John Michael Gant (born August 6, 1992) is an American

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Modern professional ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

for the

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters The are a Japanese professional Baseball in Japan, baseball team based in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at ES CON Field Hokkaido. The Figh ...

Nippon Professional Baseball or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning ''Professional Baseball''. Outside Japan, it is often just referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league can be traced back to the formation ...

(NPB). He has played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(MLB) for the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in Bos ...

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...

, and Minnesota Twins.

Early life

Gant was born and raised in

Savannah, Georgia Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia and is the county seat of Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the British colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later t ...

, before moving to

Wesley Chapel, Florida Wesley Chapel is a census-designated place in Pasco County, Florida, United States. Wesley Chapel is a suburb in the Tampa Bay Area. Wesley Chapel originated in the mid-1800s as a cohesive community of settlers who demonstrated a uniquely rura ...

at the age of 11. He grew up an

fan. Gant attended Wiregrass Ranch High School in Wesley Chapel. As a senior, he was 6–0 with a 1.90 ERA with two no-hitters and 107 strikeouts. He committed to play

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional p ...

at Long Island University.

Professional career

New York Mets

Gant was drafted by the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

in the 21st round of the

2011 Major League Baseball draft The 2011 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2011, from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Gerrit Cole out of the University of California, Los Angeles, with the firs ...

out of Wiregrass Ranch High School. He signed with the Mets for $185,000, forgoing his commitment to Long Island, and made his professional debut with the

Gulf Coast Mets The Florida Complex League Mets are a Rookie-level affiliate for the New York Mets, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Mets. The team plays its home games a ...

, with whom he was 0–1 with a 6.48 ERA. Gant spent 2012 with the

Kingsport Mets The Kingsport Mets were a Minor League Baseball team of the Appalachian League from 1921 to 2020. They were located in Kingsport, Tennessee, and were last named for the team's major league affiliate, the New York Mets. The team played its home ga ...

and pitched one game for the

Savannah Sand Gnats The Savannah Sand Gnats were a minor league baseball team based in Savannah, Georgia. They were a member of the A-level South Atlantic League. The Sand Gnats were an affiliate of the New York Mets in their final nine seasons. The team relocated ...

, and with the two teams was a combined 3–4 with a 4.98 ERA. He played 2013 with the

Brooklyn Cyclones The Brooklyn Cyclones are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets. They are based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, and play at Maimonides Park, just off the Coney Island Boar ...

where he was 6–4 with a 2.89 ERA in 13 starts and 2014 back with Savannah where he compiled an 11–5 record and 2.56 ERA in 12 starts. Gant began the 2015 season in the

Binghamton Mets The Binghamton Rumble Ponies are an American Minor League Baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club. The Rumble Ponies play in Mirab ...

starting rotation, for whom he was 4–5 with a 4.70 ERA, He also started six games for the St. Lucie Mets.

Atlanta Braves

On July 24, 2015, the Mets traded Gant and Rob Whalen to the

for

Juan Uribe Juan Cespedes Uribe Tena (born March 22, 1979) is a Dominican former professional baseball infielder. He played shortstop, third base and second base during his career in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox ...

and Kelly Johnson. He was assigned to the

Mississippi Braves The Mississippi Braves, or M-Braves as they are referred to locally, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, a suburb of Jackson. The team is the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and plays in the Southern League. ...

. In 24 games started between Binghamton, St. Lucie and Mississippi, he was 10–5 with a 3.08 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. The Braves added him to their 40-man roster after the season. Gant was invited to spring training to begin the 2016 season, and pitched well enough for the team to consider placing him in the major league bullpen, though Gant had worked primarily as a starter in the minor leagues. He pitched innings and allowed four earned runs in spring training, making the Opening Day roster as a reliever. Gant made his major league debut on April 6, 2016, pitching a scoreless ninth inning against the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...

, giving up one single and striking out one. Four days later, Gant was sent to the minor leagues, and placed in the

Gwinnett Braves The Gwinnett Stripers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They play their home games at Coolray Field in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia (with a Lawrencevil ...

starting rotation. In subsequent call-ups to the major leagues, Gant pitched in relief. He and

Casey Kelly Casey Patrick Kelly (born October 4, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the LG Twins of the KBO League. He was a first-round draft choice, 30th overall, in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the Boston Red Sox. Kelly was ...

were the two pitchers who spent the most time between the major and minor league levels in the beginning of the season, as the Braves tried balancing the needs of their bullpen against the possibility of overusing pitchers. Gant made his first major league start against the Chicago Cubs on June 12, yielding two earned runs and four hits in innings, while taking the loss. Gant made his second start against the

on June 18, and earned a win. On June 27, Gant started against the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...

