Why Seattle Mariners Logan Gilbert called the opening starter

A pitcher on the opening day had to be named at some point, and Saturday was the day when the manager of Seattle Mariners, Dan Wilson, started his daily Spring Training Media Session with an announcement.

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“Logan Gilbert will be our opening starter,” Wilson told the assembled group. “A very difficult decision. But you know that Logan definitely deserves it, and we look forward to it and look forward to starting here on the 27th. “

Gilbert, who enters his fifth year in the Majors, set up the figures in 2024 to lead almost all of the baseball employees (208 2/3) in MLB and to bind most starts (33) while he was appointed to his first all-star team and ended sixth place in the American League Cyung Award coordination.

However, it was still suspected that the three-time all-star Luis Castillo was able to open first with the MS for his fifth.

“Luis Castillo rightly wore this torch in recent years, and that makes it a difficult decision,” said Wilson. “The way Luis was dealt with is great. He is a real professional and has poured a lot into these young jugs in recent years. I think he can feel proud and Logan takes the ball to start the opening day because he is also inserted into it. “

The flashlight was adopted with a local Mariner, the first of four starters that have appeared in just three years, now on the rotation. A year ago, the former manager Scott Servais asked for the guidance of Gilbert, who was a bit surprised by the ASK. It didn't take long for him to realize why he was asked and came out of the young jug that he had seen as in previous years. Like Castillo, Gilbert has a lot to give.

Interestingly, the numbers and a career year followed.

“Logan with a big year last year, over 200 Innerings and a man who has driven up – they want to reward that without a doubt,” said Wilson. “But as we said, they know,” The Rock “(Castillos nickname) was” The Rock “. He was so consistent and as I said, he really poured a lot into the young jugs we have. That was. That was his Mo and he is the veteran of the staff. It is difficult to see the change a bit, but he was enormous in everything.”

Wilson gave the couple the news together and according to Gilbert, his teammate was indeed enormous to get the hard news.

“My goodness, I can't say enough about Louie,” said Gilbert, “who he is as a person. I think he deserves it completely. He was more excited to me than me. He is this type. Dan told me and for five seconds I probably don't think a word came out. I was just like taking it and Louie said: “Say something!” So very excited for me and me giving hugs and all of these kinds of things. I mean, that's exactly the type he is. Behind closed doors it is exactly the same thing you see. “

If the shoe had been on the other foot, it was likely that Gilbert's reaction would be the same. At the beginning of this spring he did not seem concerned about who started the opening day, and said that he believed that all five members of the Seattle rotation could earn the honor for another team in baseball. Now that it is a reality, it was clear that this honor had a special meaning for him.

“I think of the high school and college back and it is as if it felt like a vacation on the opening day,” said Gilbert. “It is the first game of the year, the best pitchers are out there. For me and I am an extreme baseball fan, so it's probably different, but I felt that the world stopped for this day and everyone simply had their television and saw the best pitchers in the game. So it feels like a vacation, it always has it for me and I am sure it will be this year. “

It is an honor that was not only given in the hope that it brings something special from Gilbert because he takes another step forward in his career. It is an honor he deserves and a performance that is celebrated by the entire group.

“I think that's what is so beautiful about the group,” said Wilson. “I talked a lot about it – the bond, the camaraderie, whatever you want to call it. This group is a special group of pitchers and they all look at each other for support to get help.

“Logan is the first of this group and really took what (Pitching coach Pete Woodworth and Director of Pitching Strategy Trent Blank) talked about the dominant zone and made it his own and helped other boys. 'The Rock' has helped other people in this process. It is difficult to let a man in the group in the group because this is such a narrow group, and I think Logan is ready. He is prepared for it and the smile really told everything for me. “

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