Michael "Mickey" Gasper (born October 11, 1995) is an American professional baseball player for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). A catcher and first baseman, he made his MLB debut in 2024.
| Mickey Gasper | |
|---|---|
| Boston Red Sox – No. 77 | |
| Catcher / First baseman | |
| Born: October 11, 1995 New Jersey, U.S. | |
Bats: Switch Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 12, 2024, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Batting average | .000 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 0 |
| Teams | |
| |
Amateur career
editGasper played college baseball at Bryant University from 2015 to 2018.[1] In his four-year stint with the Bulldogs, he batted .344 with 17 home runs, 119 runs batted in (RBI), 127 runs scored, 102 walks, and 51 strikeouts.[2] In 2016, Gasper played for the Nashua Silver Knights of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. He was subsequently named the league MVP after setting Nashua single-season records in batting average (.421) and doubles (21), while also tallying nine home runs, 26 doing the nostrils, and 42 RBI.[3] In 2017, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.[4]
Professional career
editNew York Yankees
editGasper was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 27th round, with the 817th overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[5] He spent his first professional season with the rookie–level Pulaski Yankees, also appearing in one game for the Single–A Charleston RiverDogs. In 42 games with Pulaski, Gasper posted a .259/.395/.496 slash line with nine home runs and 30 RBI.[6]
Gasper split 2019 between Charleston and the High–A Tampa Tarpons, slashing a cumulative .251/.357/.393 with 10 home runs and 53 RBI across 107 appearances.[7] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] In 2021, Gasper played for the rookie–level Florida Complex League Yankees, High–A Hudson Valley Renegades, and Double–A Somerset Patriots. Spanning 21 total games, he had a .318/.405/.515 slash line with two home runs, 11 RBI, and two stolen bases.[9]
Gasper returned to Somerset in 2022, totaling 70 appearances and slashing .266/.407/.453 with eight home runs and 27 RBI.[10] Gasper split the 2023 campaign between Somerset and the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, slashing a combined .246/.361/.375 with seven home runs, 28 RBI, and 10 stolen bases over 74 contests.[11][12]
Boston Red Sox
editOn December 6, 2023, the Boston Red Sox selected Gasper in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft.[13] He began the 2024 season with the Double–A Portland Sea Dogs, slashing .282/.403/.458 with four home runs and 22 RBI over 44 games.[14] After Gasper was promoted to the Triple–A Worcester Red Sox in June, he slashed .402/.515/.664 with eight home runs and 32 RBI across 40 games.[15]
On August 12, 2024, Gasper was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[16] He made his major-league debut in a game at Fenway Park that evening, drawing a walk as a pinch hitter in his first plate appearance.[17]
Personal life
editGasper grew up in New Hampshire as a New York Yankees fan, a result of his parents hailing from New Jersey.[18]
References
edit- ^ "Former Silver Knight Gasper chosen by Red Sox in Minor League Rule 5 Draft". nashuatelegraph.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Mickey Gasper called up to Boston Red Sox". bryantbulldogs.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Bryant's Mickey Gasper named Futures League MVP". northeastconference.org. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "#9 Michael Gasper - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ "Swinging a hot bat since his promotion to Worcester, players are calling him Mickey 'Babe' Gasper". telegram.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Yankees Promote Mickey Gasper to Charleston". milb.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Mickey Gasper". soxprospects.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Mickey Gasper - Stats - Batting". fangraphs.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Mickey Gasper Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "SOX SWITCH: Gasper latest Yankees farmhand to make move to Red Sox". nashuatelegraph.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Merrimack High (N.H.) and Bryant University product Mickey Gasper opens eyes in Triple A". masslive.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Red Sox addition grew up a Yankees fan in NH, joins friends on other side". unionleader.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Bryant alum Mickey Gasper on a tear with Worcester Red Sox". turnto10.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Red Sox Prospect Acquired From Yankees Excelling At Plate In Worcester". si.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Red Sox Select Chase Shugart, Mickey Gasper; Designate Jamie Westbrook For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ Speier, Alex (August 13, 2024). "The improbable journey of Mickey Gasper leads to the big leagues with the Red Sox". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ "Red Sox C prospect acquired from Yankees batting .389 at Worcester". masslive.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Bryant Bulldogs bio