Jimmy Gobble

Gobble attended John S. Battle High School in Bristol, Virginia and started four years on the varsity team. He led the team to three state tournament appearances and compiled a 32–8 record and 512 strikeouts.

As a senior, Gobble was 10–1 with a 0.49 earned run average (ERA), striking out 151 and allowing just 23 hits in 71 innings of work.{{Cite web |last=Constantino |first=Rocco |date=October 19, 2023 |title=Jimmy Gobble |url=https://ballnine.com/2023/10/19/jimmy-gobble/ |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=BallNine |language=en-US}} His only loss came at the hands of Sullivan East High School, which is located in nearby Bluff City, Tennessee. He was also a strong hitter, compiling a .493 batting average with nine home runs, 30 RBI and 24 walks.

Gobble signed a baseball scholarship with the University of Kentucky before being drafted by the Royals with the 43rd pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball draft. He was the fourth Royal chosen, following Kyle Snyder, Mike MacDougal, and Jay Gehrke.{{Cite web |title=1st Round of the 1999 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.fcgi?year_ID=1999&draft_round=1&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Baseball Reference |language=en}}

Gobble made his professional debut in {{baseball year|1999}} with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Royals, posting a 2.70 ERA in four games (one start).{{Cite web |title=Jimmy Gobble Minor Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gobble001bil |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Baseball Reference |language=en}} He was promoted to the Single-A Charleston Alley Cats for the {{baseball year|2000}} season, and finished 12–10 with a 3.66 ERA and three complete games (two shutouts) in 25 starts. In {{baseball year|2001}}, Gobble had perhaps his best minor league season while pitching for the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks, going 10–6 with a 2.55 ERA in 27 starts. He also struck out 154 batters while walking just 33 in {{Fraction|162|1|3}} innings.

During the {{baseball year|2002}} season, Gobble struggled with injury, limiting him to 13 starts with the Double-A Wichita Wranglers (5–7 record, 3.38 ERA). He was added to Kansas City's 40-man roster on November 18.{{Cite web |date=November 18, 2002 |title=Royals waive former Gold Glove shortstop Perez |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2002/1118/1462860.html |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} Gobble returned to Wichita at the start of {{baseball year|2003}}, and pitched well, going 12–8 with a 3.19 ERA in 22 starts.

On August 3, {{mlby|2003}}, Gobble made his major league debut with the Royals against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He finished with six scoreless innings, walking one and striking out three to earn the win.{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Shawn |date=August 3, 2003 |title=Royals 2 Devil Rays 0 |url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/sports/royals-2-devil-rays-0/67-396312869 |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=WTSP |language=en-US}} In his second start on August 6, he again defeated the Devil Rays, allowing seven hits and one earned run in Kansas City's 6–2 win.{{Cite web |last=Gagliano |first=Anthony |date=August 6, 2003 |title=Gobble continues mastery of Rays |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/kc/news/kc_gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20030809&content_id=471076&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=kca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030820202302/http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/kc/news/kc_gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20030809&content_id=471076&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=kca |archive-date=August 20, 2003 |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Kansas City Royals |publisher=MLB.com}} Gobble made nine starts with the Royals to close the 2003 season, going 4–5 with a 4.61 ERA.{{Cite web |title=Jimmy Gobble Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gobblji01.shtml |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Baseball Reference |language=en}}

