Gavin Hollowell Bio
Gavin Ernest Hollowell (born November 4, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He is currently with the Chicago Cubs organization and previously played in MLB for the Colorado Rockies. A right-handed reliever, Hollowell reached the majors in 2022 after progressing through Colorado’s farm system.
Drafted out of college by the Rockies in 2019, Hollowell developed as a late-inning bullpen arm across the minor leagues before making his major league debut in September 2022. After brief MLB stints in Colorado and a Triple-A stop with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization in 2024, he was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs.
Early Life and Background
Gavin Ernest Hollowell was born on November 4, 1997, in Montgomery Township, Somerset County, New Jersey. He grew up in the same community and attended Montgomery High School, where he first drew attention as a hard-throwing pitcher with projectable mechanics.
After high school, Hollowell continued his baseball career at St. John’s University in New York, playing college baseball for the St. John’s Red Storm. During the summer of 2018, he gained additional experience in the Cape Cod Baseball League, a premier collegiate summer circuit, playing for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. That exposure to high-level amateur competition helped sharpen his profile as a relief pitcher before he declared for the MLB draft.
Path to Baseball
Hollowell’s path to professional baseball began in earnest when the Colorado Rockies selected him in the sixth round, with the 189th overall pick, of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the organization and was assigned to the rookie-level Grand Junction Rockies for his first professional assignment.
The 2020 minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so Hollowell did not appear in an official game that year. He returned to action in 2021 and began climbing the Rockies’ developmental ladder, refining his slider and fastball combination while learning the routines of late-inning relief work. His progression through the minors positioned him for a major league opportunity by the middle of 2022.
Gavin Hollowell Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Hollowell made his professional debut with the rookie-level Grand Junction Rockies in 2019 after being drafted by Colorado. The abbreviated nature of that season limited his workload, but the Rockies were encouraged enough to keep him within their developmental pipeline. The cancellation of the 2020 minor league season interrupted his progress, although he continued to train within the organization.
In 2021, Hollowell returned to game action and pitched across two levels, splitting time between the Arizona Complex League Rockies and the Single-A Fresno Grizzlies. Across 24 combined appearances, he posted a 3-0 record and a 2.25 ERA, recording 33 strikeouts and 5 saves in 24.0 innings pitched. Those results marked him as a relief prospect worth monitoring.
Minor League Breakthrough and MLB Debut (2022)
Hollowell opened the 2022 season with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats and delivered one of his strongest statistical years. In 42 appearances, he went 4-2 with a 3.14 ERA, struck out 64 batters, and converted 16 saves, cementing his reputation as a reliable late-inning arm.
On September 18, 2022, the Rockies promoted Hollowell to the major leagues for the first time. He made six appearances during his rookie campaign, going 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA and 8 strikeouts across 7.0 innings pitched. The limited sample reflected the typical adjustment period for a young reliever facing major league hitters for the first time.
Colorado Rockies Tenure (2023–2024)
Hollowell was optioned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes to begin the 2023 season. He appeared in 26 games for the Rockies that year and posted a 5.88 ERA with 32 strikeouts across 33.2 innings pitched. The season offered valuable experience even as his major league results lagged behind his minor league production.
He was again optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque to begin the 2024 season. Across six major league appearances that year, Hollowell struggled to a 16.62 ERA with six strikeouts in 4.1 innings, leading to a change of organizations.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2024)
On June 18, 2024, Hollowell was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks and assigned to the Triple-A Reno Aces. In 18 appearances for Reno, he logged a 3.63 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 17.1 innings pitched, regaining some of the form he had shown earlier in his career. The Diamondbacks designated him for assignment on August 20, 2024, opening the door for another move.
Chicago Cubs Era (2024–Present)
On August 23, 2024, Hollowell was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs. In his short time in the Cubs organization at the major league level, he made one scoreless appearance, striking out one batter across 1.1 innings pitched.
The Cubs optioned Hollowell to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs to begin the 2025 season, signaling their intent to continue developing him within their system. His relief profile and minor league track record gave Chicago a depth option to monitor throughout the year.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hollowell operates as a power reliever, relying on a fastball-slider combination to generate swings and misses. His minor league resume, particularly his 64 strikeouts in 42 appearances at Double-A Hartford in 2022, points to swing-and-miss stuff against right-handed hitters. Coaches have valued his competitiveness in high-leverage spots and his willingness to attack the strike zone.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hollowell’s first major league appearance on September 18, 2022, marked the headline milestone of his career to date, capping a steady climb through the Rockies’ minor league system. His 16-save season at Double-A Hartford that same year underscored his closing profile, while subsequent waiver moves to Arizona and Chicago reflected the fluid nature of his organizational path.
Gavin Hollowell Career Wins
Across his professional career, Hollowell has built a relief résumé highlighted by 16 saves at Double-A Hartford in 2022 and 5 saves across the rookie and Single-A levels in 2021. His major league opportunities have so far centered on middle and late relief, with results still in development.
Minor League Highlights
Hollowell’s most productive professional season came in 2022 with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats, where he posted 16 saves and struck out 64 batters in 42 appearances. His 2021 campaign with the Arizona Complex League Rockies and Fresno Grizzlies added 5 more saves and a 2.25 ERA across 24 outings.
Major League Performances
In the majors, Hollowell has logged 32 appearances split between the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Chicago Cubs organizations. His most consistent major league stretch came in 2023, when he struck out 32 batters across 33.2 innings for Colorado, even as his ERA remained elevated.
Gavin Hollowell Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Hollowell is a native of Montgomery Township, New Jersey, where he attended Montgomery High School before enrolling at St. John’s University. Public details about his parents, siblings, spouse, or children are not confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Hollowell entered the 2025 season with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs after being optioned by Chicago. The assignment gave him an opportunity to refine his command and rebuild his strike-throwing consistency at a level where he had previously struggled to find rhythm in the majors.
His role within the Cubs organization focused on serving as a depth reliever capable of being promoted when fresh bullpen arms were required. With Triple-A teammates and coaches emphasizing pitch execution, Hollowell worked on tightening his breaking ball and limiting free passes, two areas that had contributed to elevated major league ERAs in prior seasons.
Looking ahead, Hollowell’s outlook in Chicago depends on whether he can translate his swing-and-miss traits into more consistent major league results. Continued development at Iowa could position him for a recall if the Cubs need bullpen help during the MLB season.