Joseph Dillon Gunkel (born December 30, 1991) is an American former

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Moder ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

. He played in

Nippon Professional Baseball is a professional baseball league and the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning simply ''Professional Baseball''; outside of Japan, NPB is often referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league ...

(NPB) for the

Hanshin Tigers The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team playing in the Central League. The team is based in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, next to their main stadium, Hanshin Koshien Stadium. The Tigers are owned by Hanshin Electric Railway Co., ...

and

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. They compete in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) as a member of the Pacific League. Founded on February 22, 1938, as the Nankai Club, being the first Kansai t ...

Career

Boston Red Sox

The

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

chose Gunkel in the 18th round in the

2013 Major League Baseball draft The 2013 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2013. The first two rounds were broadcast from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. Each team received one selection per round, going in reverse order of ...

. He signed with the club on June 19, 2013. He was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Red Sox to begin his professional career. On July 6, he was assigned to the

Lowell Spinners The Lowell Spinners were a baseball team based in Lowell, Massachusetts. From 1996 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL) as the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. With Major Leagu ...

. Gunkel began the 2014 season with the Greenville Drive, and would later be assigned to the

Salem Red Sox The Salem Red Sox are a Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB), based in Salem, Virginia, Salem, an independent city adjacent to Roanoke, Virginia. The team competes at the Single-A level in the Car ...

. In May 2015, Gunkel moved from Salem and started play with the

Portland Sea Dogs The Portland Sea Dogs are a Minor League Baseball team based in Portland, Maine, playing in the Eastern League (1938–present), Eastern League. Established in 1994, the Sea Dogs are the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red ...

Baltimore Orioles

On June 3, 2015, Gunkel was traded to the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...

in exchange for Alejandro De Aza. In 17 starts for the Double-A Bowie Baysox down the stretch, he logged an 8-4 record and 2.59 ERA with 69 strikeouts across innings pitched. Gunkel split the 2016 season between Bowie and the Triple-A

Norfolk Tides The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's loc ...

, accumulating an 8-14 record and 4.02 ERA with 109 strikeouts in 161 innings pitched across 28 total starts. On November 18, 2016, the Orioles added Gunkel to their

40-man roster A Major League Baseball roster is a list of players who are allowed, by league agreement, to play for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Each MLB team maintains two rosters: an active roster of players eligible to participate in an MLB game, an ...

to protect him from the

Rule 5 draft The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball (MLB) player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor lea ...

. Gunkel was designated for assignment by the Orioles on April 7, 2017, following the acquisition of Miguel Castro.

Los Angeles Dodgers

On April 10, 2017, Gunkel was traded to the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

in exchange for a player to be named later. He was assigned to the

Oklahoma City Dodgers The Oklahoma City Comets are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and play their ho ...

after being claimed. On April 25, Gunkel was designated for assignment after pitching to a 4.00 ERA and allowing 5 runs in 9 innings pitched after appearing in only three Triple-A games for the Dodgers organization.

Miami Marlins

On April 27, 2017, Gunkel was claimed off waivers by the

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League East, East Division. The ...

and was assigned to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp two days later. On May 10, Gunkel was designated for assignment for the third time in 2017. He went unclaimed this time, and was sent outright to the Jumbo Shrimp on May 12. He would spend the rest of the season with the Jumbo Shrimp and the New Orleans Baby Cakes. Gunkel was assigned to the Baby Cakes to begin the 2018 season and spent the entirety of the season with them, pitching to a 3.03 ERA and allowed 23 runs on 63 hits in 22 appearances. Gunkel spent the 2019 season with New Orleans, also appearing making two scoreless appearances for the High–A

Jupiter Hammerheads The Jupiter Hammerheads are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are located in the town of Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida, and play their home games at Roger Dean ...

. In 21 games (15 starts) for the Baby Cakes, he compiled an 8–2 record and 3.20 ERA with 61 strikeouts across innings pitched. Gunkel elected free agency following the season on November 4, 2019.

Hanshin Tigers

On December 15, 2019, Gunkel signed with the

of the

. He made his NPB debut on June 24 for the Tigers and pitched 4 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits. In 28 appearances during his rookie campaign, Gunkel posted a 2-4 record and 3.18 ERA with 39 strikeouts across innings pitched. Gunkel pitched in 20 games for the Tigers in 2021, compiling a 9-3 record and 2.95 ERA with 87 strikeouts across 113 innings pitched. Gunkel made 5 appearances for Hanshin during the 2022 campaign, struggling to an 0-1 record and 5.82 ERA with 11 strikeouts over 17 innings pitched. He became a free agent following the season.

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

On December 21, 2022, Gunkel signed with the

. In 2023, he made 5 appearances for the Hawks, logging a 5.82 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 17 innings of work. On December 4, the Hawks announced that Gunkel would not be returning to the team, making him a free agent.

Minnesota Twins

On January 31, 2024, Gunkel signed a minor league contract with the

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...

. In 9 games (7 starts) for the Triple–A St. Paul Saints, he struggled to an 0–5 record and 10.54 ERA with 11 strikeouts across innings pitched. On May 27, Gunkel was released by the Twins organization.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gunkel, Joe 1991 births Living people American expatriate baseball players in Japan Bowie Baysox players category:Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks players Greenville Drive players Gulf Coast Marlins players Gulf Coast Red Sox players Hanshin Tigers players Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp players Jupiter Hammerheads players Lowell Spinners players New Orleans Baby Cakes players Norfolk Tides players Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers Oklahoma City Dodgers players Portland Sea Dogs players Salem Red Sox players Baseball players from Boynton Beach, Florida West Chester Golden Rams baseball players