Tyler Gilbert Bio
Tyler Gregory Gilbert, born December 22, 1993, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Santa Cruz, California, native has also pitched in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies. Gilbert first reached the majors in 2021 with the Diamondbacks and immediately made history by throwing a no-hitter in his first MLB start.
A former sixth-round draft pick out of the University of Southern California, Gilbert developed as a starter before transitioning into a relief role in the upper levels of the minor leagues. His career arc has included stops in the Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Arizona, and Chicago organizations, along with brief time in the Cincinnati Reds system.
Early Life and Background
Tyler Gregory Gilbert was born on December 22, 1993, in Santa Cruz, California, and grew up in the nearby community of Felton. He was raised in a family with a strong connection to professional baseball through his aunt, who worked for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. That family tie gave Gilbert early access to the game, including club-level seating at Giants games during his childhood.
Gilbert attended San Lorenzo Valley High School in Felton, where he developed as a pitcher before moving on to the college ranks. The Bay Area setting and his family’s ties to the Giants helped shape his early understanding of the sport and laid the foundation for his future in baseball.
Path to Baseball
Gilbert began his college baseball career at Santa Barbara City College, pitching for the SBCC Vaqueros. In 2013, his sophomore season, he posted a 9–2 record with a 2.43 earned run average and was named the Western State Conference’s pitcher of the year for the North Division. The following year, he went 6–5 with a 3.81 ERA as a Vaquero.
After two seasons at Santa Barbara City College, Gilbert transferred to the University of Southern California and joined the USC Trojans. With the Trojans, he recorded a 5–2 record and a 2.79 ERA, along with two saves in 67⅔ innings, while also making six starts. His strong college performance led the Philadelphia Phillies to select him in the sixth round, with the 174th overall pick, of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.
Tyler Gilbert Career
Minor League Development (2015–2020)
After signing with the Phillies, Gilbert was assigned to the Williamsport Crosscutters of the Low-A New York-Penn League in 2015, where he went 4–3 with a 2.79 ERA. He moved up to the Lakewood BlueClaws of the Single-A South Atlantic League in 2016, finishing 7–9 with a 3.98 ERA, and then pitched for the Clearwater Threshers of the High-A Florida State League in 2017, going 1–6 with a 2.95 ERA.
Gilbert began 2018 with the Reading Fightin Phils of the Double-A Eastern League, where he transitioned from starting pitcher to relief pitcher and posted a 2.86 ERA. He earned a midseason promotion to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of the Triple-A International League, where he recorded a 3.63 ERA, and later pitched for the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Professional Baseball League. In 2019, he returned to Lehigh Valley and went 2–4 with a 2.83 ERA. On February 5, 2020, the Phillies traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Kyle Garlick.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2021–2023)
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Gilbert from the Dodgers organization in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft on December 12, 2020. He began 2021 with the Reno Aces of Triple-A West, going 5–2 with a 3.44 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 52⅓ innings. Arizona promoted him to the majors on August 3, 2021, and he made his MLB debut that night with a scoreless relief inning.
On August 14, 2021, Gilbert made his first MLB start against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field and threw a no-hitter in a 7–0 Arizona victory. He struck out five, walked three, and threw 64 of 102 pitches for strikes, becoming the fourth pitcher in MLB history to throw a no-hitter in his first major league start and the first since Bobo Holloman in 1953. The gem was the third no-hitter in Diamondbacks history, the first at Chase Field, and the eighth of the 2021 MLB season, tying the single-season record set in 1884. Gilbert finished 2021 with a 2–2 record and a 3.15 ERA.
In 2022, Gilbert made eight appearances, including seven starts, for Arizona, going 0–3 with a 5.24 ERA before a left elbow sprain sent him to the 60-day injured list in August. He returned in 2023 with Reno, going 6–3 with a 5.67 ERA in 21 appearances, and was selected back to the majors on July 8, 2023, going 0–2 with a 5.19 ERA in 11 games before electing free agency after the season.
Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies (2024)
Gilbert signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds on January 17, 2024, and struggled to a 13.11 ERA in seven appearances for the Triple-A Louisville Bats. On May 7, 2024, Cincinnati traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies for cash, and the Phillies assigned him to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. In 27 games for Lehigh Valley, he posted a 2.06 ERA with 48 strikeouts and seven saves over 35 innings.
