Atlanta Braves 2012 Prospect Review: Sean Gilmartin

We continue on in our review of the Atlanta Braves 2012 top prospects review. Up next, we look at the 6th ranked prospect at the time, Sean Gilmartin! The previous editions can be found here:

• 10th- J.R. Graham
• 9th- Zeke Spruill
• 8th- Joey Terdoslavich
• 7th- Tyler Pastornicky

High Hopes for Sean Gilmartin

The Braves selected the lefty with the 28th pick of the 2011 MLB draft. As is the case for all first-round picks, there were high hopes surrounding Sean Gilmartin coming out of Florida State. The scouting report was Gilmartin was the prototypical college lefty. He throws strikes, mixes pitches well, and gets weak contact which should allow him to move quickly through the system. He has a great changeup that could be a plus pitch with solid development.

So how did Gilmartin’s time in the Braves minor league system go? Take a look:

• 2011 Rookie: 1 start, 2 innings, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• 2011 A: 5 starts, 21.1 innings, 2.53 ERA, 2.82 FIP, 2.20 xFIP, 0.94 WHIP, 34.9% K rate, 2.3% BB rate
• 2012 AA: 20 starts, 119.1 innings, 3.54 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 3.50 xFIP, 1.15 WHIP, 17.8% K rate, 5.4% BB rate
• 2012 AAA: 7 starts, 37.2 innings, 4.78 ERA, 4.94 FIP, 4.50 xFIP, 1.43 WHIP, 15.0% K rate, 7.8% BB rate
• 2013 Rookie: 3 games, 2 starts, 9.0 innings, 0.00 ERA, 1.02 FIP, 1.31 xFIP, 0.11 WHIP, 37.9% K rate, 0.0% BB rate
• 2013 A: 1 start, 5 innings, 4 hits, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
• 2013 AAA: 17 starts, 91.0 innings, 5.74 ERA, 4.61 FIP, 4.39 xFIP, 1.59 WHIP, 15.8% K rate, 8.0% BB rate

Things started well for Gilmartin. He was nothing special, but he was producing solid numbers through 2012 which led to him being ranked 6th. Some of the metrics were against him and he had a low strikeout rate, but he was producing decent numbers which led people to believe the potential was still there.

Then the shoulder injuries showed up in 2013. He was invited to Spring Training before the 2013 season and most figured he would make his major league debut at some point. However, the injuries and severe regression reared their ugly head. Gilmartin still ranked 5th in the Braves system following the 2013 season, however, his stock had plummeted in the eyes of the franchise.

On December 18th, 2013, Sean Gilmartin was traded to the Minnesota Twins for Ryan Doumit. Yes, Ryan Doumit. Doumit spent one underwhelming year with the Braves. However, Gilmartin would only spend one year with the Twins as well.

Gilmartin would make 12 starts in AA, pitching 72 innings, with a 3.13 ERA, 2.45 FIP, 3.32 xFIP, 1.28 WHIP, 24.5% strikeout rate, & 5.3% walk rate. He would be promoted to AAA, where he would 14 more starts, pitching 73.2 innings, with a 4.28 ERA, 4.17 FIP, 4.14 xFIP, 1.32 WHIP, 19.2% strikeout rate, & 9.1% walk rate. The Twins would not protect him that off-season though, which would lead to…

Sean Gilmartin’s Major League Debut

Sean Gilmartin was selected by the New York Mets during the 2014 Rule-5 draft. Meaning the former first round pick would finally reach the major leagues. On April 10th, 2015 Gilmartin would make his debut against none other than the Atlanta Braves. He pitched the 7th inning and struck out Freddie Freeman for his first career strikeout. Fittingly enough, he would record his first big league win on June 14th against the Atlanta Braves, pitching two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Overall, Gilmartin had a really good year with the Mets in 2015. He threw 57.1 innings, with a 2.67 ERA, 2.76 xERA, 2.75 FIP, 3.81 xFIP, 1.19 WHIP, 23.0% strikeout rate, and 7.7% BB rate. He would also appear in the 2015 World Series and would retire the two batters he faced. Unfortunately, he would not make the major league team in 2016, only coming up for 17.2 innings due to injuries.

The 17.2 innings in 2016 were rough, as he had a 7.13 ERA, 3.43 xERA, 6.20 FIP, 5.05 xFIP, 1.58 WHIP, 13.9% strikeout rate, & 8.9% walk rate. He would spend most the year with the AAA club. After another rough few outings in the majors during 2017, the Mets would designate him for assignment in June 2017.

He would be claimed by the St Louis Cardinals, but he would never reach the major leagues with the organization. He would pitch 59 innings in AAA until July 2018 when the Cardinals would release him.

The Baltimore Orioles would give him his next chance. After 14.1 innings in AAA, the Orioles would give him his next shot in the major leagues. Across 27 innings, Gilmartin would give the Orioles a 3.00 ERA & 1.26 WHIP. However, the peripherals were rough with a 5.66 xERA, 5.42 FIP, 5.39 xFIP, 13.3% strikeout rate, & 9.7% walk rate. He would re-sign with the organization that off-season on a minor league contract but he would only make one appearance that season. A 2.1 inning outing where he gave up 7 hits, 2 walks, 2 HR, and 5 runs.

Following the 2019 season, Gilmartin would receive a minor league contract from the Tampa Bay Rays. He would make his Ray debut on August 7th, 2020 and make two appearances. Over 4.1 innings, he allowed 7 hits, 4 walks, 2 HR, and 4 runs. He would be released by the Rays and was once again a free agent in November 2020.

Sean Gilmartin would sign with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League on April 27th, 2021. He pitched well enough for his old club, the Minnesota Twins, to give him a call in June. They would sign him and assign him to AA. However, he would only pitch a total of 8 innings with the Twins organization before once again becoming a free agent.

A Wrap on Sean Gilmartin

Sean Gilmartin may not have become what many hoped he would after being selected in the first round. However, he did find a way to spend a decade in professional baseball, and scatter appearances in the major leagues across six seasons. A great accomplishment.

Shoulder injuries may have impacted Gilmartin’s potential but it was still a solid career.

Now, we move on in our review of the 2012 Atlanta Braves top prospects. We have reached the midway point of our series. Up next, the 5th ranked prospect at the end of the 2012 season, Christian Bethancourt. Should be a fun one.