ROBERT GSELLMAN, RHP
Player Data: Age: 23, B/T: Right/Right, Free Agency: 2022
2016 Primary Stats: 4-2, 2.42 ERA, 7 GS, 44.2 IP, 42 K, 15 BB, 1.28 WHIP
2016 Review:
Robert Gsellman burst onto the scene in 2016 after injuries kept on mounting for this Mets squad throughout the year. Initially promoted from Triple A Las Vegas when lefty Steven Matz was placed on the disabled list in August, Gsellman figured to be pitching mainly out of the bullpen, even though he had started 89 of 101 games in the minors.
Gsellman, 23, ended up stepping in to replace the injured Jonathan Niese after his August 23 start in St. Louis, where he was injured in the first inning after tearing his meniscus and requiring knee surgery. Gsellman filled in, and for his major league debut pitched 3.2 innings, allowing only two hits, three walks, and two strikeouts on 75 pitches, earning his first major league win.
With Matz, Harvey, and Wheeler all out of the rotation, and deGrom soon to follow, Gsellman, along with Syndergaard, Colon, and Lugo were tasked with keeping the Mets in contention for the postseason. Gsellman started seven games in August and September, along with his relief appearance in St. Louis, and compiled a 4-2 record with a 2.42 ERA (7th best among all rookies).
His starts included two games against the Washington Nationals in September, where he went 1-0 while tossing 11.2 innings, giving up 11 hits, one earned run, while fanning eight. Gsellman also pitched in Philadelphia on September 30, when he went six innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts, ensuring the Mets would at least qualify for a tiebreaker game, and moved the Mets within one win or one Cardinals loss of clinching a wild card spot.
Grade: B+
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2017 Outlook:
Gsellman had arthroscopic surgery on his non-throwing shoulder to repair a partially torn labrum in mid-October. The pain in his shoulder limited Gsellman to only bunting when he was at-bat, but played no role when he was on the mound. He’ll be ready to go come spring training, and depending on the health of the returning starters, and the Mets ability to re-sign Bartolo Colon, Gsellman might find himself in the bullpen, or starting the 2017 season in Triple A. He’ll get one of the first call ups however, should one of the starters get injured or need time to ease back into the daily grind and routines.
