America's League

Where the Stars of Tomorrow Shine Tonight!

League News

Logan Gilbert's Sophomore Surge

05/19/2022 1:10 PM

Article By: Kaley Brown

Seattle Mariners 2018 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft 14th overall selection Logan Gilbert (Orleans ‘17) did not necessarily impress in his rookie season last year on paper.

Gilbert, a former member of the Stetson University baseball team, logged a 4.68 ERA over the course of 24 starts and 119.1 innings pitched in 2021 in a competitive American League (AL) West division. He gathered a 6-5 win-loss record and batters owned a .716 OPS when facing him. He possessed neither bad nor great statistics in his first season in the big leagues.

While his rookie season was not categorized as a disappointment, many most likely anticipated him having a more dominant first year in MLB. Over the course of the 2019 and 2021 Minor League Baseball (MiLB) seasons, Gilbert competed with four teams in Seattle’s MiLB system and collected a menacing 2.12 ERA through 27 starts and 140 innings of action. He also struck out 170 batters along the way; opponents batted just .199 against him in the Minors. Gilbert spun a measly 0.94 WHIP, too.

Ahead of the 2018 Draft, Gilbert was seen as a top pitching prospect out of college. He similarly put up fantastic numbers between 2016-2018 as a Stetson Hatter, shutting down batters with a 2.48 ERA over the span of 52 appearances/33 starts and 250.2 innings pitched. He accumulated 313 strikeouts over that span, plus a 23-3 win-loss record. Opponents hit just .201 versus the right-handed pitcher.

A member of the 2017 Orleans Firebirds, Gilbert expanded his terrific pitching resume. He possessed a 1.93 ERA through nine appearances and 37.1 innings and compiled 39 strikeouts. He was named an East Division All-Star that summer and also competed in the Cape Cod Baseball League playoffs as Orleans finished in first place.
Jump ahead to the 2022 MLB season and Gilbert has seemingly returned to his pre-rookie season self. The 25-year-old was named AL Pitcher of the Month after the month of April for his stunning performance. Over four starts, Gilbert had a 3-0 win-loss record, struck out 22 batters and allowed just one earned run, good for a 0.40 ERA, through 22.1 innings.

Now, as of Thursday, May 19, Gilbert’s numbers have generally sustained themselves. Through eight starts and 45 innings of work, Gilbert has struck out 51 batters. Opponents have a slash line of just .207/.286/.293 off of the righty and his 2.40 ERA. 

Heading into the 2022 season, it is clear that the Mariners saw a lot of upside in Gilbert’s game throughout his rookie season. Gilbert quickly became Seattle’s number two starter in their rotation behind ace Robbie Ray. Since Opening Day, Gilbert has cemented himself as a reliable arm every fifth day for Seattle.

To start this season, Gilbert is already one of the better young pitchers in the game. The mechanics are there and he is confident in his pitches. After Gilbert’s outing last Wednesday, he told the media, “The stuff felt the best it's felt all year”.
Regardless of whether or not his incredible April numbers continue to regress as 2022 continues on, there is no doubt that the 2017 Orleans product is a budding young arm in a league filled with plenty of them.