New Arizona farmhand Gilbert has opportunity
SLV alumnus chosen by D’backs in Rule 5 Draft
SLV alumnus Tyler Gilbert, now an LA Dodgers minor league pitcher, is chosen by Diamondbacks in Rule 5Draft.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ minor league pitcher Tyler Gilbert, a 6-foot-3 left-hander, was eligible for the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday because he wasn’t a member of the team’s 40-man roster.
The draft, in part, allows clubs without a full 40-man roster to pick up players like Gilbert, who signed at age 19 or older but failed to be listed as a protected player within four seasons.
Gilbert said he has been unselected before, so Thursday wasn’t that big a deal. Until it was.
The Arizona Diamondbacks chose Gilbert with the sixth pick in Round 1 of the Triple-A phase of the draft.
“I’m happy with it,” Gilbert said Friday before heading out to play a round at Pajaro Valley Golf Club. “They called and told me they’re excited to have me, so I’m happy. It’s a better opportunity.”
Gilbert was one of eight players taken from the World Series champions’ stacked organization. Former Cabrillo College pitcher Brett de Geus, also of the Dodgers, was taken with the second pick of the MLB phase by Texas.
Teams who draft player must pay $100,000 to the club from which said player was selected. Rule 5 Draft picks are assigned directly to the drafting club’s
26-man roster and must be placed on outright waivers in order to be removed from the 26-man roster in the subsequent season. Should the player clear waivers, he must be offered back to his previous team for $50,000 and can be outrighted to the Minors only if his original club does not wish to reacquire him.
Gilbert said the Diamondbacks paid the Dodgers $24,000 for him and has already been added to the
Triple-A Reno Aces’ 2021 roster. He’ll likely receive an invitation to big league camp during Spring Training.
Gilbert, entering his sixth season of Minor League Baseball, posted a 2- 4 record with two saves and 2.83 ERA with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, the Phillies’ top affiliate, in 2019. He pitched 47 2/3 innings and gave up 39 hits while striking out 46 batters against 14 walks.
“The Dodgers have so many arms,” Gilbert said. “That door closed and another door opened. I don’t care who I pitch for, I just want an opportunity. Ar
izona is in a rebuilding phase, so it couldn’t be a more perfect situation.”
Gilbert said he has been throwing live bullpen sessions and working out at Paradigm Sport in Santa Cruz the past two months. He said he’s seeing progress while utilizing a weighted ball program.
“I’m going to go into Spring Training as ready as I’ve ever been,” he said.
He was traded from Philadelphia to Los Angeles in February and made three Cactus League appearances for the Dodgers. Gilbert allowed four runs on five hits in 2.1 innings be
fore getting assigned to minor league camp. The minor league season was canceled due to COVID-19.
Gilber t was grateful to Los Angeles for making him feel welcome and wanted, he said after the trade. Now, there’s a chance he may face the Dodgers — if he gets promoted to the bigs. Both teams compete in the NL West.
“That would be awesome,” he said. “And intimidating at the same time. That lineup is pretty intense. But I’d love to do that.”