Stetson Professional Athletes

Logan Gilbert put on a masterclass Thursday afternoon at T-Mobile Park — and it couldn't have come at a more complicated moment for the Stetson product.

The Seattle Mariners right-hander struck out 11 over seven innings, allowing three earned runs as Seattle rallied past Texas 4-3. The win was punctuated by Julio Rodriguez's three-run blast in the seventh, but Gilbert was the story entering the late innings. His ERA now sits at 3.72, and his ability to control the running game has quietly become one of the more underrated subplots of his season.

The irony? The performance may only deepen Seattle's offseason dilemma. Multiple reports indicate the Mariners could explore trading Gilbert this winter, driven by a surplus of starting pitching and a lineup that still lacks a true middle-of-the-order threat. Sports Illustrated argues the trade case has merit but cautions that Seattle risks underselling one of the game's most dependable workhorses. Heavy Sports and The Sporting News both frame Gilbert as the most logical trade chip in a rotation loaded with quality arms. The core tension: move a proven All-Star starter to land an impact bat capable of reshaping the 2027 lineup, or hold onto the pitcher who just carved up a big-league lineup for seven innings on a Thursday afternoon.

No resolution is imminent, but Gilbert's Thursday outing did him no favors in staying anonymous — in the best possible way.

The Other Stetson Arm on the Mound

Gilbert wasn't the only Hatters alum dealing Thursday. Jacob deGrom, pitching for the opposition, was equally electric and arguably more unlucky. The two-time Cy Young winner struck out 12 in six innings of one-hit ball — a vintage, clock-turning-back performance — only to watch the Rangers bullpen cough up the lead. deGrom took the loss despite one of the best-pitched lines of his season, with his ERA now at 3.80.

deGrom's afternoon also arrived against the backdrop of his own trade drama. The Rangers came close to dealing him to the Atlanta Braves at the deadline — a package that would reportedly have sent Spencer Strider to Texas — but deGrom invoked his no-trade clause to block the move. In hindsight, given what Atlanta was offering, Rangers observers may quietly thank him for staying put. His future in Texas beyond this season remains an open question, with the Blue Jays and others already circling should the Rangers revisit the market this offseason.

Two Stetson pitchers, one game, both dominant, both at crossroads. Not a bad week for DeLand, FL.

Perkins Gets the Call in Oakland

Elsewhere, Jack Perkins was recalled by the Athletics after J.T. Ginn landed on the 15-day IL with a right elbow impingement. Perkins had been optioned down just a day prior when Joey Estes was recalled — the revolving door of a rebuilding roster in September. In his most recent outing against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Perkins went five innings but allowed four earned runs, finishing with a 6.53 ERA on the season. The recall keeps him in the mix, though Oakland's focus is squarely on evaluating depth pieces for next year.

deGrom's Worst Outing as a Ranger Raises Red Flags

Jacob deGrom gave Texas — and Stetson alumni watchers — plenty to worry about on Tuesday night. The right-hander lasted just 3.2 innings against the White Sox, surrendering 8 earned runs in what stands as his worst start as a Ranger. His ERA climbed to 4.21, and the outing left the Rangers stuck at 66-67, unable to claw back to .500.

The timing is pointed. Reports surfaced that the Atlanta Braves had considered acquiring deGrom at the trade deadline before ultimately passing. Given Tuesday's implosion, FanSided noted the Braves should count themselves fortunate they held off — a sentiment that will sting Rangers fans who had hoped the former two-time Cy Young winner was rounding back into form. At 4.21 ERA, deGrom is no longer operating on name alone. Durability and effectiveness are legitimate questions now, not just pessimistic noise.

Two Hatters Offer a Brighter Counterpoint

Not every Stetson alum had a rough week. Logan Gilbert gave Seattle exactly what it needed on Tuesday, turning in a solid 5.0-inning outing against the Phillies, allowing just 2 earned runs while striking out 5. The Mariners won 9-2, and Gilbert's ERA sits at a respectable 3.36 — a reminder that the Hatters pipeline has produced more than one legitimate big-league arm.

Jack Perkins was arguably the most quietly impressive of the trio. Working for the Athletics against the Astros on Sunday, Perkins went 5.0 innings, surrendered just 1 earned run, and punched out 6. His ERA remains elevated at 6.68 on the season, but this was the kind of start that suggests there's a useful arm in there when he's on. For an Athletics squad still finding its identity, a performance like that matters.

The Week in Full

It was a tale of contrasts for Stetson's MLB contingent. DeGrom's rough turn dominated the headlines and will fuel legitimate scrutiny about whether the Rangers are getting a version of the pitcher who once looked untouchable, or something far more mortal. Meanwhile, Gilbert continued to be one of the steadier starting pitchers in the American League, and Perkins flashed the kind of upside that keeps evaluators interested.

Isaiah Barkett and Lorenzo Meola, both with the Giants, had no notable stat lines to report this week.

The Stetson brand in professional baseball has never rested on a single name, and this week was proof of that in both directions — one icon struggling to recapture former glory, and two other Hatters quietly reminding the league they belong.

Jacob deGrom isn't just passing milestones anymore — he's rewriting the record books.

The Stetson alumnus became the fastest right-handed pitcher in MLB history to record 2,000 career strikeouts, reaching the mark in the second-fewest games and innings pitched ever for a righty. He got there in vintage fashion: fanning the first two batters he faced against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night, then going on to punch out 10 total across six scoreless innings in a crisp 2-0 Rangers win. Corey Seager's solo home run provided all the offense deGrom needed.

The milestone lands with an asterisk of its own kind — deGrom has spent significant stretches of his career sidelined by injuries, making the efficiency of his strikeout accumulation that much more staggering. Getting to 2,000 Ks faster than any right-hander in history while burning through fewer games and innings than almost anyone? That's a Hall of Fame argument that writes itself. The ace currently carries a 3.77 ERA on the season, and if he takes the mound once more before the month is out, he'll match his 30-start total from last season — itself the first time he'd hit that number since his back-to-back Cy Young campaigns with the Mets in 2018–19.

For Stetson, it's a reminder that DeLand, Florida produced one of the most electric arms the game has ever seen.

Around the League

Logan Gilbert continued a quietly strong season for the Mariners on Wednesday, striking out five Brewers over five innings in Seattle's 7-5 win. Gilbert allowed three earned runs but held things together long enough for the offense to take over. His ERA sits at 3.35, keeping him firmly in the conversation as one of the more reliable starters in the AL West. Another Stetson product doing damage on a big stage.

Jack Perkins had a tougher outing for the Athletics on Tuesday, logging 3.2 innings against the Royals and striking out four, but the results weren't pretty — his ERA remains elevated at 6.96. The young righty has shown flashes of the stuff that made him a prospect, but consistency has been the hurdle. At 3.2 innings per start, length is an issue that needs resolving as the season winds down.

Three Stetson pitchers active in MLB in the same week is no accident — it's a program that has quietly developed professional arms at an impressive rate. This week, one of them made history.