Both Tyler Gilbert and Ketel Marte have made quite a name for themselves in association with the Arizona Diamondbacks (D’backs) of Major League Baseball. If you are not familiar with the iconic D’backs, allow us to introduce them.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, better known as the D’backs, are one of the American professional baseball teams. The D’backs are based out of Arizona and compete every year in the Major League Baseball (MLB) as one of the member clubs of the National League West Divison.
The D’backs franchise was initially established as an expansion team, and they began playing professionally in 1998. In fact, in 2001, the Arizona Diamondbacks won the World Series Championships, defeating the notorious New York Yankees.
Tyler Gilbert and Ketel Marte are set to headline the D’backs 2021 season. Before the match lineups begin, don’t forget to root for your home baseball team by placing MLB best bets through the different options sportsbooks have.
Tyler Gilbert and Ketel Marte headline the Arizona D’backs 2021 Season
Baseball fans in Arizona were thrilled when they heard the news that this season, Tyler Gilbert and Ketel Marte were set to headline the Arizona D’backs. Even though the information didn’t really come as a surprise, the emotions were running high.
It is evident that Mike Hazen, President of Baseball Operations, and Torey Lovullo, manager, have placed their complete faith in the two young baseball players.
However, making a newbie like Tyler Gilbert the headliner for the Arizona D’backs 2021 season was surprising. Ketel Marte made his MLB debut in 2015, and he has had a couple of years of experience in a professional major baseball league.
Compared to him, Tyler Gilbert is a rookie. He made his major league debut in 2021 and was promoted to a headliner within a couple of months.
Diamondbacks’ Tyler Gilbert threw a no-hitter in his first MLB debut.
Although reservations were made by several fans and spectators concerning how Gilbert would perform as a headliner, the 27-year-old American pitcher proved himself against all odds.
Earlier in August, during a match between the Arizona D’backs and San Diego Padres, Tyler Gilbert placed his claim in American baseball history. As soon as the ball left San Diego Padres’ Eric Hosmer’s bat at an estimated 96 mph, and appeared for center field, left-handed pitcher D’backs Gilbert snatched it right out of the air.
It was one of many balls that the Padres scorched that night, but that one was special because everyone would remember it for years to come. Such a performance by Gilbert was exceptional. Gilbert has never shown signs of being extraordinary throughout his professional baseball career, neither has he appeared in any organizations’ American Baseball Players’ prospect list. In fact, his fastball barely scratched the low-90s.
When Gilbert joined the D’backs, it was through the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft. After the minor league was canceled last year, he spent most of his time in quarantine. Therefore, no one anticipated such a performance from him.
Tyler Gilbert scripted America baseball history despite blanking the San Diego Padres 7-0 at Chase Field. He became the fourth pitcher to throw a no-hitter in his career start debut and the first pitcher to do it since 1953. He also became the third pitcher in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ league history to throw a no-hitter. He is considered one of the stalwarts like Hall of Famer Randy Johnson (2004) and Edwin Jackson (2010).
In an interview following the match, manager Torey Lovullo said that Gilbert’s reflected everything that the game of baseball stands for. As long as players are in their uniform and give the right effort, anything is possible.
Tyler Gilbert was in an adrenaline rush even after the incredible performance. He told news reporters that it was pretty cool. He didn’t know what he was going for, and it was one of those days. Balls were getting hit around as usual, and he was making pitches. His no-hitter was just in the rush of the moment.
The game itself was refreshing for D’backs fans. It seemed like a reversal of the bitter fortune the Arizona Diamondbacks have had to endure this season. The San Diego Padres were at the top of their game. They were hitting balls at 95 mph and even higher. But, in the end, all were converted to outs.
The match ended in favor of the D’backs. Some have said that it was pure luck. At the end of the game, Padres’ Tommy Pham tried to hit a line drive to the center field with two out in the ninth. It seemed like it had a fair chance to fall, but to the D’backs’ luck, it hung up long enough, and 28-year-old Ketel Marte was able to make his legendary running catch.
This season has been a record. The 10 balls at 96 mph or above is the second in a no-hitter since American baseball initiated tracking batted-ball data starting from 2015. The first of this kind was when Chicago Cubs’ right-handed pitcher Alec Mills allowed an 11 in his no-hitter last year, in September 2020.
Prior to this, Tyler Gilbert hasn’t really had the most successful baseball career. He was a sixth-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015. But he languished in the Phillies system before he was transferred to the Los Angeles Dodgers in February 2020 as a part of a small trade.
Soon the Dodgers hung him out to dry, and the Arizona Diamondbacks rolled the dice on him. This decision was made largely due to scout Matt Hahn’s recommendation, who had a hunch about Tyler Gilbert.
Gilbert had to spend the first four months at the alternate site. He was only called to the Majors earlier in August when the Arizona Diamondbacks’ had a need in their rotation. In the match against the San Diego Padres, Gilbert became the 15th different pitcher to headline a game for the D’backs this season.
Gilbert might have had a delayed start to a successful career, but his record will take him far.
