Randolph Gassaway

RANDOLPH GASSAWAY, CORNER OUTFIELDER
Born: May 23, 1995
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 210
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 16th Round, 489th Overall, 2013 (Orioles)
How Acquired: Rule 5 Draft (minor league phase)
High School: Riverwood HS (Sandy Springs, GA)
Agent: N/A

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

Baltimore drafted Gassaway as a potential power hitter, but except for one season he just hasn’t shown much power.  He also isn’t very patient at the plate.  Originally a first baseman, he’s been a left fielder for a while.  His range isn’t good and neither is his arm.

2013
R:  246/303/328, 122 AB, 8 2B, 1 3B, 10 BB, 19 K, 3-4 SB

The Orioles played Gassaway strictly at first in the Gulf Coast League.  He made good contact but didn’t hit much, with limited power.

2014
R:  167/184/271, 48 AB, 2 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 13 K, 3-3 SB
A-:  204/224/315, 54 AB, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 18 K, 1-1 SB

Gassaway opened back in the GCL, playing left.  He struggled there, but Baltimore moved him up to the New York-Penn League, where he also struggled.  Possibly due to an attempt to hit for more power, he started striking out a lot.

2015
A-:  273/318/335, 227 AB, 14 2B, 13 BB, 48 K, 0-2 SB

Baltimore sent Gassaway back to the NYPL, where he played left and right, and, more often, served as DH.  He hit better and cut back on the strikeouts some, but still didn’t hit for power.

2016
A-:  444/500/778, 18 AB, 24 2B, 1 3B, 2 BB, 4 K, 0-1 SB
A:  330/372/511, 182 AB, 12 2B, 7 HR, 13 BB, 36 K, 2-2 SB

Gassaway opened the season back in the NYPL again, but after five games the Orioles moved him up to low A.  In 50 games there he hit substantially better, with good power.  He played mostly in left and has mainly stayed there since.  Baseball America rated him 24th in the Orioles’ system after the season.

2017
A+:  265/303/338, 431 AB, 19 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 23 BB, 82 K, 3-6 SB
AA:  185/313/185, 27 AB, 5 BB, 2 K

Gassaway didn’t continue his 2016 progress in high A.  The power mostly disappeared again and his walk rate dropped.  He spent nine games in AA in May.

2018
A-:  190/292/190, 21 AB, 2 BB, 4 K
A+:  272/348/396, 379 AB, 27 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 43 BB, 81 K

Gassaway returned to high A and had a better season, although he didn’t hit especially well.  He did show a lot more patience.

The Pirates will send Gassaway to Bradenton.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2019: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $100,000
MiLB Debut: 2013
MLB Debut:
MiLB FA Eligible: 2019
MLB FA Eligible:
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man:
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 8, 2013: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 16th round, 489th overall pick; signed on June 19.
December 13, 2018: Selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Baltimore Orioles in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.