{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1992)}} {{other people|Michael Gerber}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name = Mike Gerber |image = File:Mike Gerber.jpg |caption = Gerber with the Lakeland Flying Tigers |position = Outfielder |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|7|8}} |birth_place = Nashville, Tennessee |bats = Left |throws = Right |debutleague = MLB |debutdate = April 20 |debutyear = 2018 |debutteam = Detroit Tigers |debut2league= NPB |debut2date = April 28 |debut2year = 2021 |debut2team = Chunichi Dragons |finalleague = MLB |finaldate = September 27 |finalyear = 2019 |finalteam = San Francisco Giants |final2league = NPB |final2date = August 18 |final2year = 2021 |final2team = Chunichi Dragons |statleague = MLB |stat1label = Batting average |stat1value = .076 |stat2label = Home runs |stat2value = 0 |stat3label = Runs batted in |stat3value = 2 |stat2league = NPB |stat21label = Batting average |stat21value = .156 |stat22label = Home runs |stat22value = 0 |stat23label = Runs batted in |stat23value = 1 |teams= * Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|2018}}) * San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2019}}) * Chunichi Dragons ({{npby|2021}}) }} '''Michael Jeffrey Gerber''' (born July 8, 1992) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons.
==Career== Gerber was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 40th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft out of Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Illinois. He did not sign and attended Creighton University to play college baseball.
===Detroit Tigers=== Gerber was then drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 15th round of the 2014 MLB draft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norwichbulletin.com/article/20140710/SPORTS/140719927|title=Gerber swinging hot bat for Tigers|first=Marc|last=Allard|access-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref> He made his professional debut with the Connecticut Tigers and also played with the West Michigan Whitecaps. Gerber spent 2015 with West Michigan and played in the Arizona Fall League after the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thedailynews.cc/2015/06/10/the-review-whitecaps-michael-gerber-taking-success-in-stride/|title=THE REVIEW: Whitecaps' Michael Gerber taking success in stride|access-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2015/11/24/detroit-tigers-mike-gerber/76338148/|title=Tigers like prospect Mike Gerber's approach|access-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref>
Gerber spent most of the 2017 season with the Double–A Erie SeaWolves. On November 20, 2017, Tigers added Gerber to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. On April 20, 2018, the Tigers added Gerber to the 25–man roster ahead of a doubleheader as the 26th man.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2018/04/20/call-tigers-super-exciting-mike-gerber/34078741/|title=Call-up to Tigers 'super exciting' for OF Mike Gerber|work=Detroit News|access-date=2018-04-20|language=en}}</ref> He made his major league debut in the second game when he pinch-ran for Miguel Cabrera. Although he was sent back down after the doubleheader, Gerber was again called up three days later.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2018/04/mike_gerber_tigers_1.html|title=After brief taste on Friday, Mike Gerber ready for Tigers debut, part 2|work=MLive.com|access-date=2018-04-25|language=en-US}}</ref> After being returned to the minors, Gerber was recalled on July 31, following the deadline trade of Tigers outfielder Leonys Martín.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2018/07/31/detroit-tigers-trade-leonys-martin-indians/871622002/|title=Detroit Tigers trade Leonys Martin to Indians for infield prospect|work=Detroit Free Press|first=Anthony|last=Fenech|date=July 31, 2018|access-date=July 31, 2018}}</ref> That night, Gerber recorded his first career major league hit and first RBI. Batting in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds, he hit a line drive down the third base line for a double, scoring José Iglesias from first base. This turned out to be the game-winning RBI in a 2–1 Tigers victory.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/matthew-boyd-throws-8-strong-innings-in-win/c-288218376|title=Boyd rebounds in big way vs. NL Central foe|work=MLB.com|date=2018-07-31|access-date=2018-08-01|language=en-US}}</ref>
===San Francisco Giants=== On December 10, 2018, Gerber was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants from the Tigers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Todd |first1=Jeff |title=Giants Claim Mike Gerber |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/12/giants-claim-mike-gerber.html |website=MLB Trade Rumors |date=December 10, 2018 |access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> He had his contract purchased on May 3, 2019. He tied for the minor leagues lead in 2019 with 41 doubles, and batted .308/.368/.569.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?request=1&type=bat&year=2019&group=Minors&sort_by=2B |title=2019 Register Batting Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date= |access-date=2019-11-09}}</ref> He was designated for assignment on November 5.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/11/05/giants-hit-the-waiver-wire-acquire-three-players-subtract-two-from-40-man-roster/|title=Giants hit the waiver wire, acquire three players, subtract two from 40-man roster|author=Kerry Crowley|website=The Mercury News|date=November 5, 2019|access-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref> Gerber elected free agency on November 12.
=== Colorado Rockies === On December 18, 2019, the Colorado Rockies signed Gerber to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-mike-gerber-latches-on-with-colorado/|title=Rockies' Mike Gerber: Latches on with Colorado|website=CBSSports.com|date=December 19, 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-23}}</ref> Gerber did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=June 30, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/full-list-of-2020-2021-milb-free-agents/|access-date=September 21, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 2, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
===Chunichi Dragons=== On December 2, 2020, it was reported that Gerber had reached a deal with the Chunichi Dragons in the Nippon Professional Baseball League.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-12-02 |title=中日が左中距離砲ガーバー＆左腕ロサリオと大筋合意 |language=ja |trans-title=Chunichi have guts of agreement with pull-hitter Gerber and lefty Rosario |work=Nikkan Sports |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/202012020000781.html |access-date=2020-12-03}}</ref> On April 28, 2021, Gerber made his NPB debut. Gerber hit .156/.174/.178 in 12 games with the Dragons. On October 20, 2021, the Dragons announced that Gerber would not return to the team in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://portalfield.com/news/sports/2272451 | title=⚾｜中日がガーバーと来季契約せず 球団が発表、今季12試合出場で打率.156 | date=20 October 2021 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{baseballstats|espn=33966|mlb=595222|br=g/gerbemi01|brm=gerber001mic|fangraphs=16115|retro=G/Pgerbm001}} *[http://www.gocreighton.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2923 Creighton Blue Jays bio]
{{Chunichi Dragons roster navbox}} {{Portal bar|Biography|Baseball}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gerber, Mike}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:American expatriate baseball players in Japan Category:Chunichi Dragons players Category:Connecticut Tigers players Category:Detroit Tigers players Category:Erie SeaWolves players Category:Lakeland Flying Tigers players Category:Major League Baseball outfielders Category:Sacramento River Cats players Category:San Francisco Giants players Category:Scottsdale Scorpions players Category:Sportspeople from Naperville, Illinois Category:Baseball players from DuPage County, Illinois Category:Baseball players from Nashville, Tennessee Category:Toledo Mud Hens players Category:West Michigan Whitecaps players Category:Madison Mallards players Category:Wisconsin Woodchucks players