Prospect Profile: Mat Gamel 3B Milwaukee Brewers
-Dexter Sports
11:15 AM
Dexter-Sports Inbox
Proper Name: Mathew Floyd Gamel
Born: July 26, 1985 in Jacksonville
High School: Bishop Kenny HS, Jacksonville
College: Chipola (Fla.) JC
Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 205
Bats: L Throws: R
Mat Gamel is a true testament to the job that scouting director Jack Zduriencik has done the past few years in the Milwaukee Brewers system. His staff has been able to assemble a competing team in a short amount of time. Starting in 2001 with the pick of JJ Hardy the Brewers have made solid early round picks. Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks, Yovani Gallardo, Tony Gwynn Jr, Ryan Braun and last year's first round pick Matt LaPorta among others have molded a weak system into a competitive organizaion. In his brilliant work, Jack Zduriencik has become one of the most trusted scouting directors in baseball. As Brewer Manager Ned Yost put it, "If Jack drafted Pee Wee Herman, I'd be feeling pretty good about it."
That confidence is what led to the drafting of Mat Gamel in the fourth round of the 2005 Draft. While following through on 2004 draft pick Darren Ford of Chipola (Fla.) Junior College, Mat Gamel's power bat was discovered. With the 4th round pick of the 2005 draft, the Brewers took a chance on Gamel and he has proved that it was well worth it.
Gamel has seen professional career soar since 2007. With the High A Brevard County Manatees, Gamel was able to put together a 33 game hitting streak, which was the longest in the Florida State League in the last 56 years. Gamel is already a professional hitter, that works counts and sprays the ball to all fields. He has enough power to develop into a perennial home run hitter and a strong enough arm to play third base. His defense though needs a lot of work to say the least. Last year he committed 53 errors in 128 games. After working on his defense this off-season, the Brewers sent Gamel to AA Huntsville to start 2008 as the everyday first baseman.
The lefty third baseman has responded to the call up. In 69 games, Gamel has hit .377 with 14 HRs and 62 RBIs. He has also excelled against left handed pitching, hitting .408 against southpaws.
My Predictions and ETA: Gamel should get a get a late call up when rosters expand and if he does well, could lock a major league spot by 2009. With JJ Hardy and Rickie Weeks on contract years, The Brewers could use Gamel as an everyday third basemen and move Bill Hall to either shortstop or second base depending. Gamel has also been rumored to be trade bait in many rumored deals the Brewers could make this season.
11:15 AM
Dexter-Sports Inbox
Proper Name: Mathew Floyd Gamel
Born: July 26, 1985 in Jacksonville
High School: Bishop Kenny HS, Jacksonville
College: Chipola (Fla.) JC
Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 205
Bats: L Throws: R
Mat Gamel is a true testament to the job that scouting director Jack Zduriencik has done the past few years in the Milwaukee Brewers system. His staff has been able to assemble a competing team in a short amount of time. Starting in 2001 with the pick of JJ Hardy the Brewers have made solid early round picks. Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks, Yovani Gallardo, Tony Gwynn Jr, Ryan Braun and last year's first round pick Matt LaPorta among others have molded a weak system into a competitive organizaion. In his brilliant work, Jack Zduriencik has become one of the most trusted scouting directors in baseball. As Brewer Manager Ned Yost put it, "If Jack drafted Pee Wee Herman, I'd be feeling pretty good about it."
That confidence is what led to the drafting of Mat Gamel in the fourth round of the 2005 Draft. While following through on 2004 draft pick Darren Ford of Chipola (Fla.) Junior College, Mat Gamel's power bat was discovered. With the 4th round pick of the 2005 draft, the Brewers took a chance on Gamel and he has proved that it was well worth it.
Gamel has seen professional career soar since 2007. With the High A Brevard County Manatees, Gamel was able to put together a 33 game hitting streak, which was the longest in the Florida State League in the last 56 years. Gamel is already a professional hitter, that works counts and sprays the ball to all fields. He has enough power to develop into a perennial home run hitter and a strong enough arm to play third base. His defense though needs a lot of work to say the least. Last year he committed 53 errors in 128 games. After working on his defense this off-season, the Brewers sent Gamel to AA Huntsville to start 2008 as the everyday first baseman.
The lefty third baseman has responded to the call up. In 69 games, Gamel has hit .377 with 14 HRs and 62 RBIs. He has also excelled against left handed pitching, hitting .408 against southpaws.
My Predictions and ETA: Gamel should get a get a late call up when rosters expand and if he does well, could lock a major league spot by 2009. With JJ Hardy and Rickie Weeks on contract years, The Brewers could use Gamel as an everyday third basemen and move Bill Hall to either shortstop or second base depending. Gamel has also been rumored to be trade bait in many rumored deals the Brewers could make this season.