Philadelphia selected Gilbert’s contract on August 17, 2024, and he appeared in six games for the Phillies, posting a 3.24 ERA with four strikeouts across 8⅓ innings. He was designated for assignment following the Phillies’ acquisition of Jesús Luzardo on December 22, 2024.
Chicago White Sox Era (2025–Present)
On January 1, 2025, the Phillies traded Gilbert to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Aaron Combs, bringing him to his third MLB organization. He has since served as a member of the White Sox pitching staff, where he has continued to work as a multi-inning reliever. Gilbert wears number 40 for Chicago as he builds his role in the bullpen.
In his time with the White Sox, Gilbert has added to a career line that includes 120 strikeouts, a 4.43 earned run average, and a 6–9 win–loss record through early June of the 2026 season. He remains an active member of the franchise as the 2025 season unfolds.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gilbert is a sidearm pitcher by trade, though he used a three-quarters delivery during his time with the Diamondbacks. He throws five pitches: a sinker, a sweeper, a cutter, a four-seam fastball, and a splitter. His unusual arm slot and pitch mix allow him to attack hitters from a different angle, which has been central to his value as a reliever.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gilbert’s signature moment remains the no-hitter he threw in his first MLB start on August 14, 2021, against the San Diego Padres. That performance made him the fourth pitcher in MLB history to throw a no-hitter in his first major league start, and the first to do so since Bobo Holloman in 1953. It also stood as the eighth no-hitter of the 2021 MLB season, tying the single-season record set in 1884.
Tyler Gilbert Career Wins
Across his major league career, Tyler Gilbert has recorded six regular-season decisions and a series of scoreless relief appearances for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago White Sox. His most celebrated win is the 7–0 no-hitter he earned against the San Diego Padres on August 14, 2021, in his first MLB start.
MLB Highlights
Gilbert’s MLB resume is anchored by the 2021 no-hitter, a feat that immediately announced his arrival at the highest level. He went on to register additional wins with the Diamondbacks in 2021 and 2023, and has continued to contribute in relief roles for the Phillies and White Sox. Through June 7, 2026, his career line stands at a 6–9 record with a 4.43 ERA and 120 strikeouts.
Other Performances
Before reaching the majors, Gilbert earned recognition as the Western State Conference’s pitcher of the year for the North Division in 2013 at Santa Barbara City College. He also posted strong numbers at the University of Southern California, and in the minor leagues he recorded ERAs under 3.00 in multiple seasons, including a 2.06 mark with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in 2024.
Tyler Gilbert Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Tyler Gilbert was raised in Felton, California, by a family with direct ties to Major League Baseball. His aunt worked for the San Francisco Giants, which gave Gilbert early access to club seating at Giants games and helped spark his interest in pitching. That family connection to the sport shaped his childhood and helped set him on the path toward a professional career.
Personal Life
Gilbert was born in Santa Cruz, California, and has deep roots in the Santa Cruz Mountains area. Following the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gilbert returned home and worked alongside his father as an electrician. He has continued to maintain those family ties while pursuing his professional baseball career.
2025 Season Performance
Gilbert opened the 2025 season with the Chicago White Sox after being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in a January 1, 2025, trade for Aaron Combs. The move gave him a fresh opportunity to settle into a defined bullpen role, and he has worked in a variety of late-inning situations for the club. Wearing number 40, he has provided a sidearm look out of the Chicago bullpen.
Through the early portion of the 2025 campaign, Gilbert has continued to lean on his five-pitch mix, which includes a sinker, a sweeper, a cutter, a four-seam fastball, and a splitter. His track record of inducing weak contact and missing bats has given the White Sox a reliable multi-inning option. Career statistics through June 7, 2026, show him with a 6–9 win–loss record, a 4.43 earned run average, and 120 strikeouts across his major league appearances.
Looking ahead, Gilbert is expected to remain a key part of the White Sox relief corps as the 2025 season progresses. His combination of a sidearm delivery, pitch variety, and prior big-league experience positions him as a steady presence in the Chicago bullpen. If he continues to handle his role effectively, he figures to play a meaningful part in the team’s late-season push.