From 1996 to 2002, Gissell played in the Cubs minor league system, reaching Triple-A in 2002 and never played for the Cubs. Gissell was primarily a starter, with a few relief appearances here and there. He became a minor league free agent after the 2002 season.
On November 7, 2002, he signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros that included an invitation to spring training. After being reassigned to minor league camp on March 14, 2003,[1] he was cut 15 days later by the Astros on March 29. The Colorado Rockies then signed him to a minor league contract on April 3, 2003. He would then go on to spend the whole season with the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox, posting an 8-4 record with a 3.55 ERA in 38 games that included 10 starts. On August 2, 2003, Gissell combined with Jesus Sanchez to throw a no-hitter for the Sky Sox against the Nashville Sounds, 3-0, at Herschel Greer Stadium in Nashville (Gissell 7 IP, Sanchez 2 IP). On October 15, 2003, he became a minor league free agent. On December 19, 2003, he signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants that included an invitation to Spring training. He did not make the major league club and was sent to Triple-A Fresno. The Giants released him on April 7, 2004, without ever getting into a game for the Grizzlies.
A month later, on May 12, 2004, the Rockies signed him again to a minor league contract and sent him to Triple-A. He posted an excellent season for the Sky Sox, leading the Pacific Coast League with 14 wins, despite making 16 relief appearances and only 8 starts. His contract was purchased by the Rockies on August 19, 2004. On August 22, 2004, he made his major league debut against the Montreal Expos. He pitched 2 innings in relief, giving up a solo home run only to Juan Rivera. After making another relief appearance, he was optioned to Triple-A on August 27, 2004. He would be called up again in September on the 7th when rosters expanded and finished out the season with the Rockies. He ended up pitching in 5 games, made 1 start, and had a 0-1 record with a 14.54 ERA. Gissell became a free agent after the season.
On January 12, 2005, Gissell signed a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals. He did not make the team and was assigned to Triple-A Memphis, where he spent the entire 2005 season. Pitching in 23 games (all starts), he had an 8-8 record with a 3.54 ERA. After the season, he became a free agent and from there went to play baseball in Japan.
Gissell returned to Major League Baseball on November 20, 2007, when he signed a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training with the Oakland Athletics. He became a free agent at the end of the season and signed with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.
He will be the pitching coach for the Orem Owlz for the 2013 season. The Owlz are the short season A team for the LA Angels.