Perseverance and determination: The story of Matt Gage
Making it to the major leagues is no easy task. It is a goal that millions dream of, but only a few achieve. Matt Gage is one of those few. His path to the show is defined by perseverance and endurance. The former 10th-round pick got his opportunity in 2022, and his journey to the majors is one of a kind.
The New York native was originally drafted in the tenth round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants. In 2018 he started bouncing around the league and made stops with the Mets, Rockies, and Diamondbacks. Before joining the Blue Jays, he also spent time in Mexico and the Independent league. His determination, however, never wavered.
“Honestly, I was trying to get better,” said Gage. “I looked at my career and said if I play in Mexico the rest of my life, it’s not that bad. I loved it down there. It was competitive baseball, and the fans were always into it. Never in my right mind did I think I would make it to the majors. COVID happened, and I came back to the states and was able to play independent ball. That was the first-time teams were able to see me after getting released and going to Mexico in 2019.”
The Blue Jays were one team that was impressed by Gage and offered him a minor-league deal. Although a few teams showed interest, Gage was drawn to Toronto because of their young core.
" That's one of the reasons I came to Toronto as a minor league free agent," said Gage. "I looked at the rosters between the three and four teams that wanted me last year and talked about pitching philosophies. Then I was like, alright, If we're going through a losing streak, who's going to be a little more laid back, more fun to be around? It's a group of young talented guys that just want to play the game."
While Gage started the 2022 campaign in the minors, he dominated in Triple-A. The thirty-year-old posted a 2.34 ERA in 41 games. He struck out 46 batters in that span and held opponents to a .167 average. His play earned him a call to the majors, and he dominated.
"It was really joyful," said Gage. "It was one of those things where you sit back and don't know how to react. It doesn't really sink in until you're on the mound. I got the phone call, and I was running around trying to pack and that was like going to a new level. It doesn't really set in until you're on the mound, and the announcer is calling your name, saying you're making your major league debut. "
In his first MLB stint, Gage made the most of his opportunity. The Sienne College product appeared in 11 games and only allowed two earned runs. He was almost unhittable as opponents posted a .147 batting average against him. For Gage his success has been partly due to how he’s grown as a pitcher.
"The Biggest thing I would say is changing my delivery," said Gage. "When I got drafted, I was okay and throwing the ball 86-88. I could run it up to 91-92, maybe. I was a cutter/ sinker guy. Since being drafted, I have worked on my mechanics and increased my velocity. The one thing that has stayed the same is my competitiveness. I love to compete and want to be the guy out there in tough times. My willingness to change has helped me progress a lot in my career."
As the game has changed, Gage has evolved to be successful. That is his key advice for players trying to make it to the majors.
“I would say just keep doing what you can to evolve, “said Gage. You can keep your mechanics, don’t scrap everything after one bad outing. You gotta have enough of a sample size to see if it’s one thing. For me, it was everything. I didn’t have the right mechanics to fit my body. I was able to improve my game by evolving.”
Despite his success, Gage currently finds himself at a crossroads. The talented lefthander was recently designated for assignment by Toronto after the signing of Chad Green. However, he should draw plenty of interest as Gage proved that he belonged in the majors last season.
Regardless of what the future holds, Gage showed in 2022 what happens when you never give up on a dream. His story is far from over, and he has already proven that he is not someone to bet against.
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