John Gant

2.1. Childhood and Education

Gant attended Wiregrass Ranch High School in Wesley Chapel, where he was a prominent baseball player. During his senior year, he compiled an impressive record of 6-0 with a ERA of 1.90, which included two no-hitters and 107 strikeouts. Following his high school career, Gant committed to play college baseball at Long Island University. However, he later chose to forgo his college commitment after being drafted by the New York Mets.

3.1. New York Mets

Gant was drafted by the New York Mets in the 21st round, 642nd overall, of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft directly out of Wiregrass Ranch High School. He signed with the Mets for 185.00 K USD, opting out of his commitment to Long Island University. He made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Mets of the Rookie League, where he posted an 0-1 record with a 6.48 ERA in four appearances, one of which was a start.

In 2012, Gant played for the Kingsport Mets in the Appalachian League and made one appearance for the Class A Savannah Sand Gnats, accumulating a combined record of 3-4 with a 4.98 ERA across 12 starts. He continued his minor league progression in 2013 with the Class A-Short Season Brooklyn Cyclones, finishing with a 6-4 record and a 2.89 ERA in 13 starts, recording 81 strikeouts. The 2014 season saw him return to the Class A Savannah Sand Gnats, where he achieved an 11-5 record and a 2.56 ERA over 21 starts, with 114 strikeouts. Gant started the 2015 season in the starting rotation for the Double-A Binghamton Mets, where he was 4-5 with a 4.70 ERA. He also started six games for the Class A-Advanced St. Lucie Mets.

3.2. Atlanta Braves

On July 24, 2015, Gant was traded by the Mets to the Atlanta Braves alongside Rob Whalen in exchange for Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson. Following the trade, he was assigned to the Double-A Mississippi Braves. Across all three organizations (Binghamton, St. Lucie, and Mississippi) in 2015, he maintained a combined record of 10-5 with a 3.08 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP over 24 starts, tallying 134 strikeouts. After the season, the Braves added Gant to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

In 2016, Gant was invited to spring training with the Braves and performed well enough to be considered for a spot in the major league bullpen, despite having primarily worked as a starter in the minor leagues. He pitched 15.1 innings and allowed four earned runs during spring training, earning him a place on the Opening Day roster as a reliever.

Gant made his Major League Baseball debut on April 6, 2016, pitching a scoreless ninth inning against the Washington Nationals, where he gave up one single and recorded one strikeout. Just four days later, he was optioned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves and placed in their starting rotation. He was subsequently called up to the major leagues multiple times that season, primarily pitching in relief. He and Casey Kelly frequently moved between the major and minor league levels as the Braves managed their bullpen needs. Gant made his first major league start on June 12 against the Chicago Cubs, taking a loss after yielding two earned runs and four hits in 4.1 innings. His second major league start came on June 18 against the New York Mets, where he earned his first MLB win. On June 27, while starting against the Cleveland Indians, Gant was forced to exit the game due to an oblique strain and was placed on the disabled list. He was activated from the disabled list on August 21 and returned to the bullpen, but was optioned back to Gwinnett a week later to make room for Aaron Blair, only to be recalled on August 30. In 2016, Gant concluded his major league season with a 1-4 record and a 4.86 ERA. In the minor leagues with the Class A Rome Braves and Gwinnett Braves, he was 3-3 with a 3.97 ERA in 13 games (10 starts).

3.3. St. Louis Cardinals

On December 1, 2016, the Braves traded Gant, Chris Ellis, and Luke Dykstra to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Jaime García. Gant began the 2017 season with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.

He was called up to St. Louis on May 31 after Jonathan Broxton was released. Throughout 2017, Gant was frequently optioned between St. Louis and Memphis. He finished the season with the Cardinals with an 0-1 record and a 4.67 ERA in 17.1 innings pitched across 7 major league appearances (2 starts). With Memphis, he recorded a 6-5 record with a 3.83 ERA in 18 starts, recording 99 strikeouts.

