Logan Gilbert

Logan Gilbert's Biography

Logan Keith Gilbert, born on May 5, 1997, initially attracted attention as a high school athlete at Wekiva High School in Apopka, Florida, but his application to Major League Baseball (MLB) was overlooked at this time. Rather than fumble, Gilbert pursued his passion for the sport at Stetson University, strengthening his skills as a pitcher for the Stetson Hatters.

Gilbert’s freshman year in 2016 was a promising start to his university career. He participated in 21 games, five of which he started, culminating in three wins against a single loss and proving his dexterity with an impressive 43 strikeouts over 49 innings. His performance and his impressive 2.74 earned run average (ERA) caught the eye of the Bethesda Big Train, a team in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, ahead of his sophomore year. He pitched 26 1⁄3 innings for the team during his term, delivering a 28-strikeout performance that resulted in a commendable 1.70 ERA.

Gilbert’s sophomore year only heralded continued success for the young pitcher. He played in 15 games, starting in 12, and earned a 10-0 losing streak with an even more impressive 2.02 ERA and an astounding 107 strikeouts across 89 innings. As a result, he was named ASUN Conference Pitcher of the Year. Capitalizing on his successes, he played the summer with the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod Baseball League, further polishing his skills and earning recognition as a league all-star.

His success only continued into his junior year in 2018, where he earned a 2.72 ERA over 16 starts, leading to an 11-2 record and enabling him to retain his title as the ASUN Conference Pitcher of the Year. His impressive performance led to him being considered among the top 20 prospects for the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, and he was selected at the 14th overall by the Seattle Mariners. His signing came with a $3.88 million contract, finalized on June 16.

Before he could make his debut, however, Gilbert was diagnosed with mononucleosis, forcing him out for the rest of 2018. When he returned to the field in 2019, he was assigned to the West Virginia Power as the Opening Day starter. Over five starts, Gilbert managed a 1-0 record and a 1.59 ERA. His performance led to a promotion to the High-A Modesto Nuts, where he played in 12 starts and had a 5-3 win-loss record with a 1.73 ERA. However, he was soon promoted again to the Double-A Arkansas Travelers, where he performed admirably and achieved a 4-2 record with a 2.88 ERA.

2020 saw Gilbert benched for the season as the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the minor league. However, Gilbert was undeterred, taking advantage of intrasquad exhibition games in Seattle and rigorous training at the Mariners’ alternate training site in Tacoma.

It was in 2021 that he was promoted to the major leagues, starting his time with the Seattle Mariners by facing off against the Cleveland Indians. Despite the loss, Gilbert cemented his place in the team and celebrated his first career win on June 6, where he struck out seven Los Angeles Angels batters and gave away only one run over five innings.

In 2022, Gilbert was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for April and helped the Mariners secure a playoff spot for the first time since 2001 through his performance against the Oakland Athletics. He maintained a 13-6 record with a 3.20 ERA over 32 starts for his first full MLB season despite the high number of line drives and high average exit velocity against him.

By 2023, Gilbert had significantly improved, earning a 13-7 record with a 3.73 ERA. His achievements included his first career shutout against the San Francisco Giants, as well as an AL Pitcher of the Week award. Two years into his career with the Mariners, he continued to dominate the field, earning a nomination for the All-Star Game in 2024.

Away from the field, Gilbert is a devout Christian, and he married Aviles Gilbert on November 12, 2022. Despite his significant achievements on the field, his focus remained on his spiritual growth and his family, embracing these facets of his life with the same passion and determination with which he approaches baseball.