The Major League Baseball trade deadline arrived Monday and one of the larger transactions included a former Aurora area prep star pitcher.
Grandview High School grad Kevin Gausman (Class of 2011) was dealt by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for minor leaguers Brett Bateman and Ty Southisen. Gausman joins a Chicago team that was 63-49 at the time of the trade and in the top spot in the National League wild card standings.
The Cubs now have acquired two former Aurora area prep star pitchers in just over a month, as they also dealt for ex-Regis Jesuit ace left-hander David Peterson on June 25. The 30-year-old Peterson is 3-1 since coming over.
Gausman, meanwhile, has a 5-10 record with a 4.38 ERA in 23 starts this season, which includes his effort Aug. 1 against the St. Louis Cardinals in which he allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings. He could make his first start for the Cubs on Aug. 6 against Toronto. Gausman helped Toronto reach the 2025 World Series, going 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA in six postseason starts.
Gausman has pitched at least 174 2/3 innings and made at least 31 starts in each of the previous five years.The 35-year-old right-hander — originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles and with stints with the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants and Toronto — is eligible for free agency at the end of the season.
A member of Grandview’s original Hall of Fame class (see story, here), Gausman is the Wolves’ all-time leader in career wins (17) and strikeouts (174) — holding a one strikeout edge over recently drafted Ethan Wachsmann — owns the single season strikeout record of 76 (set in 2010) and shares the single season high of seven wins with three other players.
— Sports Editor Courtney Oakes (the Associated Press contributed to this report)
