10 on the year and lowering his ERA to 3.43.
Gausman finished the year 11–12, despite pitching to a 3.61 ERA, due to low run support. He struck out 174 batters in 179+2⁄3 innings. His 8.716 K/9 and his 3.706 strikeout-to-walk ratio were both 10th in the AL.
On March 28, 2017, Gausman was named the Orioles' Opening Day starting pitcher. He pitched 5+1⁄3 innings on Opening Day, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks, while also striking out four batters. Gausman earned a no decision. On May 3, Gausman was ejected for the first time in his major league career after hitting Xander Bogaerts with a pitch. On July 29, Gausman pitched the longest outing of his career so far, going 82⁄3 shutout innings against the Texas Rangers while striking out eight batters and earning the victory.
For the season, he led the league with 34 starts, and his 179 strikeouts and 186+2⁄3 innings pitched were both 10th in the AL. He had the lowest percentage of balls pulled against him (33.3%) among major league pitchers. His 8.630 K/9 was 10th in the AL.
Before the 2018 season, Gausman changed from his old number of 39 to 34, in honor of the late former Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, and fellow Coloradan Roy Halladay. On April 23, in a start against the Cleveland Indians, Gausman threw the 90th immaculate inning in MLB history, striking out three batters in one inning on just nine pitches. He was the third Orioles pitcher to throw an immaculate inning and the first since B.J. Ryan in 1999, who also accomplished the feat against Cleveland.
On July 31, 2018, Gausman along with Darren O'Day, was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor leaguers Brett Cumberland, Jean Carlos Encarnacion, Evan Phillips, Bruce Zimmermann, and international signing money.