Gerber is the 239th former Northwoods League player to debut in MLB
Rochester, Minn. – Former Mankato MoonDog Joey Gerber, made his Major League debut for the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. Gerber is the 239th former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.
Gerber, who played collegiately at the University of Illinois, played for the Mankato MoonDogs in 2017. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 8th round of the 2018 MLB draft.
In 2017 with the MoonDogs, Gerber pitched in 20 games and was 3-1 with a 1.44 ERA. He struck out 23 batters in 18.2 innings and saved four games. He was also selected by MLB scouts to participate in the Major League Dreams Showcase where he pitched one inning allowing no runs on no hits and striking out one.
Gerber began his professional career in 2018 with the Everett Aquasox of the Short-Season A Northwest League. He would appear in 13 games with Everett before a promotion to end the season to the Clinton LumberKings of the Lo-A Midwest League. Between the two clubs he was a combined 1-0 with a 2.10 ERA over 22 games. He struck out 43 batters in 25.2 innings while walking 11.
In 2019 he began the season with the Modesto Nuts of the Hi-A California League. He pitched in 25 games in Modesto before moving up to the Arkansas Travelers of the AA Texas League. For the season he was 1-4 with a 2.59 ERA over 44 combined appearances. He struck out 69 batters in 48.2 innings and had a 1.171 WHIP.
Gerber was assigned to the Mariners Alternate Training Site for the 2020 season and then was called up to the Major League roster on August 4. In his Major League debut against the Angels, Gerber entered the game in the sixth inning and pitched one inning allowing no runs on no hits.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 27th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 230 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Star Jordan Zimmermann (DET). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.