Gobble was named the Royals' fourth starter to open {{mlby|2004}}.{{Cite web |last=Kaegel |first=Dick |date=April 1, 2004 |title=Pena opens with four lefties |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/kc/news/kc_news.jsp?ymd=20040401&content_id=678859&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040501061204/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/kc/news/kc_news.jsp?ymd=20040401&content_id=678859&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp |archive-date=May 1, 2004 |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Kansas City Royals |publisher=MLB.com}} On May 3, Gobble finished within one out of a complete game shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays, but after allowing two straight hits and a run, he was pulled for Royals closer Mike MacDougal, who went on to allow the tying run. The Royals still went on to win, 3–2.{{Cite web |last=Kaegel |first=Dick |date=May 3, 2004 |title=Gobble and Guiel team up |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/kc/news/kc_gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20040503&content_id=735069&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040505011730/http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/kc/news/kc_gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20040503&content_id=735069&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp |archive-date=May 5, 2004 |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Kansas City Royals |publisher=MLB.com}} On July 29, Gobble was optioned to the Triple-A Omaha Royals following a rough stretch of starts.{{Cite web |last=Kaegel |first=Dick |date=July 29, 2004 |title=Royals option left-hander Gobble |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/kc/news/kc_news.jsp?ymd=20040729&content_id=813770&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803095318/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/kc/news/kc_news.jsp?ymd=20040729&content_id=813770&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp |archive-date=August 3, 2004 |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Kansas City Royals |publisher=MLB.com}} He returned a month later on August 29, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits in {{Fraction|6|2|3}} innings in a no-decision against the Seattle Mariners.{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2004 |title=Kansas City Royals vs Seattle Mariners Box Score: August 29, 2004 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA200408290.shtml |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Baseball Reference |language=en}} In his next start on September 5, Gobble recorded his first career complete game in a 12–3 victory over the Minnesota Twins.{{Cite web |last=Kaegel |first=Dick |date=September 5, 2004 |title=Royals enjoy big day at the plate |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/kc/news/kc_gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20040905&content_id=848194&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906165415/http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/kc/news/kc_gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20040905&content_id=848194&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp |archive-date=September 6, 2004 |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Kansas City Royals |publisher=MLB.com}} In 25 games (24 starts), Gobble was 9–8 with a 5.35 ERA.

Gobble competed for the fifth starter job during spring training in {{mlby|2005}},{{Cite web |last=Kaegel |first=Dick |date=March 14, 2005 |title=Real position competition has begun |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050314&content_id=967224&vkey=spt2005news&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808132436/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050314&content_id=967224&vkey=spt2005news&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=August 8, 2007 |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Kansas City Royals |publisher=MLB.com}} but was not selected and opened the season in Triple-A Omaha. On June 20, Gobble was recalled and placed in Kansas City's bullpen.{{Cite web |last=Kaegel |first=Dick |date=June 20, 2005 |title=Notes: Three Royals placed on DL |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050620&content_id=1097273&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006110527/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050620&content_id=1097273&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=October 6, 2012 |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Kansas City Royals |publisher=MLB.com}} He ultimately finished the season with a record of 1–1 and a 5.70 ERA in 28 games (four starts). The next season, Gobble spent the entire year in the majors for the first time, and went 4–6 with two saves and a 5.14 ERA in 60 games (six starts).

In {{mlby|2007}}, Gobble enjoyed a great season as Kansas City's primary left-handed specialist. He appeared in 74 games, the most on Kansas City's staff, and tied for fifth in the American League in that same category.{{Cite web |title=2007 Kansas City Royals Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/KCR/2007.shtml |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Baseball Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2007 American League Pitching Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2007-pitching-leaders.shtml |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Baseball Reference |language=en}} Gobble posted a record of 4–1 with one save and a 3.02 ERA in his appearances.

On July 21, {{mlby|2008}}, Gobble surrendered 10 runs to the Detroit Tigers in the eighth inning, setting a Kansas City franchise record for the most runs surrendered in a game by a relief pitcher.{{Cite web |last=Kaegel |first=Dick |date=July 22, 2008 |title=Royals subjected to Tigers' revenge |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080721&content_id=3168649&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080728063437/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080721&content_id=3168649&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=July 28, 2008 |access-date=July 22, 2008 |website=Kansas City Royals |publisher=MLB.com}}Riedel, Charlie. [http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080722/SPORTS02/80722104/1048/rss03] Detroit Free Press, July 22, 2008. {{Dead link|date=December 2024 |fix-attempted=yes |url=}} He finished the 2008 season with an 0–2 record, one save and an ERA of 8.81 in 39 relief appearances. Gobble missed some time during the season with a back injury, but after returning to the team in September, he had eight scoreless appearances to finish the season.{{Cite web |last=Kaegel |first=Dick |date=January 19, 2009 |title=Royals, Gobble avoid arbitration |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090119&content_id=3750651&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125034241/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090119&content_id=3750651&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=January 25, 2009 |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Kansas City Royals |publisher=MLB.com}}

