Mickey Gasper

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Mickey Gasper

|image = 2025 Twins Mickey Gasper Mar 29.png

|caption = Gasper in 2025.

|team = Minnesota Twins

|number = 11

|position = Catcher / First baseman

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|10|11}}

|birth_place = Merrimack, New Hampshire, U.S.

|bats = Switch

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 12

|debutyear = 2024

|debutteam = Boston Red Sox

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = April 28, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .130

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 0

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 3

|teams =

Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|2024}})
Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

}}

Michael "Mickey" Gasper (born October 11, 1995) is an American professional baseball catcher and first baseman for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox.

Amateur career

Gasper played college baseball at Bryant University from 2015 to 2018.{{Cite web|title=Former Silver Knight Gasper chosen by Red Sox in Minor League Rule 5 Draft|url=https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sports/local-sports/2023/12/06/former-silver-knight-gasper-chosen-by-red-sox-in-minor-league-rule-5-draft/|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=nashuatelegraph.com|language=en}} In his four-year stint with the Bulldogs, he batted .344 with 17 home runs, 119 runs batted in (RBI), 127 runs scored, 102 walks, and 51 strikeouts.{{Cite web|title=Mickey Gasper called up to Boston Red Sox|url=https://bryantbulldogs.com/news/2024/8/12/baseball-mickey-gasper-called-up-to-boston-red-sox.aspx|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=bryantbulldogs.com|language=en}} In 2016, Gasper played for the Nashua Silver Knights of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. He was subsequently named the league MVP after setting Nashua single-season records in batting average (.421) and doubles (21), while also tallying nine home runs and 42 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Bryant's Mickey Gasper named Futures League MVP|url=https://northeastconference.org/news/2016/8/9/BB_Gasper_FuturesMVP_BRY_16.aspx|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=northeastconference.org|language=en}} In 2017, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.{{cite web|url=https://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=1061295&seasonid=30631 |title=#9 Michael Gasper - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=August 13, 2024}}

Professional career

=New York Yankees=

Gasper was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 27th round, with the 817th overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web|title=Swinging a hot bat since his promotion to Worcester, players are calling him Mickey 'Babe' Gasper|url=https://www.telegram.com/story/sports/mlb/woosox/2024/07/09/mickey-gasper-worcester-red-sox-triple-a-baseball-mustache/74334472007/|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=telegram.com|language=en}} He spent his first professional season with the rookie–level Pulaski Yankees, also appearing in one game for the Single–A Charleston RiverDogs. In 42 games with Pulaski, Gasper posted a .259/.395/.496 slash line with nine home runs and 30 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Yankees Promote Mickey Gasper to Charleston|url=https://www.milb.com/news/yankees-promote-mickey-gasper-to-charleston-291282618|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}}

Gasper split 2019 between Charleston and the High–A Tampa Tarpons, slashing a cumulative .251/.357/.393 with 10 home runs and 53 RBI across 107 appearances.{{Cite web|title=Mickey Gasper|url=https://soxprospects.com/players/gasper-mickey.htm|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=soxprospects.com|language=en}} He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}} In 2021, Gasper played for the rookie–level Florida Complex League Yankees, High–A Hudson Valley Renegades, and Double–A Somerset Patriots. Spanning 21 total games, he had a .318/.405/.515 slash line with two home runs, 11 RBI, and two stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=Mickey Gasper - Stats - Batting|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/michael-gasper/sa3007747/stats?position=C/1B|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}}

Gasper returned to Somerset in 2022, totaling 70 appearances and slashing .266/.407/.453 with eight home runs and 27 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Mickey Gasper Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/14560-mickey-gasper/stats/|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}} Gasper split the 2023 campaign between Somerset and the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, slashing a combined .246/.361/.375 with seven home runs, 28 RBI, and 10 stolen bases over 74 contests.{{Cite web|title=SOX SWITCH: Gasper latest Yankees farmhand to make move to Red Sox|url=https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sports/local-sports/2023/12/07/sox-switch-gasper-latest-yankee-farmhand-to-make-move-to-red-sox/|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=nashuatelegraph.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Merrimack High (N.H.) and Bryant University product Mickey Gasper opens eyes in Triple A|url=https://www.masslive.com/worcesterredsox/2024/07/merrimack-high-nh-and-bryant-university-product-mickey-gasper-opens-eyes-in-triple-a.html?outputType=amp|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=masslive.com|language=en}}

