Sean Gilmartin is a name that resonates with baseball fans who appreciate grit, perseverance, and the quiet determination of a pitcher who never gave up on his dream. From the sun-soaked fields of Moorpark, California, to the bright lights of a World Series stage, Gilmartin’s story is one of hard work, resilience, and the kind of dedication that doesn’t always make headlines but always earns respect. Well, buckle up — because this is a story worth telling in full.
Sean Gilmartin: Early Life and Baseball Roots
Sean Patrick Gilmartin was born on May 8, 1990, to Paul J. — a chiropractor — and JoAnna Gilmartin in Moorpark, California. Growing up in a household where baseball was practically part of the family DNA, Sean had an advantage most young players can only dream about. His father Paul and brother Michael, along with his two uncles, also played professional baseball. When you’re raised in that kind of environment, the baseball field starts to feel like a second home.
He attended Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, California — a school with quite the baseball pedigree. Crespi Carmelite High School also counts MLB players Rick Dempsey, Jeff Suppan, Trevor Plouffe, and Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen as alumni. Now, that’s some serious company.
Even at the high school level, scouts took notice of Sean. After graduating from high school, the San Diego Padres selected Gilmartin in the 31st round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. Gilmartin opted not to sign with San Diego, instead attending college. That decision — choosing education and development over a quick pro contract — would turn out to be one of the smartest moves of his career.
Dominant College Career at Florida State University
Gilmartin enrolled at Florida State University in 2009, receiving a scholarship to play college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles baseball team. And oh boy, did he make the most of that opportunity!
At Florida State, Sean quickly established himself as the ace of the pitching staff. He was the first freshman in FSU history to be named First Team All-ACC in 2009, and he started the opening game of the 2010 College World Series as a sophomore. These weren’t just individual milestones — they were building blocks of a legacy.
By his junior year, Gilmartin was virtually untouchable. He went 12-2 with a 2.09 ERA across 18 appearances (17 starts) as a junior, earning first-team Baseball America All-American honors, and helped lead the Seminoles to the College World Series in 2010, starting the opener against TCU.
The No. 1 starter for three years at Florida State, Gilmartin was considered one of the draft’s safest selections — a two-way talent with good size (6-foot-2, 192 pounds), clean arm action, and solid athleticism.
Here’s a quick look at what made Gilmartin stand out at the collegiate level:
- Consistent command: He didn’t just throw hard — he threw smart.
- Three-pitch mix: A fastball, changeup, and slider that kept hitters guessing.
- Competitive mentality: Friday night starter for three straight seasons.
- Leadership: He helped guide FSU to the College World Series.
- Academics + Athletics: Chose college over an early pro contract and thrived.
The 2011 MLB Draft and Atlanta Braves Era
Goodness gracious — from the 31st round in 2008 to the first round in 2011. That’s the power of college development done right. Gilmartin was the 28th overall selection in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft by the Atlanta Braves. He signed for $1,134,000 and lived up to his billing as an advanced college pitcher in his first full pro season, leading the Double-A Southern League in WHIP (1.15) and earning all-star honors before a July promotion to Triple-A.
He was named a Southern League Midseason and Postseason All-Star with Mississippi in 2012, and made seven starts for Triple-A Gwinnett at just 22 years of age during the 2012 season, also earning recognition as a Braves 2012 MiLB.com Organizational All-Star.
However, the road wasn’t always smooth. His performance was limited by shoulder injuries during his time in the Braves system, and after the 2013 season, the Braves traded Gilmartin to the Minnesota Twins for Ryan Doumit on December 18, 2013. Injuries are always a tough pill to swallow in professional sports, but Gilmartin kept pushing forward.
Scouting Report: What Made Sean Gilmartin Special
Not every great pitcher relies on blazing speed or a fearsome fastball. Sometimes, it’s the art of pitching — the craft — that separates the good from the great. Gilmartin is a finesse pitcher who knows how to set up hitters and pitch to his strengths. His fastball has good movement while sitting in the 89-91 mph range, and he mixes it well with a plus changeup and a low-80s slider with a sharp, late break. He uses the same arm slot with all of his offerings, creating deception.
