Mat Gamel

Mat Gamel

Gamel with the Milwaukee Brewers
First baseman / Designated Hitter
Born: (1985-07-26) July 26, 1985
Jacksonville, Florida
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 3, 2008, for the Milwaukee Brewers
Last MLB appearance
May 1, 2012, for the Milwaukee Brewers
Career statistics
Batting average .229
Home runs 6
Runs batted in 29
Teams

Mathew "Mat" Lawrence Gamel (born July 26, 1985) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers across the 2008 through 2012 seasons. Once considered among the best prospects in baseball, Gamel's career was limited by injuries.

Early life

Gamel attended Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Florida.[1] He was drafted in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft from Chipola College in Marianna, Florida.

Baseball career

Gamel played his first professional season in 2005 for Milwaukee's Rookie League Helena Brewers. Gamel was promoted to the Single-A West Virginia Power in 2006 and the High Single-A Brevard County Manatees in 2007 in which he posted a 33-game hitting streak bested only by Derek Jeter. He played most of the 2008 season with the Double-A Huntsville Stars before being promoted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds on August 24.[2] In 2008, he was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.[3]

Gamel with the Nashville Sounds in 2009

Gamel was called up to the Majors for the first time when rosters expanded on September 1, 2008, and made his debut two days later, striking out in a pinch-hitting appearance. He recorded his first career hit, a double, on September 7, 2008, off of Chris Young of the San Diego Padres. He hit his first career home run on May 18, 2009, off of Kyle Lohse of the St. Louis Cardinals. However, he made his first fielding error at third base during the same game, even though he had made a great play just a few innings earlier. He hit his second home run off Jason Hammel of the Colorado Rockies.

On May 22, 2012, Gamel underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and missed the rest of the 2012 season.[4]

During 2013 Spring Training, Gamel retore his surgically repaired ACL and missed the entire 2013 season.[5]

On October 3, 2013, Gamel was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs.[6] On December 2, he was non-tendered by Chicago, becoming a free agent.[7]

On December 13, 2013, Gamel signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.[8] However, he re-injured himself doing workouts before spring training and was released by the Braves on February 18, 2014.[9][10]

On March 6, 2015 it was reported that Mat signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. [11] He was released on March 14, 2015. [12]

He signed with the Somerset Patriots and then eventually the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for the 2015 season.

Personal

Gamel's brother, Ben, plays with the Seattle Mariners.[13] Gamel is currently married[14] with two children.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Kendrick, Scott (June 28, 2009). "Grading Area's Major Leaguers". Florida Times Union. Retrieved February 27, 2015 – via Questia.
  2. ↑ Shepard, Brad (August 24, 2008). "Gamel lands big promotion". Huntsville Times. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  3. ↑ Mayo, Jonathan (July 7, 2008). "Gamel, LaPorta take act to Futures Game". MILB.com. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Gamel undergoes knee surgery". MLB.com. May 2, 2008. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  5. ↑ Rosiak, Todd. "Mat Gamel confirmed out for the season". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  6. ↑ Gonzales, Mark (October 3, 2013). "Cubs claim Gamel off waivers from Brewers". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  7. ↑ Muskat, Carrie (December 2, 2013). "Cubs retain nine with signings, contract tenders". MLB.com. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  8. ↑ O'Brien, David (December 13, 2013). "Braves sign former Brewers 1B/3B prospect Mat Gamel". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Former Brewer Mat Gamel reinjures knee, released by Braves". The Daily Cardinal. University of Wisconsin–Madison. February 18, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  10. ↑ O'Brien, David (February 18, 2014). "Gamel released by Braves after reinjuring knee". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  11. ↑ Pimpsner, Robert. "Yankees Sign 1B Mat Gamel to MiLB Deal". Pinstriped Prospects. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  12. ↑ Krest, Shawn (March 14, 2015). "Yankees release Mat Gamel after a week". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Ben Gamel of Bishop Kenny will sign with Yankees | members.jacksonville.com". Jacksonville.com. August 14, 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  14. ↑ McTaggart, Brian (July 16, 2010). "Baseball wives tour Gulf Coast". MLB.com. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  15. ↑ Brown, David (May 8, 2012). "Gotcha! Mat Gamel takes secret photo of fan who took secret pic of him". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
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