Ian Gardeck begins his first season as an assistant coach for the Keystone College baseball team in 2026.
Gardeck started his collegiate playing career at the University of Dayton, before transferring to Angelina College for his sophomore year.
After the 2011 season, he played with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Code Baseball League. The Chicago White Sox selected Gardeck in the eighth round (261st overall) in the 2011 MLB Draft. He decided to return to school and continue his college career at the University of Alabama.
Gardeck would be drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 16th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. With the Giants, he climbed the Minor League ranks and was added to their 40-man roster in 2016.
Unfortunately, Gardeck tore his UCL in MLB Spring Training. He underwent UCL and hip surgery that spring and summer. During his return to throwing, he tore his UCL a second time. Persevering through 38 months of rehab, Gardeck returned to play and climb to Double-A with the Giants in 2018.
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Gardeck in the Rule 5 Draft, and he went to big league camp posting a 0.00 ERA in 8 1/3 innings of work. After reporting to Double-A, Gardeck required another elbow surgery. He was able to make it back and eventually reach Triple-A Durham.
Gardeck signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics in 2019 which included an invitation to spring training. He did not see the field in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gardeck announced his retirement from professional baseball in December 2020.
Gardeck launched his coaching career in summer 2025 as he returned to the Cape Cod Baseball League to serve as an assistant pitching coach for the Brewster Whitecaps.
Gardeck completed his degree from Alabama and is now a licensed Realtor with Russ Lyon Sotheby’s Camelback office in Scottsdale, Ariz.
