What to Expect from Giants Outfielder Drew Gilbert

Thanks to an injury to Jerar Encarnacion, Drew Gilbert was promoted to the Giants on August 8. Gilbert, with his third Major League organization in three years, will make his MLB debut after what’s been an interesting road as a prospect. The 24-year-old flashed power and has earned high grades for his makeup.

A Look at Gilbert

Giants outfield prospect Drew Gilbert has moved around often in his four-year pro career. Since being drafted in the first round by the Astros out of Tennessee-Knoxville in 2022, he’s been traded twice.

The first time came in 2023 when the Mets acquired him as part of the Justin Verlander trade to Houston. Two years later, the Mets flipped him for veteran reliever Tyler Rogers.

When the Mets acquired him, Gilbert was a prospect on the rise. He gained notoriety as an intriguing two-player high school thanks to a plus arm and 90+ MPH fastball but developed well as a hitter with UT. Before the trade to the Mets, Gilbert was in Double-A after tearing through High-A in 2023 and then, slashing .241/.342/.371 (.713 OPS) in Double-A.

Since then, it’s been an uneven road for Gilbert. He hit .325 (.984 OPS) with six home runs and 15 extra-base hits over 35 games with Binghamton in 2023. However, he only played 62 games last year and didn’t hit particularly well against advanced competition. Gilbert posted a .706 OPS.

Although he didn’t expand the zone too much (25.5% Chase%), nor whiffed much.

This year, Gilbert posted better numbers, as he hit .243/.347/.430 (.777 OPS) with 12 home runs and 31 extra-base hits before the trade to San Francisco.

Gilbert doesn’t expand the zone too much (23% Chase), despite the fact that he doesn’t average many pitches per plate appearance. He can put bat on ball with regularity and showed intriguing power despite the 5’9” figure. Gilbert is listed at 195 pounds, physically strong, and can lay into mistakes.