Ken Giles
A flame-throwing relief pitcher whose 100-mph fastball defined a high-stakes career marked by both dominant stretches and significant injury battles.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American baseball player·Birthday: September 20·Millennials
Biography
Ken Giles arrived in Major League Baseball like a thunderclap, a right-handed reliever whose pure velocity immediately commanded attention. Nicknamed '100 Miles Giles' for his triple-digit fastball, he became the archetypal modern closer: a short-burst, high-leverage weapon. His early years with the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros were electric, as he racked up saves with a intimidating mix of heat and a sharp slider. Giles's career, however, became a compelling study in the volatility of a reliever's life. He experienced the ultimate high of being part of the Astros' 2017 World Series championship team, though his role diminished during the playoffs. Subsequent years were a rollercoaster of brilliant saves, painful blown opportunities, and a series of arm injuries that required Tommy John surgery and tested his resilience. His journey through multiple MLB clubs and into the Mexican League is a testament to the enduring pursuit of that explosive arm talent, even as the body rebels.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ken was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ken Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Ken's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded 115 saves and 484 strikeouts over his MLB career with four different teams.
- Posted a stellar 1.18 ERA and 14.0 strikeouts per nine innings in his first full season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015.
- Was a member of the Houston Astros roster that won the 2017 World Series championship.
Did You Know?
He famously punched himself in the face in frustration after giving up a home run in a 2018 game while with the Toronto Blue Jays.
He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020, which sidelined him for the entire 2021 season.
He was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Houston Astros in a deal that brought pitcher Vince Velasquez to Philadelphia.
“I want the ball when the game is on the line.”