. He was taken out of the game after straining his oblique and placed on the disabled list. Gant came off the DL on August 21, and was placed in the bullpen. A week later, he was optioned to Gwinnett to clear a roster spot for

Aaron Blair Aaron Daniel Blair (born May 26, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Blair was selected in the 21st round of the 2010 MLB draft by the Houston Astros. He chose to attend Marshall University, where he played ...

, only to be recalled on August 30. In the majors in 2016, he was 1–4 with a 4.86 ERA, and in the minor leagues with the

Rome Braves The Rome Braves are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They are located in Rome, Georgia, and play their home games at AdventHealth Stadium. From 2003 to 2020, the team serve ...

and

he was 3–3 with a 3.97 ERA in 13 games (ten starts).

St. Louis Cardinals

On December 1, 2016, the Braves traded Gant, Chris Ellis, and Luke Dykstra to the

for Jaime García. He began the season with the

Memphis Redbirds The Memphis Redbirds are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They are located in Memphis, Tennessee, and are named for their Major League Baseball affiliate. The Redbir ...

. He was recalled to St. Louis before the game on May 31, after

Jonathan Broxton Jonathan Roy Broxton (born June 16, 1984) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardin ...

was released. He was called up to St. Louis and reassigned to Memphis multiple times during the year. With St. Louis in 2017, he was 0–1 with a 4.67 ERA in 17.1 innings pitched, and with Memphis he was 6–5 with a 3.83 ERA in 18 starts. Gant began 2018 with Memphis. He was recalled to St. Louis and optioned back to Memphis twice during the season before securing a spot in St. Louis'

starting rotation R rabbit ears :Indicates a participant in the game who hears things perhaps too well for their own good. A player who becomes nervous or chokes when opposing players or fans yell at or razz them is said to have rabbit ears. Also, an umpire ...

after an injury to Michael Wacha in mid-June. Gant finished the 2018 season with a 7–6 record and a 3.47 ERA 26 games (19 starts). Gant moved to St. Louis' bullpen for the 2019 season. During the first half of the season, Gant emerged as a reliable, late inning reliever, finishing the first half with a 2.22 ERA over innings. However, he struggled following the All-Star break, compiling a 6.65 ERA over innings. He finished the 2019 regular season leading all pitchers with 11 relief wins and recorded a 3.66 ERA, striking out sixty over innings. He was subsequently left off of St. Louis'

2019 National League Division Series The 2019 National League Division Series were two best-of-five-games series in Major League Baseball (MLB) to determine the participating teams of the 2019 National League Championship Series. The three divisional winners, seeded first through thi ...

roster. In 2020, Gant pitched to a 1.93 ERA and 2.13 FIP before landing on the injured list due to groin tightness on September 25, 2020, where he finished the season. Gant began 2021 as a member of the starting rotation.

Minnesota Twins

On July 30, 2021, Gant was traded to the Minnesota Twins along with Evan Sisk for

J. A. Happ James Anthony Happ (born October 19, 1982) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, New Y ...

and cash. Gant made 14 appearances for the Twins, going 1–5 with a 5.61 ERA and 36 strikeouts. He was outrighted off of the 40-man roster following the season on November 8, 2021, but refused the outright assignment and elected free agency.

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

On December 10, 2021, Gant signed with the

. On November 29, 2022, Gant re-signed a one-year contract extension for the 2023 season.

Pitching style

Gant's pitching motion has repeatedly been characterized as "unique". He takes one step forward with his left foot, planting it on the right side of the mound, then moves backward, only to take the same step again before throwing the baseball. The extra movement, which Gant describes as a "false step", does not occur when he pitches from a set position. Gant is also known for his use of the

vulcan changeup In baseball, the vulcan changeup pitch (otherwise known as a vulcan or trekkie) is a type of changeup; it closely resembles a forkball and split-finger fastball. It is a variation of the circle changeup, and when mastered can be extremely effective ...

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gant, John 1992 births Living people Baseball players from Savannah, Georgia Major League Baseball pitchers Atlanta Braves players St. Louis Cardinals players Minnesota Twins players Gulf Coast Mets players Savannah Sand Gnats players Brooklyn Cyclones players Kingsport Mets players Mississippi Braves players Binghamton Mets players St. Lucie Mets players Gwinnett Braves players Memphis Redbirds players