Pirates Add Ben Gamel to Outfield Mix

With the slew of recent injuries for the Pittsburgh Pirates, not many proven outfield options remained. Because of this, the Pirates went out and claimed veteran Ben Gamel off waivers to add some stability to a position that has been plagued with questions this season.

From the beginning of the season, one of the biggest questions on this Pittsburgh Pirates team came from the outfield. Bryan Reynolds and Gregory Polanco were locks from the get-go, and it was supposed to be Anthony Alford and Dustin Fowler battling for centerfield. However, both Alford and Fowler failed to produce much of anything at the Major League level, and the Pirates have essentially been throwing things at the wall to see what sticks ever since. Add that with Gregory Polanco heading to the Injured List, and Bryan Reynolds dealing with back tightness, and the Pirates were faced with a real problem. Because of this, General Manager Ben Cherington went out and claimed a veteran outfielder off waivers, who has a history of killing the Pirates.

As part of a slew of roster moves on Sunday, the Pirates claimed outfielder Ben Gamel off waivers from the Cleveland Indians. It hasn't been a great start to the season for Gamel, who hit just .071 in 14 at-bats with the Indians before being DFA'd. However, over his six-year MLB career, Gamel is a .259 hitter with 23 home runs and 126 RBI over 453 Big League Games played. Most of that time has been split between the Seattle Mariners and the Milwaukee Brewers, which is where the Pirates got a good glimpse of Gamel. Last season, Gamel torched the Pirates in the 24 at-bats he had against the team, hitting .375 with two home runs and four RBI. Now that he is on the Pirate's side, he is hoping to have the same success, and resurrect his career while helping the Pirates solve their outfield issues.

A Traveling Career

Gamel has spent parts of six seasons in the Major Leagues, and the Pittsburgh Pirates will be the fifth organization he has joined. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 10th round of the 2010 draft and came up through their system. However, he got his first major break in the Big Leagues with the Seattle Mariners in 2017. He came to the Mariners in a minor deal that sent pitchers Jio Orozco and Juan De Pala to the Yankees. He became the team's fourth outfielder and split time between left field and right field for the Mariners. He showed a little bit of power that first season, hitting .275 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI, and earned more playing time throughout the season. However, the big problem for Gamel was strikeouts as he went down 22.1% of the time.

During the 2017 season, Gamel missed time with a right oblique strain, but still managed to play in 101 games for the Mariners, hitting .272 with a home run and 19 RBI. He cut down on his strikeout rate by 2% and focused more on hitting the gaps rather than putting the ball over the wall. As a result, he rang in 19 extra-base hits, including 14 doubles, and garnered interest from the Milwaukee Brewers that off-season. He ended up heading to Milwaukee, along with RHP Noah Zavolas, that off-season and stepped in as the Brewer's primary left fielder at the beginning of the year. He ended up losing that spot due to some offensive struggles and managed to hit just .242 that season with seven home runs and 33 RBI. The strikeout problem was still a major concern, as he went down swinging a career-high 29.2% of the time.

2020 saw him play a more full-time role with the Brewers, and he produced about the same numbers. He hit .237 with three home runs and 10 RBI and continued to strike out at a 30% clip. However, one team that he performed really well against in 2020 was our very own Pittsburgh Pirates. Gamel had 24 at-bats against the Pirates last season and hit .375 with two home runs and four RBI. He had two game-winning hits off the Pirates and found himself a home in centerfield after hitting a game-winning two-run home run on August 2nd of last season. However, as he hit free agency, the Brewers didn't bring him back and although he started the year with the Cleveland Indians, he was DFA'd. Now he is looking for a new start with the Pirates as the 28-year-old tries to revitalize his career.

Gamel Gets Chance in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is an enticing landing spot for the 28-year-old Gamel, simply because he is going to get a chance to play every day. Especially with Polanco out, the Pirates are in need of a consistent outfielder, and Gamel can be that for the Bucs. Even when Polanco returns, the outfield will more than likely shape up to be Gamel in left, Reynolds in center, and Polanco in right. Gamel doesn't have amazing speed, but he has enough to be able to cover the vast left field that is PNC Park. He was a centerfielder in Milwaukee and can use that speed in left for the Pirates. It will also allow a guy like Ka'ai Tom to have a veteran to help him as he continues his transition from High-A Ball to the Major Leagues.

Throughout his career, Ben Gamel has been a big pull hitter, and this could actually help him at PNC Park. So far in 2021, he has pulled the ball 75% of the time and has hit the ball in the air 25% of the time. He has shown the ability to hit for power in the past, and that might help him at PNC Park. With that short-porch in right field, Gamel would be able to use some of that power to pepper with the Clemente wall throughout the season. On a team that has been void of power this season, Gamel could come in and provide some power from that left side of the plate. However, he would have to cut down significantly on his strikeouts if he wants to stay in the lineup on a daily basis and not drop off like many outfielders before him.

Overall, I am intrigued by the claiming of Gamel off waivers and think it is a short-term move that could turn into a long-term fix. At just 28-years-old, Gamel is still a relatively young outfielder and has time to grow at the Major League level. He has shown that he can get his average up into the .270 to .290 range, and if he could do that on a consistent basis he could be the outfielder the Pirates have been looking for. PNC Park will allow him to show off some of that power, but what he should be more focused on is hammering balls into the big gaps at PNC Park. Then, he can use his legs to get extra bases and focus on getting that batting average up as opposed to selling out for the home run. Only time will tell how the move turns out for the Pirates, but Gamel has a shot at earning everyday playing time in Pittsburgh.

Ben Gamel and the Pittsburgh Pirates (14-19) kick-off a three-game series tonight at PNC Park when they take on the Cincinnati Reds (15-16) tonight at 6:35 pm. Mitch Keller (2-3, 6.29) looks to build off the momentum of his last start when he battles newly announced Reds starter Tyler Mahle (1-1, 3.23). You can watch the game live on AT&T Sportsnet, listen on 93.7 The Fan, or follow along with us on Twitter by following @Buccos_Cove.

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