SAN FRANCISCO
Drew Gilbert’s prospects are looking up as the Mets consider bringing him into a major league role while exploring options for outfield assistance.
At just 24, Gilbert is having an impressive run at Triple A Syracuse, having hit two home runs recently, marking his sixth for the month. His OPS for July stands at an impressive 1.126.
The Mets see him as a strong defender in center field. Team officials were observing from various positions during practice, but it seems that sustained offensive achievements will play a crucial role in deciding his promotion for the stretch run.
“Drew is doing a tremendous job, so he’s definitely on our radar,” said David Stearns, the baseball business president, right before their 8-1 victory over the Giants at Oracle Park. “He’s making noticeable strides both offensively and defensively.”
As a left-handed batter, there’s a possibility that Gilbert could share center field duties with Tyron Taylor, potentially allowing Jeff McNeal to return to second base full time.
However, this shift might mean fewer at-bats for players like Ronnie Mauricio and Louissanger Acknya.
“He’s really put everything together offensively,” noted a talent evaluator familiar with Gilbert’s performance. “His ability to control the strike zone is impressive, and he hits the ball very hard. They might want to encourage him to lift the ball more often. He’s stronger than he seems.”
Gilbert was part of the trade that sent Justin Verlander to the Astros in 2023 and missed a large chunk of last season due to a hamstring injury. Fortunately, he’s been healthy this year.
This season, he holds an OPS of .823 with 14 home runs over 314 at-bats.
The Mets recently promoted reliever Alex Carrillo from Syracuse and brought in lefty Jose Castillo for the major league roster.
To accommodate Castillo on the 40-man roster, Max Cranick was moved to the 60-day injured list.
The series against the Giants marks the start of a nine-game stretch for the Mets against NL West teams.
After facing the Padres, they’re set to host the Giants next week and have managed a solid 13-6 record against NL West opponents this season, largely thanks to a perfect 6-0 record against the Rockies.
