Chris Gittens

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Chris Gittens

|image = Christopher Ryan Gittens Tohoku Rakuten Eagles 20220927.jpg

|width =

|caption = Gittens with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2022

|team = Free agent

|number =

|position = First baseman

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|2|4}}

|birth_place = Sherman, Texas, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = June 5

|debutyear = 2021

|debutteam = New York Yankees

|debut2league= NPB

|debut2date = April 4

|debut2year = 2022

|debut2team = Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2021 season

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .111

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 1

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 5

|stat2league = NPB

|stat2year = 2022 season

|stat21label = Batting average

|stat21value = .242

|stat22label = Home runs

|stat22value = 0

|stat23label = Runs batted in

|stat23value = 8

|teams =

New York Yankees ({{mlby|2021}})
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles ({{by|2022}}–{{by|2023}})

}}

Christopher Ryan Gittens (born February 4, 1994) is an American professional baseball first baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. He made his MLB debut in 2021.

Amateur career

Gittens attended Sherman High School in Sherman, Texas, graduating in 2012. While at Sherman, he played for the school's baseball team as a first baseman and a pitcher. He threw a perfect game and three no-hitters for Sherman.{{cite web|last=Driver |first=David |url=https://www.heralddemocrat.com/sports/20190915/sherman-native-gittens-is-healthy-and-hitting |title=Sherman native Gittens is healthy and hitting |work=Herald Democrat |date=September 15, 2019 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}} After graduating from Sherman, he enrolled at Grayson County College. At Grayson, Gittens played for the baseball team as a first baseman and pitcher. In his second year at Grayson, in 2014, he had a .422 batting average with 12 home runs and 71 runs batted in (RBIs). He committed to transfer to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock following his sophomore year.

Professional career

=New York Yankees=

File:Chris Gittens with the New York Yankees in 2020 spring training camp.jpg

The New York Yankees selected Gittens in the 12th round, with the 362nd overall selection, of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.heralddemocrat.com/story/sports/2021/06/05/shermans-gittens-makes-his-major-league-baseball-debut/7571627002/ |title=Sherman's Gittens makes his Major League baseball debut |publisher=Heralddemocrat.com |date=June 23, 2020 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}} He signed with the Yankees for a $125,000 signing bonus, rather than enroll at Arkansas.{{cite web|url=https://www.heralddemocrat.com/article/20140625/SPORTS/306259934 |title=Gittens inks rookie deal with Yankees - Sports - Herald Democrat - Sherman, TX |publisher=Herald Democrat |date= |accessdate=March 9, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2021/06/05/chris-gittens-3-things-new-york-yankees-rookie-first-baseman/7507766002/ |title=Chris Gittens: 3 things about New York Yankees rookie first baseman |publisher=Northjersey.com |date= |accessdate=June 5, 2021}} He made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Yankees of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.{{cite web|url=https://www.heralddemocrat.com/article/20140625/SPORTS/306259934 |title=Gittens inks rookie deal with Yankees |work=Herald Democrat |date=June 25, 2014 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}

In 2015, Gittens split the season between the Gulf Coast Yankees and the Tampa Yankees of the High–A Florida State League,{{cite web|url=https://www.heralddemocrat.com/article/20150902/SPORTS/309029770 |title=Gittens promoted to High-A Yankees - Sports - Herald Democrat - Sherman, TX |publisher=Herald Democrat |date=September 2, 2015 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}} slashing .341/.429/.594 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs. The next year, he played for the Charleston RiverDogs of the Single–A South Atlantic League, batting .253/.359/.478 with career-highs in home runs (21) and RBIs (70). In 2017, Gittens played for High-A Tampa, hitting .266/.372/.472 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs. Gittens split the 2018 season between the Trenton Thunder of the Double–A Eastern League and the Staten Island Yankees of the Low–A New York-Penn League, posting a .193/.294/.330 batting line with six home runs and 27 RBIs in only 57 games,{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gitten000chr|title=Chris Gittens Minor Leagues Statistics & History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} missing some time with a left hip injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.trentonian.com/sports/thunder-first-baseman-chris-gittens-making-case-for-el-mvp/article_3e003034-bd0a-11e9-82f2-df14f643f742.html|title=Thunder first baseman Chris Gittens making case for EL MVP|first=Kyle |last=Franko|work=The Trentonian|date=August 12, 2019|accessdate=June 5, 2021}}

In 2019, Gittens returned to Trenton, and won the Eastern League Most Valuable Player Award after hitting 281/.393/.500 with career-highs in home runs (23) and RBIs (77).{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.kten.com/story/41055672/chris-gittens-named-mvp-in-eastern-league-baseball |title=Chris Gittens Named MVP In Eastern League Baseball |publisher=Kten.com |date=September 16, 2019 |accessdate=March 9, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kxii.com/content/sports/Despite-COVID-19-Shermans-Gittens-works-towards-making-the-MLB-569575201.html|title=Despite COVID-19, Sherman's Gittens works towards making the MLB|date=April 11, 2020|publisher=KXII|accessdate=June 5, 2021}} His average exit velocity of {{convert|95|mph}} led all of the minor leagues. Gittens did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|author=Jeff Todd |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html |title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=June 30, 2020 |accessdate=June 5, 2021}}