Gilmartin does a good job of pounding the lower half of the strike zone, and his excellent command allows him to paint the black. In other words, he’s the kind of pitcher who makes batters feel uncomfortable without ever appearing flashy or overpowering.
| Pitch Type | Velocity | Key Feature |
| Fastball | 89–91 mph | Good movement, low in the zone |
| Changeup | Low-to-mid 80s | Plus pitch with depth and fade |
| Slider | Low 80s | Sharp, late break |
| Arm Slot | Consistent | Creates deception across all pitches |
This kind of deceptive, command-based pitching style is a joy to watch — it’s chess, not checkers.
The Rule 5 Draft and New York Mets Debut
Here’s where things got really exciting. After a stint in the Minnesota Twins organization, during the 2014 Winter Meetings, the New York Mets selected Gilmartin from the Twins in the Rule 5 draft on December 11. Gilmartin competed to make the Mets’ Opening Day 25-man roster as a relief pitcher and earned a spot in the bullpen.
Gilmartin made his major league debut on April 10 against the Braves in a 5–3 loss, getting Nick Markakis to ground out and striking out Freddie Freeman to end the seventh inning. Not a bad way to make your mark in the big leagues — striking out one of the game’s finest hitters! Interestingly, this debut came against the very team that originally drafted him.
On June 14, Gilmartin got his first win against the Braves, holding Atlanta scoreless through both the fifth and sixth innings, facing seven batters, walking one and striking out three, in a 10-8 Mets’ victory.
And just for fun — pitchers at the plate are always entertaining, aren’t they? On July 19, Gilmartin got his first major league hit, a bloop single into left field off Carlos Martínez, in his first major league at-bat, in the sixteenth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The 2015 Season: A Career-Defining Year
If there’s one season that truly defined Sean Gilmartin’s MLB career, it was 2015. He didn’t just survive in the big leagues — he thrived. Gilmartin finished the 2015 regular season with a record of 3–2 and a 2.67 ERA in 50 games (one start) across 57⅓ innings pitched, with 54 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.186, while giving up 50 hits, 17 runs, two home runs, and 19 walks.
Those numbers speak for themselves. A 2.67 ERA from a bullpen lefty? That’s elite-level performance, plain and simple.
Key highlights from the 2015 season include:
- 50 games pitched — a true workhorse in the Mets bullpen.
- 2.67 ERA — among the best marks on the team for relief pitchers.
- Kept left-handed batters in check with his deceptive arm action.
- Finished with 21 strikeouts over his last 13 games covering 20.2 innings — a dominant late-season stretch.
- Helped the New York Mets reach the World Series.
Sean Gilmartin and the 2015 World Series
This is the moment every baseball fan dreams of — a World Series appearance. And Sean Gilmartin got his. When the Mets made the playoffs, Gilmartin was not on the roster for the Division Series, but was added to the roster for the Championship Series, replacing Erik Goeddel.
Then came the ultimate stage. Gilmartin appeared in Game 2 of the World Series in the top of the eighth inning, retiring the two batters he faced. Those two batters were Ben Zobrist and Lorenzo Cain — no slouches by any measure. Retiring both without incident in a World Series game is the kind of moment a player carries with him for life.
It doesn’t matter that the Mets ultimately lost the series to the Kansas City Royals. For Sean Gilmartin, appearing on that stage — under those lights, in front of that crowd — was a testament to everything he’d worked for since childhood. Not bad for a kid from Moorpark, California!
Later Career: Orioles, Rays, and the Long Road
After his time with the Mets, Gilmartin continued fighting to stay in the big leagues. Sean Gilmartin played for three MLB teams: the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, and Tampa Bay Rays, and last played in the majors in 2020.
He appeared in the majors for a fifth consecutive season with the Baltimore Orioles, selected to the active roster on June 17 before being optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk, then designated for assignment and outrighted to the minors.
In 2021, he made one more push. On April 27, 2021, Gilmartin signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. On June 29, 2021, Gilmartin’s contract was purchased by the Minnesota Twins organization with a minor league contract for the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge. At age 31, he was the oldest player in the Double-A Central.
