Mateo Gil (baseball)

Mateo Gil
Free agent
Shortstop / Third baseman
Born: (2000-07-24) July 24, 2000 (age 24)
Newport Beach, California
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Mateo Elijah Gil (born July 24, 2000) is an American professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent.

Gil was born in Newport Beach, California, while his father, Benji Gil, was playing for the Anaheim Angels.[1] He attended Timber Creek High School in Fort Worth, Texas.[2] As a senior in 2018, he batted .389 with six home runs, 43 RBIs, and six triples over 37 games while also compiling a 1.05 ERA.[3][4] After the season, he was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round (95th overall) of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[5] Gil signed with the Cardinals, forgoing his college commitment to Texas Christian University.[6]

Gil made his professional debut that summer with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Cardinals, batting .251 with one home run and twenty RBIs over 45 games.[7] In 2019, he played with the Johnson City Cardinals of the Rookie-level Appalachian League and slashed .270/.324/.431 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs over 51 games.[8] He also played in two games for the Palm Beach Cardinals of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League. That offseason, he played in the Mexican Pacific League (MPL).[9] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 since the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] Gil, however, did return to the MPL that winter for the 2020–2021 season, playing with the Tomateros de Culiacan.[9]

On February 1, 2021, Gil (alongside Austin Gomber, Elehuris Montero, Tony Locey, and Jake Sommers) was traded to the Colorado Rockies in the exchange for Nolan Arenado and $50 million.[11] He was assigned to the Fresno Grizzlies of the Low-A West for the 2021 season, slashing .249/.294/.396 with nine home runs and 56 RBIs over 94 games.[12] Gil opened the 2022 season in extended spring training before he was assigned to the Spokane Indians of the High-A Northwest League in mid-May.[13] Over 48 games with Spokane, he batted .247 with six home runs and 26 RBIs.[14]

After the 2022 season, the New York Mets selected him in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.[15] To open the 2023 season, he was assigned to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies of the Double-A Eastern League.[16] He became a free agent after the 2024 season.[17]

  1. ^ Zielinski, Dan (2017-09-18). "Mateo Gil impacted by father, who played in MLB". The 3rd Man In. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  2. ^ "Dream come true: All the area players selected in MLB draft". Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  3. ^ "Keller Timber Creek's Mateo Gil, son of former Ranger, selected by St. Louis Cardinals in MLB Draft". Dallas News. June 5, 2018.
  4. ^ Lewis, Alec (2018-06-06). "Astros pick brothers of Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman, adding to list of MLB draft picks with famous bloodlines". Yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  5. ^ Collins, Sean (2018-06-05). "Mateo Gil drafted by Cardinals on Day 2". MLB.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  6. ^ Collins, Sean (2018-06-07). "Mateo Gil follows father into pro baseball". MLB.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  7. ^ Hooth, Trevor (2018-08-30). "St. Louis Cardinals: GCL Cardinals lose in championship series". Redbirdrants.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  8. ^ "Second Thoughts: Gil offers a short answer at position Cardinals have covered for years to come | St. Louis Cardinals". stltoday.com. 2020-05-29. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  9. ^ a b "An inside look at how Cardinals minor leaguers spent a summer". ksdk.com. September 11, 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  10. ^ "Sam Delaplane's Slider Has Him Soaring Toward Seattle". Fangraphs. April 2020.
  11. ^ "Nolan Arenado trade finalized; Rockies get Mateo Gil". The Athletic. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  12. ^ "Where Rockies top prospects are starting '21". MLB.com.
  13. ^ "Colin Simpson delivers walk-off in 10th inning, Spokane Indians down Eugene in series opener | the Spokesman-Review".
  14. ^ "Mateo Gil Stats, Fantasy & News".
  15. ^ "2022 Rule 5 Draft results: Pick by pick". MLB.com. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  16. ^ Keeler, Ricky (2023-03-29). "Binghamton Rumble Ponies 2023 Opening Day Roster". metsminors.net. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  17. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.