In 2021, Gittens began the season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, batting .283 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in 18 games. The Yankees promoted him to the major leagues for the first time on June 5, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/06/yankees-call-up-powerful-chris-gittens-what-it-means.html|title=Yankees call up powerful Chris Gittens | What it means|first=Brendan |last=Kuty|publisher=NJ Advance Media |work=NJ.com|date=June 5, 2021|accessdate=June 5, 2021}} In his major league debut that night against the Boston Red Sox, Gittens went 0-for-3 with one walk.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-add-chris-gittens |title=Chris Gittens makes Major League debut with Yankees |work=Mlb.com |date= |accessdate=June 7, 2021}} He recorded a home run for his first major league hit off of Toronto Blue Jays starter Hyun-jin Ryu on June 15.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/video/chris-gittens-homers-1-on-a-fly-ball-to-left-center-field |title=Chris Gittens' first career hit, homer | 06/15/2021 |work=MLB.com |date= |accessdate=June 23, 2021}} The Yankees optioned Gittens back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 21, with Luke Voit ready to be activated off of the injured list, after he had batted .095 with one home run in 10 games.{{cite web|last=Mearns |first=Andrew |url=https://www.pinstripealley.com/2021/6/21/22542699/yankees-news-gittens-demoted-scranton-luke-voit-return-zack-britton-injury-triple-play-history |title=Yankees news: Chris Gittens demoted to Scranton |publisher=Pinstripe Alley |date=August 23, 2009 |accessdate=June 23, 2021}} He was named the player of the week in Triple-A East for June 21 to 27 after batting 10-for-19 (.526) with 11 RBIs for the week.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/scranton-wb/news/high-honors-gittens-named-player-of-the-week|title=High Honors: Gittens named Player-of-the-Week|work=Minor League Baseball|date=June 28, 2021|access-date=July 8, 2021}} The Yankees promoted Gittens back to the major leagues on July 16.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/07/yankees-red-sox-lineups-friday-trey-amburgey-chris-gittens-in-luke-voit-on-il-greg-allen-hoy-park-rob-brantly-recalled-71621.html|title=Yankees, Red Sox lineups Friday | Trey Amburgey, Chris Gittens in; Luke Voit on IL; Greg Allen, Hoy Park, Rob Brantly recalled (7/16/21)|first=Randy|last=Miller|work=NJ.com|date=July 16, 2021|accessdate=July 16, 2021}} In the major leagues, Gittens hit .111 with one home run and five RBIs in 36 at bats during the 2021 season. He batted .301 with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs in 45 games for the RailRiders.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/12/mlb-rumors-yankees-profited-off-chris-gittens-departure-to-japan.html|title = MLB rumors: Yankees profited off Chris Gittens' departure to Japan|date = December 7, 2021}} On November 30, Gittens was released by the Yankees.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/11/yankees-release-chris-gittens-gittens-expected-to-pursue-npb-opportunity.html|title=Yankees Release Chris Gittens; Gittens Expected To Pursue NPB Opportunity|first=Anthony|last=Franco|work=MLB Trade Rumors.com|date=November 30, 2021|accessdate=November 30, 2021}}

=Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles=

On December 26, 2021, Gittens signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/12/chris-gittens-signs-with-tohoku-rakuten-golden-eagles.html|title=Chris Gittens Signs With Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles|first=Darragh|last=McDonald|work=MLB Trade Rumors.com|date=December 26, 2021|accessdate=December 26, 2021}} He became a free agent following the 2023 season.

=Houston Astros=

On December 21, 2023, Gittens signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-12-21 | title=Transactions }} On November 6, he elected free agency.https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/

Personal life

Gittens and Heather Chee,{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sports/railriders/railriders-2021-already-with-elite-power-gittens-seeks-consistency/article_a5e2794d-7614-5384-ba8e-3f9c90a364d9.html|title=RailRiders 2021: Already with elite power, Gittens seeks consistency|first=Conor|last=Foley|work=Scranton Times-Tribune|date=May 2, 2021|accessdate=June 5, 2021}} have a son, who was born in May 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.trentonian.com/sports/new-dad-chris-gittens-short-on-sleep-but-still-trying-to-hit-his-way-to/article_68f686f4-c20c-11eb-af25-93e5630bb315.html|title=New dad Chris Gittens short on sleep, but still trying to hit his way to the Yankees|first=Kyle |last=Franko|work=The Trentonian|accessdate=June 5, 2021}} Gittens' father told him when he was drafted in 2014 that he would not see any of his games in person until he was promoted to the major leagues. Gittens described it as "a lot of motivation, a little push for me to get where I am right now". Both of Gittens' parents attended his major league debut.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/06/yankees-chris-gittens-dad-keeps-promise-of-attending-no-games-until-mlb-debut-saturday.html|title=Yankees' Chris Gittens' dad keeps promise of attending no games until MLB debut ... Saturday!|work=NJ.com|first=Randy|last=Miller|date=June 5, 2021|accessdate=June 13, 2021}}