Gilmartin retired during the 2021/22 offseason. He gave everything he had, and there’s no shame in that — none at all.
Career Statistics at a Glance
| Season | Team | W | L | ERA | Games | Strikeouts |
| 2015 | New York Mets | 3 | 2 | 2.67 | 50 | 54 |
| 2016 | New York Mets | — | — | 4.76 | 13 | — |
| 2018 | Baltimore Orioles | — | — | — | Spot starts | — |
| Career (MLB) | Multiple | 4 | 5 | 4.34 | 6 seasons | 90 |
Personal Life: Family, Faith, and Public Profile
Off the field, Sean Gilmartin has built a life that extends well beyond the baseball diamond. Gilmartin is married to former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany. They began dating in 2015 and married on November 18, 2017. Their daughter Blake was born in November 2019. In June 2022, the couple announced they were expecting their second child, and on December 1, 2022, McEnany announced the birth of their son Nash.
The couple has maintained a high public profile — Sean through his baseball career and Kayleigh through her prominent political career. Together, they represent a family that has navigated both the pressures of professional sports and the national spotlight of American politics. It’s safe to say that life in the Gilmartin household has never been boring!
Sean’s family background also adds a lovely layer to his story. His father Paul, brother Michael, and two uncles also played professional baseball — making the Gilmartin family a true baseball dynasty in their own right. Michael was even selected in the 27th round of the 2009 draft by the Oakland Athletics.
The Legacy of Sean Gilmartin in Baseball
When we talk about the legacy of Sean Gilmartin, we’re not necessarily talking about Hall of Fame numbers or Cy Young Awards. What we’re talking about is something arguably more meaningful — the legacy of a professional who maximized every ounce of his talent, competed on the biggest stages the sport has to offer, and did it all with class.
Consider the journey:
- Drafted out of high school but chose college over a quick paycheck.
- Became a First Team All-American at one of the country’s top programs.
- Climbed from the 28th overall pick to the Rule 5 draft to a World Series roster.
- Battled shoulder injuries and roster moves throughout his career without quitting.
- Appeared in the World Series — a milestone that less than 1% of professional baseball players ever achieve.
That’s not a story of failure. That’s a story of fortitude. And that, frankly, is something to celebrate.
Conclusion
All things considered, Sean Gilmartin stands as an inspiring figure in modern baseball history. He wasn’t the flashiest arm in the league, and his career numbers won’t fill a trophy case — but his journey from a California high school kid to a World Series participant is the kind of story that reminds us why we love this game. With a deceptive pitching style, a sharp baseball mind, and a relentless competitive spirit, Gilmartin gave everything he had to the sport for over a decade.
Whether you knew him as the crafty lefty in the Mets bullpen, the college ace at Florida State, or simply as someone who made the most of every opportunity life threw his way, Sean Gilmartin deserves recognition. His story is proof positive that persistence, preparation, and passion can take you all the way to the World Series — and that, friends, is a lesson worth learning.
FAQs
Who is Sean Gilmartin?
Sean Gilmartin is a former American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, and Tampa Bay Rays. He is known for his time with the Mets and his appearance in the 2015 World Series.
When was Sean Gilmartin born?
Sean Gilmartin was born on May 8, 1990, in Moorpark, California. He later attended Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, California, and went on to play college baseball at Florida State University.
What team drafted Sean Gilmartin?
Sean Gilmartin was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 31st round of the 2008 draft but chose not to sign. After attending Florida State, he was selected by the Atlanta Braves as the 28th overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft.
Did Sean Gilmartin play in the World Series?
Yes! Sean Gilmartin appeared in Game 2 of the 2015 World Series with the New York Mets, facing the Kansas City Royals. He retired both batters he faced — Ben Zobrist and Lorenzo Cain — in the top of the eighth inning.
Who is Sean Gilmartin married to?
Sean Gilmartin is married to Kayleigh McEnany, who served as the White House Press Secretary. The couple married in November 2017 and have two children together — a daughter named Blake and a son named Nash.
