Joey Gerber Explained

Joey Gerber
Team:New York Yankees
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:3 May 1997
Birth Place:Maple Grove, Minnesota, U.S.
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:August 4
Debutyear:2020
Debutteam:Seattle Mariners
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:2020 season
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:1–1
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:4.02
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:6
Teams:

Joseph Cliff Gerber (born May 3, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the New York Yankees organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners.

Amateur career

Gerber graduated from Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minnesota in 2015.[1] He went undrafted in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft out of high school and enrolled at the University of Illinois where he played college baseball for the Fighting Illini.

As a freshman at Illinois in 2016, Gerber pitched only six innings, compiling a 7.50 ERA.[2] In 2017, his sophomore season, he went 2–1 with a 4.36 ERA in 33 relief innings pitched, striking out 43.[3] In 2018, as a junior, he went 1–1 with a 3.14 ERA in relief innings along with compiling 14 saves, tying the Illinois single-season record,[4] [5] earning a spot on the All-Big Ten Third Team.[6]

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners drafted Gerber in the eighth round, with the 238th overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[7] [8] Gerber signed with Seattle and made his professional debut with the Everett AquaSox of the Low–A Northwest League before being promoted to the Clinton LumberKings of the Single–A Midwest League in July.[9] In relief innings between the two clubs, he went 1–0 with a 2.10 ERA and 43 strikeouts.[10] Gerber began the 2019 season with the Modesto Nuts of the High–A California League, earning All-Star honors.[11] He was promoted to the Arkansas Travelers of the Double–A Texas League in June, and finished the season there. Over relief innings pitched between the two clubs, Gerber went 1–4 with a 2.59 ERA, striking out 69 and compiling a .215 batting average against.[12]

On August 4, 2020, Gerber made his MLB debut against the Los Angeles Angels, pitching one scoreless inning.[13] [14] He ended the 2020 season with a 1–1 record and a 4.02 ERA, striking out six batters over innings.[15] Gerber began the 2021 season on the injured list and underwent back surgery in July, forcing him to miss the whole year.[16] He missed the beginning of the 2022 season due to the injury and was ultimately designated for assignment on June 18, 2022.[17] He was released on June 22.[18]

New York Yankees

Gerber signed with the New York Yankees on July 25, 2022.[19] On August 3, he was assigned to the Florida Complex League Yankees, the Yankees minor league rookie level affiliate.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wayzata baseball team is full of surprises. John. Sherman. hometownsource.com. May 5, 2015 .
  2. Web site: MoonDogs Add Midwestern Talent. March 28, 2017. Mankato MoonDogs.
  3. Web site: Tate: Watch out for these athletes. Loren. Tate. The News-Gazette. February 17, 2018 .
  4. Web site: Meet the Mariners draft picks: Scouting reports, bios for Rounds 3–10. June 5, 2018. The Seattle Times.
  5. Web site: Seattle Mariners have wrapped up their 2018 draft. Here's who they picked . Cotterill . TJ . June 5, 2018 . www.thenewstribune.com. August 7, 2020.
  6. Web site: Big Ten Announces Baseball All-Big Ten Honors and Individual Award Winners. https://web.archive.org/web/20190709054838/https://bigten.org/news/2018/5/22/Big_Ten_Announces_Baseball_All_Big_Ten_Honors_and_Individual_Award_Winners.aspx. dead. July 9, 2019. Big Ten Conference. July 11, 2023 .
  7. Web site: Mariners select Joey Gerber in 8th round. IlliniInquirer.com.
  8. Web site: Mariners draft Gerber in eighth round. Scott. Richey. The News-Gazette. June 5, 2018 .
  9. Web site: AquaSox closer Gerber thriving at start of pro career. Jesse. Geleynse. July 12, 2018. HeraldNet.com.
  10. Web site: Seattle Mariners 2019 Top 50 Prospects. Joe. Rush. January 19, 2019.
  11. Web site: MacKenzie Gore, Heliot Ramos Highlight 2019 California League All-Star Rosters. Kyle. Glaser. www.baseballamerica.com. June 7, 2019 .
  12. News: Smith. Lauren. August 7, 2020. How Mariners reliever Joey Gerber went from playing town ball in Minnesota to facing Albert Pujols. The News Tribune. August 3, 2021.
  13. Web site: Mariners' Joey Gerber: Solid in MLB debut. CBSSports.com. August 5, 2020 .
  14. Web site: Notes: Gerber's debut; Graveman update . MLB.com . Greg Johns . August 5, 2020 . August 6, 2020 .
  15. Web site: Joey Gerber . mlb.com.
  16. Web site: Mariners' Joey Gerber: Undergoes back surgery. July 23, 2021 .
  17. 1538317022932525057. MarinersPR. Mariners roster moves:Tommy Milone, LHP, selected from Triple-A Tacoma.Matt Festa, RHP, optioned to Triple-A Tac…. June 19, 2022.
  18. Web site: Joey Gerber: Heads to open market . June 22, 2022 .
  19. Web site: MLB: Yankees ink Joey Gerber to minor league contract .