Born in Youngstown, Ohio, Ellis was signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent in 1961 after playing college baseball at Mississippi State University (MSU) for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. At Mississippi State, he lettered one year (1961) with a pitching record of 12–7, leading the team in strikeouts (73) and innings pitched (57​2⁄3). He was named to MSU\'s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.\n', '

Ellis made his major league debut at the start of the 1962 season. His first appearance was on April 14, 1962, which he lost. His first victory came 10 days later on April 24, when he walked 11 batters but only allowed one hit. After spending part of the 1962 and all of the 1963 season in the minors, Ellis rejoined the major league club in 1964 as a reliever. He finished the season with a 10–3 record, a 2.57 earned run average (ERA), pitched 52 games, and threw fewer walks in those 52 games (28) than he did in 1962 in 8 games (29).\n', '

Ellis made his only All-Star appearance. He won 22 games, including 15 complete starts and two shutouts, while posting an ERA of 3.79. His walk total was down in 1966, but he finished the season with a 12–19 record, and also led the league in home runs allowed with 35 and had an ERA of 5.29. He remained part of the starting pitching rotation in 1967, and brought his ERA back down under 4.00.\n', '

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