Jay Gibbons
| AB | 2917 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .26 |
| OBP | .315 |
| SLG | .453 |
| HR | 127 |
- Full name Jay Jonathan Gibbons
- Born 03/02/1977 in Rochester, MI
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Cal State LA
- Debut 04/06/2001
- Drafted in the 14th round (411th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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A major league Rule 5 draft pick from the Blue Jays at the 2000 Winter Meetings, Gibbons must stick with the Orioles throughout 2001 or be offered back to Toronto for half of his $50,000 draft price. Stocky and strong, he looks like a beer-league hitter. On the contrary, Gibbons drinks no alcohol and was a vegetarian until 2000, when he incorporated lean chicken breasts into his diet to help keep his strength up over the course of the season. He hit .397 in his first pro summer and has kept battering pitchers since. Gibbons' short, level, quick swing keeps him out of long slumps and helps him hold his own against lefthanders, whom he hit .329 against last year. He has good power and plate discipline, and showed a surprisingly strong arm in his short time in the outfield. He keeps long hours in the gym as well. Gibbons lacks the agility to play anything but first base, left field or DH, which were strong positions in Toronto. He was going to have to display 30-homer power to make the move to SkyDome, but his chances are better in Baltimore. As long as Gibbons continues to hit, he'll be given a chance to play. Whether the Orioles can hold onto him is uncertain.
