Pitching in Seattle before his MLB debut? ‘That’s really valuable’ to Mariners prospect Logan Gilbert
This wasn’t exactly the T-Mobile Park debut Logan Gilbert was expecting, with no fans in the ballpark and batters wearing the same jersey he was.
But, the experience was still valuable, the Seattle Mariners’ top pitching prospect said, for when he makes his true debut here.
“I imagined it would be with more people in the stands, but it was still really cool,” he said on a video call with reporters after his intrasquad start Saturday afternoon.
“It was nice getting comfortable out there, being able to play intrasquads and stuff — things that people wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to do before a debut, so it was really fun being out there.”
Gilbert, the 23-year-old power right-hander who was projected to reach the big leagues by this point had the season started on time, tossed two complete innings Saturday and recorded four strikeouts.
He bookended a quick 1-2-3 first inning with strikeouts of Sam Haggerty and everyday designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach, and worked out of some trouble in the second by catching both Braden Bishop and Austin Shenton looking.
“When I got on the mound it just felt like any other game, I think,” Gilbert said. “I did turn around and see the city and the jumbotron and all of that stuff, and it’s really cool, but as far as pitching, it just felt like any other mound out there.”
Gilbert’s fastball hovered between 93-94 mph, and registered as high as 96 on the stadium radar gun, and he said his secondary pitches felt crisp. Three of his strikeouts came on sliders, and the other came on a curveball.
His command faltered somewhat in the second, when he walked Mariners top prospect Jarred Kelenic on five pitches, and allowed a RBI double to Donovan Walton followed by a single to Brian O’Keefe, but he ultimately worked out of the jam allowing just the one run on two hits and the walk.
Gilbert said he enjoyed the opportunity to face some of Seattle’s other up-and-comers.
“I’ve watched a lot of these guys in the past, last year and things like that, and I’m sure they’ve watched me as well, so it’s fun facing guys you know,” Gilbert said. “But, at the same time, I’m trying to stay competitive, stay locked in.
“I think I saw Kelenic smirk at me before he got in the box, so I’m just trying to stay locked in as best as possible.”
With no minor league season, intrasquad games are the only opportunity for players in the 60-man player pool not expected to reach the majors this year to play in real game situations, and Gilbert said he his taking each start as seriously as possible.
“I take everything seriously with trying to treat it like a game,” he said. “Even bullpens and things like that in between because of how limited we are with actual times out there on the mound. I want it to be as game-like as possible.”
And the value of these games — at least until the taxi squad heads to Cheney Stadium in Tacoma — being at T-Mobile Park is not lost on him.
“Just being able to get innings in here at T-Mobile, at the major league stadium before a debut, you can’t put a price on that,” he said. “That’s really valuable and it’s going to help me get the reps, get the innings, but also feel more comfortable when I do get out there and it’s the real thing.”
ALTAVILLA BRINGS HEAT
Mariners reliever Dan Altavilla’s fastball touched as high as 99 mph during his modified inning of work, and he consistently kept it in the upper 90s.
He faced five batters — and retired all five — on just 14 pitches. He never threw more than four pitches to a batter.
Altavilla wiped out Haggerty and Kelenic on three pitches each, and Vogelbach on four.
Now 27 years old, Altavilla, who is out of minor league options, was battling to keep his bullpen spot when spring training was shut down in March after posting a 5.52 ERA with Seattle in 2019 in 17 games and struggling with command.
The former fifth-round pick in 2014 has bounced up and down from the majors since his debut with the Mariners in 2016.
SHORT HOPS
Mariners No. 11 prospect Brandon Williamson pitched opposite Gilbert on Saturday and faced seven batters in his two scheduled innings, walking two and striking out infield prospect Noelvi Marte to end his outing. Williamson reached his 40-pitch limit with two outs in the second. “Facing some of our top guys in the organization, it’s awesome,” he said. “I love the high competition and it’s just good to get back out there and throw.” … In addition to Altavilla, five more relievers pitched an inning — or modified inning —Saturday, including Anthony Misiewicz (19 pitches), Joey Gerber (18), Austin Adams (19), Matt Magill (15) and Gerson Bautista (16). … Misiewicz recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the third, but faced a fourth batter, and allowed a double to Kelenic. … Gerber, who was nearly perfect through five outings this spring, had a shot at making Seattle’s Opening Day roster before the shutdown, and worked out of some early traffic in the third, striking out Tim Lopes swinging to end his inning without damage. … Adams and Magill, two of Seattle’s few remaining relievers from last season, each worked through a scoreless frame. Adams struck out two. … Bautista reached 101 mph on the stadium radar, but was removed from the game two pitches later, after appearing to point to his elbow. He was visited on the mound by trainer Rob Nodine, and Servais ended his outing moments later. Bautista was later seen walking across the field with his elbow wrapped. … The Steelheads (1-0-1) now lead the Pilots (0-1-1) in the intrasquad series.
ON TAP
The Mariners will play their third intrasquad game Sunday afternoon, beginning at about 2:45 p.m. The game is currently scheduled to last three innings, with ace Marco Gonzales making his first start.
The game will not be streamed online. Weekday games will be streamed on the Mariners’ YouTube channel.
Sunday’s game was initially planned to last four innings, but has been shortened, while Monday’s, which was planned to last seven innings, is now scheduled for 7 1/2.
