| Brandon Gomes | |
|---|---|
 Gomes with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011 | |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| Pitcher /General manager | |
| Born: (1984-07-15)July 15, 1984 (age 41) Fall River,Massachusetts, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 3, 2011, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 3, 2015, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 11–12 |
| Earned run average | 4.20 |
| Strikeouts | 144 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Brandon Paul Gomes[1] (born July 15, 1984) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher and current baseball executive. He played for theTampa Bay Rays ofMajor League Baseball (MLB) from 2011 to 2015. After his playing career ended, Gomes joined theLos Angeles Dodgers as a pitching coordinator. He was successively promoted to director of player development in 2017, an assistant general manager in 2019, and general manager in 2022.
Born and raised inFall River, Massachusetts, Gomes attendedDurfee High School. At Durfee, Gomes pitched and also playedshortstop, hitting .425 with 14 home runs and 83 RBIs while also compiling a record of 19–5 with a 1.66 ERA and 287 strikeouts. Gomes, who was also a member of theNational Honor Society, was Massachusetts High School Gatorade Player of the Year and also won All-State honors twice. After high school, Gomes attendedTulane University. After having a successful freshman season, Gomes hadTommy John surgery during his sophomore year, receiving a medical redshirt. As a redshirt sophomore, Gomes continued to work out of both the bullpen and starting rotation, but later became a full-time starter as a junior. As a senior, Gomes improved, going 7–6 with a 3.92 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 96.1 innings. In 2003 and 2006, Gomes played for theFalmouth Commodores of theCape Cod Baseball League, going 2–2 with a 3.62 ERA for the team in 2006.[2][3][4]
Gomes was selected by theSan Diego Padres in the seventeenth round (537th overall) of the2007 MLB draft out of Tulane.[5] He began his professional career that year by pitching in 18 games, 11 as a starter, with a 4.23 ERA for theEugene Emeralds and theFort Wayne Wizards in the Padres farm system.[6] He moved to the bullpen in 2008 with Fort Wayne and was promoted to theLake Elsinore Storm of the Advanced–ACalifornia League on July 11.[7] Between the two levels, he had a 6–3 record, 3.30 ERA and 81 strikeouts.[6]
In 2009, Gomes was assigned to the Double–ASan Antonio Missions of theTexas League.[7] He was 4–1 with a 2.63 EFA in 65 games with 100 strikeouts, the top total in all of minor league baseball.[6][8] After playing for thePeoria Saguaros in theArizona Fall League,[6] he returned to San Antonio for the 2010 season, compiling a 7–2 record, 1.87 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 51 games.[6] The Padres added him to their 40-man roster on November 18 to protect him from theRule 5 Draft.[7]
In December 2010 Gomes was traded to theTampa Bay Rays along withAdam Russell,Cesar Ramos andCole Figueroa in exchange forJason Bartlett and aplayer to be named later.[9] He was assigned to the Triple–ADurham Bulls to begin the 2011 season and pitched in 20 games for them, with a 1.42 ERA and 40 strikeouts in25+1⁄3 innings with seven saves.[6]
Gomes was called up to the Rays and made his major league debut on May 3, 2011, pitching two scoreless innings against theToronto Blue Jays, allowing only one walk.[10][11] He recorded his first major league strikeout in his third appearance, on May 7, againstDerrek Lee of theBaltimore Orioles.[12] On the season, he appeared in 40 games, with a 2–1 record, 2.92 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 37 innings.[1]
In 2012, Gomes spent most of the season back with Durham, pitching55+1⁄3 innings over 40 games with a 3.09 ERA and 73 strikeouts.[6] He pitched in 15 games in the majors, allowing 10 earned runs in17+2⁄3 innings.[1] On June 24, in the second game of a doubleheader, he became just the thirdAmerican League pitcher to draw a bases-loaded walk since thedesignated hitter rule came into effect in 1973.[7] In 2013 he was sidelines from May through mid-August because of a right lat strain[7] and pitched19+1⁄3 innings over 26 games with a 6.52 ERA.[1] He used his time while rehabbing that year to observe the scouting department and how they prepared for the draft, which would be helpful for him later in his career.[13]
Gomes split 2014 between Durham and the Rays, with 27 games and a 3.62 ERA in the minors[6] and 29 games and a 3.71 ERA in the majors.[1] He wasdesignated for assignment by the Rays on December 19, but cleared waivers and was sent outright to Durham on December 23.[14] Gomes was added back to the Rays roster on April 19, 2015 after they released former closerGrant Balfour[15] and he pitched in 63 games for them with a 2–7 record and 4.27 ERA.[1][16] He was again designated for assignment on November 20[17] He elected to become a free agent rather than accept another outright to the minors.[18]
On December 23, 2015, Gomes signed a minor league contract with theChicago Cubs.[19] He made 19 appearances for the Triple-AIowa Cubs in 2016, logging a 1-2 record and 3.97 ERA with 20 strikeouts across22+2⁄3 innings pitched.[6] Gomes was released by the Cubs organization on June 4, 2016.[20]
Gomes threw three pitches: afour-seam fastball (90-92 mph), acurveball (78-82), and asplitter (81-86). The curveball was primarily used against right-handed hitters, while left-handed hitters saw more of the splitter.[21]
After his release from the Cubs, Gomes reached out toLos Angeles Dodgers President of Baseball OperationsAndrew Friedman, who had signed him with the Rays, and inquired about a job.[13] Friedman hired him as a pitching coordinator.[22] On December 1, 2017, he was promoted to director of player development, replacingGabe Kapler, who left to manage thePhiladelphia Phillies.[23]
Gomes was promoted to vice president and assistant general manager on March 17, 2019[24] and then, on January 18, 2022, to the position of general manager.[25][26] Gomes cited his experience as an average player subject to several transactions throughout his career as instrumental to increasing his interest about the work of baseball executives.[13]
· Baseball Almanac
