Chris Gittens #41

Graduated in 2012 from Sherman HS, in Sherman, Texas, which is just north of Dallas...had a stellar high school career as a first baseman and pitcher...on the mound, Gittens threw a perfect game and three no-hitters...went undrafted out of high school...Went on to attend Grayson College, which is in Dennison, just north of Sherman and just south of the Oklahoma border...spent 2013-14 at Grayson...hit .422 with 12 homers and 71 RBI in his sophomore year and committed to the University of Arkansas...Drafted by the Yankees in the 12th round in 2014 and signed with the club, forgoing his commitment to Arkansas...spent eight seasons (2014-21) in the Yankees system, debuting in the Majors in 2021...At the time of his signing with the Yankees, Chris’ father, Gary Gittens, told him that he would not see any of his games in person until he made it to the Major Leagues...Gary had to wait seven years to see his son play again and was finally in attendance for his first Major League game on June 5, 2021 vs. BOS...Released from his contract after the 2021 season and signed with Rakuten in the Japanese Pacific League...spent two years playing in Japan, splitting his time in Japan’s Pacific and Eastern Leagues...Signed with Houston as a Minor League free agent with an invite to MLB Spring Training on Jan. 3, 2024.

2023

Spent his 2023 season in Japan’s Eastern League, appearing in just 14 games for Rakuten...hit .343 (12x43) with four doubles, two homers, 15 RBIs and a 1.071 OPS on the season.

2022

Spent his first season in Japan in 2022, combining to play in 36 games for Rakuten in the Pacific and Eastern Leagues...hit .283 (28x99) with four doubles, four homers, 16 RBI and an .865 OPS.

2020

Did not play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019

Became the second player in Double-A Trenton franchise history to win the Eastern League MVP award (Brandon Laird in 2010)… appeared in 115 games and hit .281/.393/.500 (112-for-398) with 58R, 16 doubles, 23HR, 77RBI and 71BB… was named an Eastern League Mid-Season and Postseason All-Star… earned Organization All-Star honors from MiLB.com and was named the "Best Defensive First Baseman" in the Eastern League by Baseball America… led Yankees farmhands in RBI and tied for second-most in home runs… led the Eastern League in home runs, RBI and OPS (.893), while finishing second in walks. 

2018

Combined with Double-A Trenton and short-season Single-A Staten Island to hit .193 (38-for-197) with 21R, 9 doubles, 6HR, 27RBI and 28BB. 

2017

Batted .268 (66-for-248) with 35R, 12 doubles, 13HR, 43RBI and 37BB in 73 games with Single-A Tampa. 

2016

With Single-A Charleston, was named to the SAL Postseason All-Star Team after finishing second in the South Atlantic League in HRs (21) and pacing the league with a 18.24 AB/HR ratio (383AB/21HR)… led the SAL and tied for third in the minors with four multi-HR games… tied for the highest HR total among Yankees minor leaguers and ranked fifth in RBI (70) to earn MiLB.com Organization All-Star honors. 

2015

Was named a GCL Postseason All-Star with the GCL Yankees 1, batting .363 (45for-124) with 25R, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 8HR, 29RBI and 17BB in 41 games… ranked third in the GCL in home runs and extra-base hits (18) and tied for third in RBI. 

2021

Was 4x36 (.111) with one homer, five RBI, seven walks and one sac fly in 16 games over two stints (June 5-20, July 16-Aug. 13) with the Yankees...Made his MLB debut on June 5 vs. BOS, drawing a 9th-inning walk…was selected to the roster from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to the game...Recorded his first MLB hit on June 15 at TOR, a solo HR which traveled 439 ft…was the first Yankee to hit a HR for his first career hit since Kyle Higashioka on July 1, 2018 vs. BOS...the homer snapped an 0x14 stretch to begin his career...Left the game on July 24 vs. BOS after rolling his right ankle…was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 25 with a right ankle sprain...played in two rehab games with Double A Somerset, batting .375 (3x8) with three runs, one homer, three RBIs and one walk… was returned from his rehab assignment, reinstated from the 10-day injured list and optioned to Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Aug. 13...Combined with Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double A Somerset to slash .305/.440/.649 (47x154) with 40 runs, eight doubles, 15 HR, 47 RBI and 37 BB...Attended Spring Training with the Yankees as a non-roster invitee, batting .316 (6x19) with five runs, three HR, seven RBI and five walks in 20 games.