Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert can thank his jersey for stopping at least one earned run during their win over the Athletics on Wednesday night.
With a runner on third in the first inning of Seattle’s 5-4 victory at T-Mobile Park, Athletics outfielder Carlos Cortes belted a line drive at the Mariners right-hander.
And as Cortes made his way down the first-base line, a bemused Gilbert span around while trying to find the ball – only to discover that it was somehow lodged in his shirt.
Though unfortunately for the 28-year-old, he didn’t get the out and Cortes was instead credited with a hit and awarded first base. Nick Kurtz also remained at third base for the Athletics, while Shea Langeliers advanced to second base.
According to the MLB Umpire Manual’s Rule Interpretations, a batted or thrown ball going inside a player or coach’s uniform is deemed out of play. At that point, it’s up to the umpire’s discretion to place the runners.
‘It happened so quick, I wasn’t quite sure what happened,’ Gilbert admitted. ‘And then, I mean, I hurt a little bit after that. So, had to take a second.’
Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert caught a line drive in his jersey on Wednesday night
Gilbert did not get the out despite Athletics star Carlos Cortes belting the ball into his shirt
‘At first, I thought I was pretty fortunate that it was a catch,’ he added. ‘But, I guess it wasn’t a catch. But at the same time, if they hit it like 110 off the bat, I don’t really feel like I deserve an out there.’
A number of MLB fans disagree, however.
One user posted on X after Gilbert’s jersey catch: ‘That has to be an out. Ball never touched the ground and the player secured it. No way should’ve been ruled a hit.’
‘What the f*** is he supposed to do there? Should be an out,’ said another.
A third claimed: ‘There was no intentional act. The play happened way too fast for any malicious intent. Which nullifies the intentional rule, but boils down to umps discretion which. Should’ve been in out IMO, but weird play’.
While a fourth put: ‘I get that it’s a rule… but like he caught it??’
Gilbert was briefly checked out by Mariners head athletic trainer Kyle Torgerson, but he remained in the game and made it through the inning.
After the game, in which he gave up three runs in four innings, the pitcher revealed he had a bruise on his stomach, as well as a cut on his left hand.
Otherwise, Gilbert said he was fine, much to the relief of teammates like first baseman Josh Naylor, who hit a walk-off single on Wednesday.
‘Anything hit back to the pitcher with that exit velocity’s kind of scary,’ Naylor said. ‘You never know what’s going to happen. So, I’m glad he’s okay.’
Manager Dan Wilson commended Gilbert for bouncing back, though he did allow two earned runs on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Soderstrom and an RBI single by Jeff McNeil in the first inning. Gilbert joked postgame he had no interest in exiting the game since the incident happened so early in it.
‘That was crazy,’ he said. ‘That was a freak thing, to end up through the jersey, too.’
