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). He has previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies. Gilbert was selected by the Phillies in the sixth round of the 2015 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut in 2021 with the Diamondbacks. In his first MLB start, on August 14, 2021, he threw a no-hitter.
Standing out from his very first appearance as a starter, Gilbert became just the fourth pitcher in MLB history to throw a no-hitter in his first career start, and the first to do so since Bobo Holloman in 1953. A left-handed pitcher who has worked as both a starter and a reliever, he has built a career marked by perseverance through the minor leagues and a flair for the dramatic on the biggest stage.
Early Life and Background
Tyler Gregory Gilbert was born on December 22, 1993, in Santa Cruz, California. He grew up in the nearby community of Felton, California, where his aunt’s connection to the San Francisco Giants gave him early and regular access to Major League Baseball. Gilbert often watched games from club seating at Giants contests, an experience that helped spark his lifelong interest in pitching.
He attended San Lorenzo Valley High School in Felton, where he played baseball before moving on to the college ranks. Gilbert has credited his family and his Northern California roots with grounding him as he worked his way through a long minor-league development path.
Path to Professional Baseball
After high school, Gilbert enrolled at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC), where he began his college baseball career with the SBCC Vaqueros. In 2013, his sophomore year, he posted a 9–2 win–loss record and a 2.43 earned run average (ERA), and was named the Western State Conference’s pitcher of the year for the North Division. In 2014, he went 6–5 with a 3.81 ERA for the Vaqueros.
Following two seasons at SBCC, Gilbert transferred to the University of Southern California (USC) and continued his college career with the USC Trojans. At USC, he compiled a 5–2 record and a 2.79 ERA with two saves in 67⅔ innings pitched, including six starts. His performance in college drew the attention of professional scouts.
Tyler Gilbert Career
Draft and Minor Leagues (2015–2020)
The Philadelphia Phillies selected Gilbert in the sixth round, with the 174th overall pick, of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Phillies and was assigned to the Williamsport Crosscutters of the Low-A New York-Penn League, where he went 4–3 with a 2.79 ERA in his first professional season.
He pitched for the Lakewood BlueClaws of the Single-A South Atlantic League in 2016, finishing 7–9 with a 3.98 ERA, and for the Clearwater Threshers of the High-A Florida State League in 2017, where he went 1–6 with a 2.95 ERA. In 2018, Gilbert reached Double-A with the Reading Fightin Phils and was converted from a starting pitcher to a reliever, posting a 2.86 ERA before earning a midseason promotion to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of Triple-A. After the 2018 season, he pitched for the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Professional Baseball League. He returned to Lehigh Valley in 2019 and went 2–4 with a 2.83 ERA. On February 5, 2020, the Phillies traded Gilbert to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Kyle Garlick. He participated in Dodgers spring training in 2020 before the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2021–2023)
On December 12, 2020, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Gilbert from the Dodgers organization in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. He opened 2021 with the Reno Aces of Triple-A West, going 5–2 with a 3.44 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 52⅓ innings. The Diamondbacks promoted Gilbert to the major leagues on August 3, 2021, and he made his MLB debut that night, throwing a scoreless inning of relief.
On August 14, 2021, at Chase Field, Gilbert made his first career MLB start against the San Diego Padres and threw a no-hitter in a 7–0 Arizona win. He struck out five batters, walked three, and threw 64 of 102 pitches for strikes. The performance made him the fourth pitcher to throw a no-hitter in his first major league start, the first since Bobo Holloman in 1953, and the third no-hitter in Diamondbacks history. It was also the eighth no-hitter of the 2021 MLB season, tying the single-season record originally set in 1884. Gilbert finished 2021 with a 2–2 record and a 3.15 ERA.
In 2022, Gilbert made eight appearances (seven starts) for Arizona, going 0–3 with a 5.24 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 34⅓ innings. He spent time with the Reno Aces as well, going 4–4 with a 7.57 ERA in 11 games. On August 3, 2022, he was placed on the 60-day injured list with a left elbow sprain, and on December 15 he was designated for assignment following the signing of Scott McGough. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A on December 23. In 2023, Gilbert went 6–3 with a 5.67 ERA in 21 appearances for Reno before the Diamondbacks selected his contract on July 8. In 11 games for Arizona, he went 0–2 with a 5.19 ERA. Following the season, Gilbert was removed from the 40-man roster, sent outright to Reno, and elected free agency on November 6, 2023.
Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies (2024)
On January 17, 2024, Gilbert signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. In seven games (three starts) for the Triple-A Louisville Bats, he struggled to a 13.11 ERA with 13 strikeouts and 24 hits allowed across 11⅔ innings. On May 7, 2024, the Reds traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for cash, and the Phillies assigned him to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. With Lehigh Valley, Gilbert posted a 2.06 ERA with 48 strikeouts and seven saves in 35 innings over 27 games. On August 17, the Phillies selected his contract, and he made six appearances for Philadelphia, going 0–0 with a 3.24 ERA and four strikeouts in 8⅓ innings. Gilbert was designated for assignment following the Phillies’ acquisition of Jesús Luzardo on December 22, 2024.
Chicago White Sox (2025–Present)
On January 1, 2025, the Phillies traded Gilbert to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Aaron Combs, giving him a fresh opportunity in a new organization. The move brought Gilbert back to the American League and positioned him to compete for a role in the White Sox pitching staff.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gilbert’s signature moment remains his no-hitter against the San Diego Padres on August 14, 2021, which set him apart in MLB history and remains one of the most remarkable debut performances of the modern era. His journey from a sixth-round draft pick to a no-hit pitcher also stands as a milestone of perseverance through the minor leagues.
Tyler Gilbert Career Wins
Gilbert’s professional win totals span multiple minor-league levels and three MLB organizations, with his most celebrated result coming in his very first MLB start.
MLB Highlights
Gilbert’s first and most notable MLB win came on August 14, 2021, when he threw a complete-game no-hitter against the San Diego Padres in his first career start for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He finished 2021 with a 2–2 MLB record and a 3.15 ERA, and has since added scoreless relief appearances and short stints in starting roles with Arizona, Philadelphia, and the Chicago White Sox.
Minor League and Other Performances
In the minor leagues, Gilbert posted winning records at several levels, including a 9–2 mark at Santa Barbara City College in 2013 and a 5–2 record at USC. He recorded competitive ERAs across the Phillies’ lower affiliates, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, and the Reno Aces, and also pitched winter ball for the Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Professional Baseball League after the 2018 season.
Tyler Gilbert Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Gilbert was born and raised in Santa Cruz, California, and grew up in Felton, where his aunt worked for the San Francisco Giants. That family connection gave him early access to MLB games and helped foster his love of the sport. Following the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gilbert worked alongside his father as an electrician, a detail that has highlighted the blue-collar roots behind his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Gilbert enters 2025 with the Chicago White Sox after being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in a January 1 trade for Aaron Combs. The move gives him an opportunity to carve out a role in a retooling White Sox pitching staff and to return to the American League on a full-time basis.
Coming off a 2024 campaign in which he posted a strong 2.06 ERA at Triple-A Lehigh Valley with seven saves, Gilbert will look to translate that form into consistent major-league work. His prior MLB experience as both a starter and a reliever gives the White Sox flexibility in how they deploy him, and his history of big-game performances, including the 2021 no-hitter, suggests he is capable of producing memorable outings when given the chance.
As the 2025 season unfolds, Gilbert’s outlook will depend on his ability to earn a stable role out of the bullpen or in the rotation. With health and opportunity, he has the tools to remain a contributor for Chicago and to add new highlights to a career already defined by one of the most dramatic debuts in recent MLB history.