Late Nineties Reserve Mets Outfielder: Shawn Gilbert (1997-1998)
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Gilbert was drafted by three team with the Minnesota Twins finally signing him in the 12th round of the 1987 draft. It was a long minor league journey for Gilbert who would spend a total 17 years in the minors. In 1992 he was picked up off waivers by the Chicago White Sox, two years later he was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies & finally in 1996 signed with the New York Mets.
On June 2nd, 1997 he made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter, getting a base hit off Montreal's Carlos Perez in a 10-0 Expo win. Kirby was a speedy base runner who would get used as a pinch runner. The outfielder was also used as a inch hitter.
On July 3rd, he hit his the first of his two career HRs, it came in Florida off the Marlins; Rob Stanifer. In 29 games he hit .136 (3-22) with the one HR & RBI. He is one of very few players to actually have more runs scored (9) than hits (7) in his career.
In 1998 he played in three Mets games going 1-5. That June he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for out fielder; Wayne Kirby. He played in four games with the Cards & then went to the minors. He returned two years later to appear in 15 games with the 2000 Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Retirement: After his playing days he became a coach at Fresno Pacific & then Long Beach University as an assistant in 2011.
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