Tyson Gillies

Tyson Gillies
Gillies at Phillies training camp 2010
Outfielder
Born:(1988-10-31)October 31, 1988 Vancouver,British Columbia,Canada
Bats:Left Throws:Right
Medals Men'sbaseball RepresentingCanada Pan American Games 2015 Toronto Team 2019 Lima Team

Tyson Gillies(born October 31, 1988) is a Canadian formerprofessional baseballoutfielder.He was theSeattle Mariners' 25th round selection in the2006 Major League Baseball draft.He graduated fromR. E. Mountain Secondary SchoolinLangley, British Columbiaand is a member of theCanadian national baseball team.

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

He began pro career with the minor leaguePeoria Marinersin2007.He recorded a single in his first career at-bat, June 23 against theArizona League Angels.He recorded three stolen bases on August 6 against theArizona League Royals.He was transferred to the Short-SeasonEverett AquaSoxon August 31, recording five hits in eight at-bats. He participated in the Mariners 2007Arizona Fall League.

Gillies began the2008season with the Class-A AdvancedHigh Desert Mavericks.He appeared in 11 games where he only hit.200. He was then promoted to High A baseball where he hit.233 with one RBI and no home runs.

Philadelphia Phillies

On December 16, 2009, he was traded by the Mariners to the Phillies along withPhillippe Aumont,andJ. C. Ramirezas part of a three team trade that includedMajor League BaseballAll-StarsCliff LeeandRoy Halladay.Gillies said this about the trade:

That was overwhelming to hear my name even being involved or mentioned with [Lee and Halladay], let alone being traded for them.

— Tyson Gillies,bclocalnews:December 17, 2009

Gillies was added to the team's 40-man roster on November 18, 2011.He was outrighted off the roster on June 6, 2014.

San Diego Padres

On February 27, 2015, Gillies signed a minor league contract with theSan Diego Padres.

Sugar Land Skeeters

On March 18, 2016, Gillies signed with theSugar Land Skeetersof theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.He was released on June 27.

Kansas City T-Bones

On June 29, 2016, Gillies signed with theKansas City T-Bonesof theAmerican Association of Professional Baseball.In 45 games for the T-Bones, Gillies batted.252/.313/.405 with 4 home runs and 16 RBI. He was released by the team on January 30, 2017.

Ottawa Champions

On June 7, 2017, Gillies signed with theOttawa Championsof theCan-Am League.On February 20, 2018, Gillies was traded from theOttawa Championsto theGary SouthShore RailCatsof theAmerican Association.He was released prior to the 2018 season on May 18.

York Revolution

On June 15, 2018, Gillies signed with theYork Revolutionof theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.He was released on July 3, 2018.

Québec Capitales

On January 26, 2019, Gillies signed with theQuébec Capitalesof theCan-Am League.He was released on July 21, 2019.

Personal life

At age four, Gillies was diagnosed with ahearing impairmentthat has left him with 30 percent hearing in one ear and 50 percent in the other.Thanks to the use ofhearing aidsand an ability to read lips Gilles has little trouble overcoming his impairment. He said this about his disability:

I had to try harder. It made me stronger. It's the focus – I have to focus hard on everything I do in life. On the field I depend on knowing every situation, cutoff plays, where baserunners are, because I can’t always hear people yelling. I rely on what I see and what I know about the game. I study it. I think my vision is probably phenomenal, I know I see things other people don’t. I think the lack of one sense forced me to use another more, so I see everything going on around me. I have to.

— Tyson Gillies,thenewstribune:March 23,2009.

On August 20, 2010, Gillies was arrested and charged inClearwater, Floridaon felony cocaine possession.After attending a bar the night of the arrest, Gillies was offered a ride to his hotel by a police officer. Before entering the police cruiser, the officer searched Gillies for weapons and paraphernalia and did not find Gillies to be possessing anything illegal. Upon dropping Gillies off, the officer found a three-gram bag of a white powdery substance that appeared to be cocaine on the floor of the backseat of the cruiser and arrested Gillies for possession. Within hoursof the arrest, Gillies underwent drug testing and showed no traces of cocaine, marijuana or opiates in his system.

The state attorney's office dropped all charges against Gillies because the backseat of the cruiser was not thoroughly searched before Gillies entered the vehicle, the officer failed to find the substance during a routine search of Gillies before he entered the vehicle, and because the substance failed two on-site drug tests.

Gillies said of the charges being dropped, "I’m glad that this ordeal is over, but I’m still very upset that it happened to me and that my character, which I’ve worked so hard to build, can even be questioned."

In 2024, Gillies competed on thetenth seasonofThe Amazing Race CanadawithMichael Crouse.

External links

• Media related toTyson Gilliesat Wikimedia Commons

• Career statistics and player information fromFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors)