| Mickey Gasper | |
| Team: | Boston Red Sox |
| Number: | 77 |
| Position: | Catcher / First baseman |
| Birth Date: | 11 October 1995 |
| 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: | August 15, 2024 |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 0 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 0 |
| Teams: |
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Michael "Mickey" Gasper (born October 11, 1995) is an American professional baseball player for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). A catcher and first baseman, he made his MLB debut in 2024.
Gasper played college baseball at Bryant University from 2015 to 2018.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] In 2017, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.[4]
Gasper was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 27th round, with the 817th overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] 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.[9]
Gasper returned to Somerset in 2022, totaling 70 appearances and slashing .266/.407/.453 with eight home runs and 27 RBI.[10] 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.[11] [12]
On December 6, 2023, the Boston Red Sox selected Gasper in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15]
On August 12, 2024, Gasper was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[16] 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.[17]
Gasper grew up in New Hampshire as a New York Yankees fan, a result of his parents hailing from New Jersey.[18]