Mets Hope Time In AFL Will Vault Drew Gilbert Into 2025
Outfielder Drew Gilbert has spent much of the offseason working on his swing, with an emphasis on pulling the ball in the air.
If the early returns were any indication, the Mets will have plenty to be excited about with the 24-year-old next spring.
Gilbert hit four home runs and two doubles through 19 Arizona Fall League games. That followed a frustrating season at Triple-A Syracuse that was curtailed by a lingering right hamstring injury that limited him to 56 games.
“In spite of our best efforts and our rehab team’s best efforts, it just didn’t heal as quickly as we had hoped and it bothered him for most of the year,” Mets farm director Andrew Christie said.
“But (the AFL has) been a good experience for him, and I think he will be very prepared if anything like that does happen again.”
The lefthanded-hitting Gilbert batted .215/.313/.393 with 10 home runs and three stolen bases for Syracuse. He found a rhythm late in the season with an .800 OPS and nine home runs in his final 30 games.
He drew 25 walks against 51 strikeouts at Triple-A. In the AFL, his walks outpaced his strikeouts.
The Mets acquired Gilbert and outfielder Ryan Clifford at the 2023 trade deadline when they sent Justin Verlander and $35.5 million to the Astros. Houston drafted Gilbert in the first round in 2022.
“I think Drew was better (at Syracuse) than the top-line numbers indicate,” Christie said. “He had a low batting average, but he had some bad luck on balls in play. His peripheral skills are still there.
“He still makes above-average contact and still has above-average swings decisions, so honestly nothing too concerning.”
The Mets hope Gilbert will be capable at all three outfield positions.
“That is kind of what we are shooting for with Drew,” Christie said. “But if he becomes our everyday center fielder, that would be phenomenal. If he becomes our everyday left fielder or right fielder that would be phenomenal, too.”
