2021 Possible Aces Faces: Tyler Gilbert
Tyler Gilbert is a 27-year-old lefty that looks to bring a potent arm to the 2021 Aces bullpen. The reliever was a sixth-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015, and has seen growth and success at every stop since. After posting an ERA below three in three of his
Tyler Gilbert is a 27-year-old lefty that looks to bring a potent arm to the 2021 Aces bullpen. The reliever was a sixth-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015, and has seen growth and success at every stop since.
After posting an ERA below three in three of his first four professional seasons, Gilbert made it to Triple-A in 2018 with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. In his first three seasons in Single-A short, full and advance, Gilbert started 32 games in 68 appearances. Since moving to Double-A, all of Gilbert’s appearances have been out of the bullpen.
Once Gilbert joined Lehigh Valley midway through the 2018 season, Gilbert posted a 3.63 ERA in 34.2 innings over 25 appearances. Opposing batters hit just .214 against him, and his 0.95 WHIP was the best of his career en route to a 3-1 record and three saves in four opportunities.
In 2019, Gilbert kept the momentum going. Don’t let the 2-4 record fool you, Gilbert posted the second-best ERA on the team, among players with at least 30 innings pitched. The .283 ERA was the second-lowest of his pro career, just a hair higher than the 2.79 he posted in 2015.
Opponents hit just .224, and Gilbert upped his strikeout rate by punching out 46 in 47.2 innings on the season. For good measure, Gilbert had a 1.11 WHIP on the season.
The COVID-19 pandemic paused the hot two years in Triple-A for Gilbert, but if the past is any indication, the native of Santa Cruz, Calif. will keep the improvement rolling and serve as a key piece of the Aces bullpen in the upcoming 2021 season.