=Boston Red Sox=

On December 6, 2023, the Boston Red Sox selected Gasper in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web|title=Red Sox addition grew up a Yankees fan in NH, joins friends on other side|url=https://www.unionleader.com/sports/red_sox/red-sox-addition-grew-up-a-yankees-fan-in-nh-joins-friends-on-other-side/article_28ac8567-4797-5035-8338-d18bc184652b.html|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=unionleader.com|language=en}} He began the 2024 season with the Double–A Portland Sea Dogs, slashing .282/.403/.458 with four home runs and 22 RBI over 44 games.{{Cite web|title=Bryant alum Mickey Gasper on a tear with Worcester Red Sox|url=https://turnto10.com/sports/rhode-island-sports-headlines/bryant-alum-mickey-gasper-on-a-tear-with-worcester-red-sox-triple-a-baseball-minor-league-baseball-red-sox-organization-woosox-bryant-university-bryant-baseball|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=turnto10.com|language=en}} After Gasper was promoted to the Triple–A Worcester Red Sox in June, he slashed .402/.515/.664 with eight home runs and 32 RBI across 40 games.{{Cite web|title=Red Sox Prospect Acquired From Yankees Excelling At Plate In Worcester|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/red-sox/boston-red-sox-news/red-sox-prospect-acquired-from-yankees-excelling-at-plate-in-worcester-colin3|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=si.com|language=en}}

On August 12, 2024, Gasper was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|title=Red Sox Select Chase Shugart, Mickey Gasper; Designate Jamie Westbrook For Assignment|url= https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/red-sox-select-chase-shugart-mickey-gasper-designate-jamie-westbrook-for-assignment.html|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He made his major-league debut in a game at Fenway Park that evening, drawing a walk as a pinch hitter in his first plate appearance.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/08/13/sports/red-sox-mickey-gasper/ |title=The improbable journey of Mickey Gasper leads to the big leagues with the Red Sox |first=Alex |last=Speier |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=August 13, 2024 |accessdate=August 13, 2024}} In 13 games with Boston, Gasper went 0–for–18, however he drew four walks and was hit by a pitch.{{Cite web |title=Mickey Gasper 2024 batting Stats Per Game - MLB |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/5132012/mickey-gasper |access-date=December 25, 2024 |website=ESPN |language=en}}

=Minnesota Twins=

File:2025 Twins-Cardinals Mar 29 gasper 01.png

On December 24, 2024, Gasper was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Jovani Morán.{{cite news |title=Red Sox acquire Jovani Morán from Twins for Mickey Gasper |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43145952/red-sox-acquire-reliever-jovani-moran-twins-utility-player-mickey-gasper |access-date=December 25, 2024 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN.com |date=December 24, 2024}} On March 29, 2025, Gasper recorded his first career hit, a single off of St. Louis Cardinals reliever JoJo Romero.{{Cite web|title=Twins rookie Mickey Gasper collects first MLB hit after long wait|url=https://www.twincities.com/2025/03/29/twins-rookie-mickey-gasper-collects-first-mlb-hit-after-long-wait/|access-date=April 28, 2025|website=twincities.com|language=en}}

Personal life

Gasper grew up in New Hampshire as a New York Yankees fan, a result of his parents hailing from New Jersey.{{Cite web|title=Red Sox C prospect acquired from Yankees batting .389 at Worcester|url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2024/08/red-sox-c-prospect-acquired-from-yankees-batting-389-at-worcester.html?outputType=amp|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=masslive.com|language=en}}