As a freshman in 2016, Gilbert appeared in 21 games with five starts, going 2–1 with a 2.74 earned run average (ERA) and 43 strikeouts in 49 innings. After his freshman season, he pitched for the Bethesda Big Train in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, posting a 1.70 ERA with 28 strikeouts over 26+1⁄3 innings.[2] As a sophomore in 2017, he appeared in 15 games with 12 starts, and went 10–0 with a 2.02 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 89 innings and was named the ASUN Conference Pitcher of the Year.[3] After the 2017 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and was named a league all-star.[4][5] As a junior in 2018, he pitched to an 11–2 record and a 2.72 ERA over 16 starts[6] and was again named the ASUN Conference Pitcher of the Year.[7]
Gilbert made his minor league debut as the 2019 Opening Day starter of the West Virginia Power.[14] After five starts with a 1–0 record and 1.59 ERA , he was promoted to the High-AModesto Nuts.[15] In 12 starts with Modesto, he went 5–3 with a 1.73 ERA, striking out 73 batters over 62+1⁄3 innings.[16] He was promoted to the Double-AArkansas Travelers in July.[17] Over nine starts with Arkansas, he pitched to a 4–2 record with a 2.88 ERA.[18]
Gilbert did not play in an official game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[19] He did pitch in an intrasquad exhibition game in Seattle in July, before the start of the MLB season.[20] He was also on the Mariners' initial 60-man roster but stayed in the alternate training site in Tacoma.[21][22]
Gilbert started 2021 with the Tacoma Rainiers, earning a win in his only Triple-A game.[23] On May 13, Gilbert was promoted to the major leagues and made his debut as the Mariners starting pitcher against the Cleveland Indians.[24] He took the loss, allowing four runs in four innings.[25] On June 6, he earned his first career win, striking out seven Los Angeles Angels batters and allowing one run in five innings.[26]
In 2022, Gilbert was named the American LeaguePitcher of the Month for April, in which he went 3–0 with 22 strikeouts in 20 innings.[27] On September 30, Gilbert allowed one run in eight innings against the Oakland Athletics.[28] His performance helped the Mariners clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2001. Gilbert started the first game of the AL Division Series, allowing three runs in 5+1⁄3 innings.[29] In his first full MLB season, Gilbert posted a 13–6 record with a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts covering 185+2⁄3 innings. He gave up the third-highest percentage of line drives in the majors (28.9%), and balls hit against him had the second-highest average exit velocity (91 mph) among all pitchers.[30][31]
In 2023, Gilbert posted a 13–7 record with a 3.73 ERA and 189 strikeouts in 190+2⁄3 innings. His 5.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked third in the American League, trailing his teammate George Kirby.[32] Gilbert pitched his first career shutout on July 4, striking out 7 San Francisco Giants and allowing 5 hits.[33][34] That game and a subsequent win over the Houston Astros earned him the AL Pitcher of the Week award.[35] He struck out a career-high 12 batters in a 2–0 win over the San Diego Padres on August 8.[36]
Gilbert continued to improve in 2024 and was selected for the All-Star Game.[37] He was replaced on the All-Star Game roster by Mariners reliever Andrés Muñoz, however, as Gilbert was scheduled to start two days before the game and therefore unavailable to pitch.[38] On September 8, he pitched his second career complete game, going only 8 innings in a 2–0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.[39][40] Gilbert proved durable and efficient in 2024, leading the majors with 208+2⁄3 innings pitched and 0.887 walks and hits per inning pitched. His 220 strikeouts ranked 6th, just 8 fewer than the MLB lead.[41] He had a 9–12 record with a 3.23 ERA.
Personal life
Gilbert is a Christian.[42] He married Aviles Gilbert on November 12, 2022.[43]
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