Once a player gets drafted and signs with a team different from the one they grew up supporting, boyhood allegiances usually disappear. Although the 24-year-old native of St. Paul isn’t exactly an exception to the rule, he does still have a soft place for the Minnesota Twins.
Gilbert, a 2022 draft pick of the Houston Astros from the University of Tennessee, said, “I think that happens a little more so as you get older, not necessarily when you sign.” “You’re always on the go. I moved from Minnesota to Tennessee, and after being drafted, you travel the nation with various affiliates. I don’t want to say that the fandom fades, but it does gradually wane. Nevertheless, it was still a lot of fun to watch when the Twins were in the playoffs the previous season. Naturally, it’s entertaining to watch playoff baseball whenever it occurs, regardless of your team’s preference.
He has more teams to cheer for in the postseason than just the 2023 Twins. In his 2022 draft year, the Astros won the World Series; this year, the parent club of his new organization has an opportunity to achieve the same. Gilbert was acquired by the New York Mets as part of the Justin Verlander trade deadline agreement last summer. Of his team since turning pro, Gilbert remarked, “The Astros have been the best team in Major League Baseball for the last five or ten years.” “I watched them whenever I had the chance. I would be a fool not to pay attention with the caliber of players they have on their roster. And now, well, anytime you work for a company that is deeply
Which takes us back to his early passion for the Mets and his dreams of having a lengthy and prosperous career while wearing their uniform. “I was a big fan of Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer, and Justin Morneau,” admitted Gilbert, who was injured and only managed to play in 62 games this season despite reaching Triple-A. “My three favorite players to watch were those three. They’ve all spent more than ten years in the major leagues, so while I’m becoming better, I haven’t accomplished what they have, so I’m not really comparable to any of them. I’m not claiming not to.
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