Gant started the 2018 season with Memphis. He was recalled to St. Louis and optioned back to Memphis twice before securing a permanent spot in the Cardinals' starting rotation in mid-June due to an injury to Michael Wacha. Gant concluded the 2018 season with a 7-6 record and a 3.47 ERA in 26 games, including 19 starts. He had 95 strikeouts.

For the 2019 season, Gant transitioned to a full-time role in the Cardinals' bullpen. During the first half of the season, he emerged as a reliable late-inning reliever, posting a 2.22 ERA over 44.2 innings. However, his performance declined after the All-Star break, as he registered a 6.65 ERA over 21.2 innings. Despite this, he finished the 2019 regular season leading all major league pitchers with 11 relief wins, and recorded an overall 3.66 ERA with 60 strikeouts across 66.1 innings. Due to his struggles in the second half, he was left off the Cardinals' 2019 National League Division Series roster.

In the abbreviated 2020 season, Gant pitched to a 1.93 ERA before being placed on the injured list on September 25 due to groin tightness, which ended his season. He began the 2021 season as a member of the Cardinals' starting rotation.

3.4. Minnesota Twins

On July 30, 2021, Gant was traded to the Minnesota Twins along with Evan Sisk in exchange for J. A. Happ and cash considerations. Gant made 14 appearances for the Twins, recording a 1-5 record with a 5.61 ERA and 36 strikeouts. Following the 2021 season, on November 8, he was outrighted off the 40-man roster but refused the assignment and elected free agency.

3.5. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

On December 10, 2021, John Michael Gant signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). His initial contract was for 240.00 M JPY with additional performance incentives, and he was assigned uniform number 42.

Gant faced significant injury challenges during his time in Japan. In 2022, he dealt with a right elbow issue and did not make any appearances for the main team. On June 14, he temporarily returned to the United States for treatment. He later rejoined the Fighters and participated in the Miyazaki Phoenix League and games against Shikoku Island League Plus selections in October, showing promising recovery. On November 29, 2022, he re-signed a one-year contract extension for the 2023 season, with a reduced salary of 50.00 M JPY plus incentives.

Despite the new contract, Gant continued to struggle with his right elbow. He remained in the farm system at the start of the 2023 season and returned to the United States on April 21 for further examination and treatment. He did not make any appearances for the main team in 2023 either. His only recorded action for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters organization was in three games for their farm team in 2023, where he posted an 0-2 record with a 6.52 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings pitched. On June 30, 2023, Gant was released by the Fighters, becoming a free agent.

4.1. Pitch Repertoire and Velocity

John Michael Gant is known for his use of the vulcan changeup. His repertoire primarily features a sinker, which he throws as his main pitch, along with a changeup and cutter. He also occasionally throws a four-seam fastball, curveball, and slider.

According to 2021 regular season data, his pitch usage and average velocities were:

His fastest recorded pitch was a sinker at 99 mph (approximately 99 mph ^{(159.3 km/h)}), measured during a game against the Atlanta Braves in 2019. Tsuyoshi Shinjo, the manager of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, praised Gant's pitching, noting that his deliveries are "difficult for batters to see" and that he tends to keep the ball low, inducing ground balls.

5.1. Major League Baseball Statistics

• Statistics updated as of the end of the 2023 season.

• Statistics updated as of the end of the 2023 season.

5.2. Nippon Professional Baseball Statistics

John Michael Gant did not make any appearances in official first-team games during his tenure with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He did, however, pitch in three games for the Fighters' farm team in 2023, recording an 0-2 record with a 6.52 ERA.

5.3. Uniform Numbers

Throughout his professional career, John Michael Gant wore several different uniform numbers:

• 52 (2016)
• 53 (2017 - July 29, 2021)
• 33 (August 1, 2021 - end of 2021 season)
• 42 (2022 - June 30, 2023)