Gillespie up to eighth, Bremner, Jean join Canuck D-1 strikeout list

Former Ontario National RHP Blake Gillespie (Arva, Ont.), of the Charlotte 49ers, struck out six in four innings giving himself 118 on the season. Photo: Charlotte 49ers

May 18, 2025

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

With the American Athletic Conference Championship tournament looming, Blake Gillespie only threw 56 pitches in his latest start.

Gillespie and the Charlotte 49ers will face the Wichita State Shockers on Tuesday in Clearwater, Fla. to open the tournament.

In a 5-0 win over the Tulane Green Wave on Thursday, Gillespie moved into the eighth overall spot on our NCAA Division I strikeout list (since 1999). Gillespie (Arva, Ont.) fanned six in four innings to give him 118 on the season. The highest total we have found is 129 in 2003 by LHP R.J. Swindle (Vancouver, BC) when he was with the Charleston Southern Buccaneers.

The former Ontario National had a no decision working four innings against Tulane, as former Terrier C Hugh Pinkney (Etobicoke, Ont.) had two singles for the Green Wave.

On the season, Gillespie is 6-4 with a 2.53 ERA in 14 starts, walking only 18 and striking out 118 in 92 1/3 innings.

Meanwhile two other Canucks joined the list of triple-figure strikeouts:

_ RHP Tyler Bremner struck out 13 as the Santa Barbara Gauchos beat the California State Bakersfield Roadrunners 13-1. Bremner, considered the top Canuck entering the draft, is now 5-4 with a 3.49 ERA in 14 starts. He has walked 19 and struck out 111 in 77 1/3 innings.

_ RP Antonine Jean (Montreal, Que.), of the Houston Cougars, has also joined the list. In his last outing against the Arizona Wildcats, he struck out two in three innings, but prior that he fanned six in four innings facing the Arizona State Sun Devils, allowing one unearned run to reach triple figures. Working out of the bullpen, he has a 5-1 record with a 2.43 ERA and five saves in 20 games. Jean, who started for the Alabama Crimson Tide walked 20, while fanning 104 in 63 innings.

Canuck strikeout leaders at NCAA Division I

(Our modern era of tracking began in 1999)

LHP R.J Swindle, Vancouver, BC, Charleston Southern 2003, 129

LHP R.J Swindle, Vancouver, BC, Charleston Southern 2004, 127

LHP Jeff Degano, Surrey, BC, Indiana State 2015, 126

RHP Matt Duffy, Burlington, Ont. Canisius 2022, 124

RHP Matt Brash, Kingston, Ont. Niagara 2019, 123

RHP Jeremy Herauf, Regina, Sask. Winthrop 2002, 120

RHP Matt Duffy, Burlington, Ont. Canisius 2023, 119

RHP Blake Gillespie, Lucan, Ont. UNC-Charlotte 2025, 118 *

RHP Steven-Ryder Carter, Windsor, Ont. Coastal Carolina 2004, 116

LHP James Paxton, Ladner, BC, Kentucky 2009, 115

RHP Tyler Bremner, San Diego, Santa Barbara 2025 111 *

RHP Steven-Ryder Carter, Windsor, Ont. Coastal Carolina 2003, 110

LHP Connor O’Halloran, Mississauga, Ont. Michigan 2023, 110

RHP Robert Nixon, Welland, Ont. Adelphi 2011, 104

LHP Connor O’Halloran, Mississauga, Ont. Michigan 2022, 104

RHP Antoine Jean, Montreal, Que., Houston, 104 *

RHP Jordan Marks, Sarnia, Ont. USC Upstate 2021, 101

RHP L.P. Langevin, Quebec, Que. Louisiana-Lafayette 2024, 100

* Denotes still active

Bold indicates major-league service time