Stephen Gilbert, 1B;     #23 overall pick

The Toronto Maples thought enough of him to burn their #2 pick in the inaugural draft on the then 23 year old first baseman from San Rafael, CA.  Last season, as a 24 year old he hit .287 in AA for Prince Edward Island while striking out 95 times, not eye popping numbers for that level at that age.

Gilbert was promoted to the AAA Mississauga Mad Catz for 2016 and is hitting .262 while striking out 11 times in 61 AB’s.  He’s muscled out 3 long balls to improve his SLG. average to .475 this season but at the expense of a falling OBP which is currently .318.

The Toronto Maples have 32 year old Art Hubert who played last season for Milwaukee holding down first base this season but chances are Hubert is going to run out of time before he establishes himself.  The question is whether or not he will get his first hit (yes, he is 0 for 12) before he gets the hook.

Will Gilbert have to prove himself in AAA before he gets the promotion or will the team go with the ‘now or never’ approach?  With 11 RBI’s, tops on the Mad Katz, Gilbert is making a case, albeit not an overwhelming one, but leading the team in that category from the six hole is sending the message that he can produce.