SANTA CRUZ >> The first day of 2025 brought massive change for professional baseball player Tyler Gilbert, 31, and his family.

Gilbert, a San Lorenzo Valley High alum who lives in Santa Cruz with his wife, Caitlin, and their son, was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Chicago White Sox for minor league right-hander Aaron Combs on Wednesday, New Year’s Day.

The 6-foot-3, 223-pound left-handed pitcher has been added to the White Sox’s 40-man roster, and will report to big-league camp at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 12.

“I’m super happy with this opportunity,” said Gilbert, who made MLB history by throwing a no-hitter in his first MLB start for the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 14, 2021. “I’m excited. I feel like I’m in a spot n my career where I can contribute. I’ve proven myself in the past and I’ll do it again.”

Gilbert has experience as a starter, middle reliever, and closer.

He was reacquired by Philadelphia — the organization that drafted him out of USC in 2015 — from Cincinnati on May 7 in exchange for cash considerations.

The White Sox are the fifth organization Gilbert has played for.

He spent most of the 2024 season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he made 31 relief appearances and posted a 4-0 record with a 2.25 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 40 innings. He gave up 33 hits and eight walks, and struck out 52 batters.

He also pitched in six games with the Phillies, including five in the second half of September, and posted a 3.24 ERA over 8 1/3 innings. He gave up three runs, 10 hits and two walks, and struck out four batters.

Despite his success last season, Gilbert was designated for assignment on Dec. 22, his birthday. He was just about to sign a lease for housing near the the Phillies’ spring training complex in Clearwater, Florida.

“Plans change quickly in this business,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert wasn’t a key piece for the Phillies (95-67), who won the NL East Division title and were eliminated from the playoffs by the New York Mets in the Divisional Series. Still, he enjoyed a memorable finish to his ’24 season.

“I was closing in Triple-A, got called up and spent the last month in the bigs,” Gilbert said. “I clinched with them. It was an awesome time, a full-circle moment. I was excited to wear those pinstripes. It was such a good group of guys.”

During one of his outings, Gilbert’s catcher was Garrett Stubbs, also a teammate of his while at USC. “It was a really cool moment,” the pitcher said.

Gilbert plans to take advantage of his latest opportunity with the While Sox (41-121), who finished with the most losses in a season during MLB’s modern era, and make the big-league club.

“I want a longer leash,” he said. “Obviously the Phillies were in playoff contention, while the White Sox were in turmoil last year. This is right where I want to be right now. I’m ready for this underdog situation. I feel like I thrive in those situations.”