Youth At The Helm: Gómez Giddy For 2024
There will be a new lead man in the dugout for the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2024. Gilbert Gómez, who spent seven years in the New York Mets organization as a player and served as skipper of the Single-A St. Lucie Mets a summer ago, is set to take over as
There will be a new lead man in the dugout for the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2024.
Gilbert Gómez, who spent seven years in the New York Mets organization as a player and served as skipper of the Single-A St. Lucie Mets a summer ago, is set to take over as manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones.
While, Gómez, who turned 32 in March, is set to become the youngest manager in franchise history, the Dominican native already has accrued plenty of success in coaching.
Now in his seventh season as a coach in the Mets’ farm system, Gómez spent this winter as the manager of Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Winter League (LIDOM). Thrust into the role unexpectedly, the 32-year-old became the youngest skipper to win a LIDOM championship and the second youngest to win a game in Caribbean Series history.
“Those experiences only help me become a better coach,” recalled Gómez about his opportunity this winter. “Pressure comes with it. It's one of those things, you have to be ready to receive criticism, receive the praise, and when you win, you’re on top of the game. When you lose people are asking for your head to be to be chopped. It's fun. It's something that makes you better as a coach, but it also makes you resilient.”
While winning is not the be-all and end-all in Minor League Baseball, Gómez is passionate about cultivating a winning atmosphere and culture, in addition to helping players develop on their way to the Majors.
“Winning is something that we want to take a lot of pride in within the Mets’ organization, we want to win in every level that we are,” proclaimed Gómez. “The main thing is to develop the guys, but we’re developing them in a winning atmosphere, in a winning environment.”
Gómez's experience in one of the top winter ball leagues across the globe is one of the many assets gained during his adventures. As a former professional outfielder, he draws on his memories of working hard in the minor leagues to help his players grow.
“You got to show empathy, man. This game is hard,” explained Gómez. “I’ve been on an 0-for-20 where you hit the ball right on the nose and it’s right at somebody, and you feel every time you go into the box, you’re already down two strikes. There’s not a single player in baseball that has not gone through those things and us as coaches are no different. So, the fact that I was able to do it not too long ago helps me connect with the guys.”
Gómez has a strong connection to baseball, which extends beyond his own career. He comes from a large baseball family, with his younger brother, Dariel, having played for the Mets’ Double-A Binghamton team last season. Meanwhile, his older siblings, José and Héctor, work in baseball as a scout for the Tampa Bay Rays and a successful baseball reporter, respectively.
“It’s definitely a blessing that we were able to stay in the game and impact the game at such a young age,” stated Gómez about sharing the game of baseball with his family. “Doing it the right way and doing it with the humbleness that our parents have tried to transmit to us.”
Uniting through the game of baseball has enabled the Gómez family to have some “full circle” moments in recent years. Most notably and recently, Héctor pestered Gilbert with questions during Caribbean Series press conferences.
“The questions were solid, they were not easy, but they were coming from a good place,” recalled Gómez with a chuckle. “Everybody else was giving him a hard time, like, ‘Hey, do you know this guy?’ or ‘Of course, you’re going to get the first question.’ I was not expecting it to happen so early in my baseball coaching career, but again, there's some things that you just can't explain.”
The native of Santo Domingo, D.R. will be joined by a few familiar faces on the bench with him in Coney Island. Eduardo Núñez, who serves as the hitting coach, Dan McKinney, the pitching coach, and Regan Saulnier, the development coach, will all be following Gómez from last year’s staff in St. Lucie.
“Familiarity is a big thing, we already know what to expect from each other,” stated Gómez about his fellow staff members. “We're a group that prepares every game, trying to turn every single stump possible to have an advantage during the game. Very resilient group, very responsible group. Early in the ballpark, late getting away from it.”
“I feel that's what the fans can expect. There's a group of coaches that are willing to go the extra mile to get the guys ready and they are going to try to make any adjustment possible to make sure that we're putting the guys in the best position to be successful.”
With 2024 on the horizon and after spending the last several minor league seasons in Port St. Lucie, Gómez is excited about all the new challenges that await in a different environment.
“It’s one step closer to what the guys really want to be, which is the city in New York,” proclaimed Gómez about the team’s proximity to the Major League club. “The crowds are going to be better than we saw in PSL [Port St. Lucie], which I feel the guys are going to like.”
“We’re just trying to build off of what happened last year,” added Gómez about the disappointment for Brooklyn on the final day of the 2023 regular season. “We were close to get to the finals, to get to that championship game. I feel like this is the year that, hopefully, we can break through and play for the championship game at the end of the year. “
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring