Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Logan Gilbert Injury Update: What Happened to Mariners Ace?

Logan Gilbert hits IL for first time in MLB career!

Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

The Mariners will be without one of their most reliable arms for at least the next couple of weeks.

Seattle Mariners placed their All-Star right-hander on the 15-day injured list Saturday after an MRI revealed a mild flexor strain in his right elbow, a Grade 1 diagnosis, which is the best-case scenario for any pitcher dealing with an elbow issue. Gilbert will be shut down from throwing for two weeks before the team reassesses his condition.

Logan Gilbert's 2Ks in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/CiAPRuZi7F
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 26, 2025

This is the first IL stint of Gilbert’s career, and it comes as a gut punch to a rotation already dealing with the absence of George Kirby (shoulder). Since debuting in 2021, Gilbert had built a reputation as one of MLB’s true workhorses, leading all pitchers in innings pitched last season (208 2/3) and making every single scheduled start.

A Reluctant First Trip to the IL for Logan Gilbert

The injury cropped up Friday night in an 8-4 loss to the Marlins, where Gilbert exited after just 2 2/3 innings. Long reliever Casey Lawrence was forced to throw five unexpected innings in mop-up duty, and the Mariners’ bullpen needed reshuffling as a result. In corresponding roster moves, Gilbert was placed on the 15-day IL, Casey Lawrence designated for assignment, LHP Tayler Saucedo recalled from Triple-A Tacoma and RHP Troy Taylor recalled from Triple-A Tacoma.

ALSO READ: Corey Seager Lands on IL: What’s Next for the Rangers Without Their Star Shortstop?

Before the injury, Gilbert was looking like a dark horse Cy Young candidate. He posted a sparkling 2.37 ERA and an MLB-best 37.6% strikeout rate through his first five starts, leading Seattle to a 4-1 record in those outings. His career numbers: Since 2021, Gilbert has logged 734 2/3 innings, good for the seventh-most in MLB, and has quietly ranked top-10 in both ERA (3.55) and fWAR (13.4) in that span.

His meticulous arm-care routine was legendary, one of the big reasons this injury is both frustrating and surprising for the club.

Logan Gilbert

Mariners

Mohsin Baldiwala

mlb

Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.