TheAtlanta Bravessigned University of Central Arkansas pitcherConnor Gilmoreon Saturday, June 18.Gilmorewill report to the Danville Braves.
The Atlanta Braves are continuing to add more depth to their farm system, this time with the addition of 6’5”, 220 lb., right-handed pitcherConnor Gilmore.
Gilmoredidn’t attend the 2016 MLB first-year player draft, though he got the same result in the end. He received a text message on the last day of the draft, asking him if he would be interested in signing with the Atlanta Braves.
Gilmoreattended Little Rock Catholic High School and began his college baseball career in 2013 with the University of Central Arkansas Bears.
His freshman year with the Bears,Gilmorewent 5-0 with a 0.73 run average. The next two seasons, he went 15-6 with a 2.69 ERA.
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Gilmore, who reports to the Danville Braves in Virginia this week, appears to be excited about the opportunity with the Atlanta Braves organization, as well as UCA head coach Allen Gum.
"“It’s great to get to continue playing baseball and be a member of the Braves organization,” he said. “I got a text on the last day of the draft asking if I’d be willing to sign, and I said ‘Yeah, absolutely’, and then waited a bit and finally got the call. I didn’t go in the draft, but it’s all about the same. I got a phone call and a foot in the door and that’s all I need. It’s pretty cool to get to be doing this.”Gilmore will report this week to the Danville Braves, the Braves’ Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League.“I’m really excited for him,” said Central Arkansas head coach Allen Gum. “He did so much for our program during his four years here. He’s the all-time wins and shutouts leader, complete games, and on and on. He pitched in some big games and got some big wins for this program. It’s exciting to see his hard work pay off with this opportunity to play at the next level in the Braves organization. I couldn’t be happier for him.”"
It was his senior year when things began to fall apart. That season,Gilmorehad a 2-8 record and a 5.15 ERA, with his opponents hitting .283 against him. However, that didn’t seem to matter to the Atlanta Braves, who clearly appreciated his stats over the course of four years as a whole.
There’s no denying thatGilmorehit a rough patch his senior year, which he himself acknowledges. What will be the key to success in the pros forGilmore? Putting that senior season behind him and focusing his energy towards improvement.
According toGilmoreVIAUCA Sports,
"“I need to forget about it,” he said. “To be honest with you, I didn’t have a great year. I was blaming myself for a lot of things that happened, losses we had and all that. I’ve got to forget about all of that and turn the page to a new chapter. I need to get my confidence back a little bit. A new bit of scenery might help with that.”"
Next: Atlanta Braves: The return of Freddie Freeman
If he can find his way back to his old ways, good things could be in store forGilmoreand his future career with the Braves.
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