On January 19, {{baseball year|2009}}, Gobble signed a one-year, $1.35 million contract with the Royals to avoid arbitration. He was released by the Royals on March 18.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=March 18, 2009 |title=Royals release pitcher, Bristol native Jimmy Gobble |url=https://www.timesnews.net/news/local-news/royals-release-pitcher-bristol-native-jimmy-gobble/article_c366af15-5512-55df-98c7-54646c2c4dcf.html |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Kingsport Times-News |language=en}}

On March 21, 2009, the Texas Rangers signed Gobble to a minor league contract and invited him to Spring Training.{{Cite web |last=Dierkes |first=Tim |date=March 21, 2009 |title=Rangers Sign Jimmy Gobble |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/03/rangers-sign-jimmy-gobble.html |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} He was released on March 30.{{Cite web |date=March 30, 2009 |title=Rangers need more time to decide Jones' fate |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/spring2009/news/story?id=4028889 |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=ESPN |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}

On April 5, 2009, the Chicago White Sox signed Gobble to a minor league contract and assigned him to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights.{{Cite web |last=Gonzales |first=Mark |date=April 5, 2009 |title=White Sox sign left-hander Gobble to minor-league deal |url=http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/04/white-sox-sign-lefthander-gobble-to-minor-league-deal.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625023400/http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/04/white-sox-sign-lefthander-gobble-to-minor-league-deal.html |archive-date=June 25, 2009 |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Chicago Tribune}} He was promoted to the major league roster on May 11, taking the roster spot of struggling starter José Contreras.{{Cite web |date=May 11, 2009 |title=Sources: Contreras sent to minors at his urging |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4158775 |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=ESPN |language=en}} On July 7, he was designated for assignment.{{Cite web |last=Nicholson-Smith |first=Ben |date=July 8, 2009 |title=White Sox DFA Jimmy Gobble |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/07/white-sox-dfa-jimmy-gobble.html |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} At the time, he had recorded a 7.50 ERA in 12 games.

On January 28, 2010, Gobble signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies with an invite to spring training.{{Cite web |date=January 29, 2010 |title=Rockies agree to terms on one-year deal with IF Jason Giambi |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20100129&content_id=7994584&vkey=pr_col&fext=.jsp&c_id=col |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202063650/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20100129&content_id=7994584&vkey=pr_col&fext=.jsp&c_id=col |archive-date=February 2, 2010 |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=Colorado Rockies |publisher=MLB.com}} He did not allow a hit in three Cactus League outings and appeared to have locked up a spot as the team's left-handed specialist before suffering an injury.

He appeared in two games for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox before retiring.

In 2017, Gobble was named as the head baseball coach at his alma mater, John S. Battle High School in Bristol, Virginia.{{cite web |last=Hayes |first=Tim |date=August 1, 2017 |title=Jimmy Gobble is John Battle's new baseball coach |url=https://heraldcourier.com/sports/jimmy-gobble-is-john-battles-new-baseball-coach/article_9056e312-76b4-11e7-b88c-8b2cfd745704.html |website=Bristol Herald Courier}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}

{{baseballstats |mlb=425471 |espn=5629|br=g/gobblji01|brm=gobble001bil|fangraphs=1791}}

{{1999 MLB Draft}}

{{Kansas City Royals first-round draft picks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gobble, Jimmy}}

Category:1981 births

Category:Living people

Category:Kansas City Royals players

Category:Chicago White Sox players

Category:People from Bristol, Tennessee

Category:Baseball players from Tennessee

Category:Major League Baseball pitchers

Category:Gulf Coast Royals players

Category:Charleston AlleyCats players

Category:Wilmington Blue Rocks players

Category:Wichita Wranglers players

Category:Omaha Royals players

Category:Charlotte Knights players

Category:Colorado Springs Sky Sox players