Benjamin Joseph Gamel (born May 17, 1992) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ben Gamel | |
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![]() Gamel with the Mariners in 2017 | |
Free agent | |
Outfielder | |
Born: (1992-05-17) May 17, 1992 (age 30) Neptune Beach, Florida | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
MLB debut | |
May 6, 2016, for the New York Yankees | |
MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
Batting average | .253 |
Home runs | 40 |
Runs batted in | 198 |
Teams | |
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Gamel attended Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Florida.[1] He committed to play college baseball at Florida State University.[2]
The New York Yankees selected Gamel in the 10th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft.[1][3] He signed with the Yankees and made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Yankees of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He played in 2011 for the Staten Island Yankees of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League and in 2012 with the Charleston RiverDogs of the Class A South Atlantic League. He began the 2013 season with the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League before being promoted to the Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League.[4] He returned to Trenton in 2014 and played for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Class AAA International League in 2015. The Yankees added him to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season.[5]
After attending spring training, Gamel began the 2016 season with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.[6] The Yankees promoted Gamel to the major leagues on May 5,[7] and he made his major league debut as a defensive replacement on May 6.[8] He spent the majority of the 2016 season with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and won the International League Most Valuable Player Award.[9]
On August 31, 2016, the Seattle Mariners acquired Gamel from the Yankees for minor league pitchers Jio Orozco and Juan De Paula.[10] In 2017, Gamel played in 134 contests for Seattle, slashing .275/.322/.413 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI over 509 at-bats. Gamel hit .272/.358/.370 with one homer and 19 RBI over 257 at-bats in 101 games for the Mariners in 2018.[11]
On December 21, 2018, the Mariners traded Gamel and Noah Zavolas to the Milwaukee Brewers for Domingo Santana.[12] Gamel played in 134 games for the Brewers in 2019, slashing .248/.337/.373 with 7 home runs and 33 RBI over 311 at-bats. In 2020, Gamel appeared in 40 contests, hitting .237/.315/.404 with 3 home runs and 10 RBI in 114 at-bats.[11] On December 2, 2020 Gamel was non tendered by the Brewers, making him a free agent.[13]
On February 11, 2021, Gamel signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians organization that included an invitation to Spring Training.[14] The Indians selected Gamel's contract on March 27, 2021.[15] Gamel was designated for assignment on May 5, 2021.[16]
On May 9, 2021, Gamel was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.[17] In 111 games for the Pirates, Gamel batted .255/.352/.399 with 8 home runs and 26 RBIs.
His brother, Mat Gamel played Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers.[18] Gamel and his wife Lauren had their first child, a daughter, in March 2022.[19]
International League MVP Award | |
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