UTPB Athletics

Baseball – Catcher / Designated Hitter (2010)

After stepping away from baseball for nearly four years, Evan Gattis reignited his career in 2010 at The University of Texas Permian Basin – a move that would change his life forever.

A call from his stepbrother and Falcon pitcher Drew Kendrick brought Gattis to Odessa, Texas, where he joined the UTPB baseball team for what would be his only collegiate season. In that short time, he became one of the most dominant hitters in program history. Gattis batted .403 with 12 home runs, 62 RBIs and 77 hits – leading the Falcons in virtually every offensive category while guiding the team to a 38-21 record and a run to the Heartland Conference title game. His incredible season earned him First-Team All-Heartland Conference honors and caught the attention of professional scouts.

Selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 23rd round of the 2010 MLB Draft, Gattis began a rapid climb through the minor leagues. He made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2013, earning National League Rookie of the Month and the nickname “El Oso Blanco” for his raw power. Gattis hit 43 home runs over two seasons in Atlanta before being traded to the Houston Astros, where he became a key piece in the team’s 2017 World Series championship run. That postseason, he drove in the game-winning run in the ALCS to clinch the pennant and batted .300 in the World Series as Houston secured its first title in franchise history.

Gattis finished his MLB career with 139 home runs, 410 RBIs and a legacy defined by perseverance and power. Nearly a decade after his time at UTPB, he returned to Odessa to help raise over $130,000 for the Falcon baseball program – a tribute to the place that gave him a second chance.

From NCAA Division II obscurity to World Series glory, Evan Gattis’ story is one of the most inspiring ever written by a UTPB student-athlete.

Accomplishments at UTPB
2010 All-Heartland Conference | .403 Batting Average | MLB World Series Champion

• First-Team All-Heartland Conference (2010)
• Hit .403 with 12 home runs, 62 RBIs, 77 hits in 2010
• Led UTPB to 38-21 record and Heartland Conference Championship game

Accomplishments in MLB

• Drafted by Atlanta Braves in 23rd round of 2010 MLB Draft
• MLB debut in 2013 with Atlanta Braves
• Nicknamed "El Oso Blanco" (The White Bear) for his power-hitting prowess
• World Series Champion with Houston Astros (2017)
• Hit .300 in 2017 World Series and delivered game-winning RBI in ALCS
• Career MLB totals: 139 HR, 410 RBI