Mickey Gasper

American baseball player (born 1995)

Baseball player
Mickey Gasper
Boston Red Sox – No. 77
Catcher / First baseman
Born: (1995-10-11) October 11, 1995 (age 28)
Merrimack, New Hampshire, U.S.
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 12, 2024, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
(through September 2, 2024)
Batting average.000
Home runs0
Runs batted in0
Teams
  • Boston Red Sox (2024–present)

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.

Amateur career

Gasper 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

New York Yankees

Gasper 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

On 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

Gasper grew up in New Hampshire as a New York Yankees fan, a result of his parents hailing from New Jersey.[18]

References

  1. ^ "Former Silver Knight Gasper chosen by Red Sox in Minor League Rule 5 Draft". nashuatelegraph.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  2. ^ "Mickey Gasper called up to Boston Red Sox". bryantbulldogs.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  3. ^ "Bryant's Mickey Gasper named Futures League MVP". northeastconference.org. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  4. ^ "#9 Michael Gasper - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  5. ^ "Swinging a hot bat since his promotion to Worcester, players are calling him Mickey 'Babe' Gasper". telegram.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  6. ^ "Yankees Promote Mickey Gasper to Charleston". milb.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  7. ^ "Mickey Gasper". soxprospects.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  8. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  9. ^ "Mickey Gasper - Stats - Batting". fangraphs.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  10. ^ "Mickey Gasper Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  11. ^ "SOX SWITCH: Gasper latest Yankees farmhand to make move to Red Sox". nashuatelegraph.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  12. ^ "Merrimack High (N.H.) and Bryant University product Mickey Gasper opens eyes in Triple A". masslive.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  13. ^ "Red Sox addition grew up a Yankees fan in NH, joins friends on other side". unionleader.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  14. ^ "Bryant alum Mickey Gasper on a tear with Worcester Red Sox". turnto10.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  15. ^ "Red Sox Prospect Acquired From Yankees Excelling At Plate In Worcester". si.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "Red Sox Select Chase Shugart, Mickey Gasper; Designate Jamie Westbrook For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Red Sox C prospect acquired from Yankees batting .389 at Worcester". masslive.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  • Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
  • Bryant Bulldogs bio
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