Red-hot Drew Gilbert may be outfield help Mets are looking for

SAN FRANCISCO — As the Mets monitor the market for potential outfield help, Drew Gilbert’s stock is rising as an internal option for a major league role.

The 24-year-old Gilbert is surging at Triple-A Syracuse, where he delivered two homers on Friday, giving him six for the month. He owns a 1.126 OPS in July.

The Mets view Gilbert as a plus defender in center field — team officials were raving about a catch he made Thursday by racing into the gap — but continued offensive success will be the biggest determining factor in whether he’s promoted for the stretch run.

“Drew is doing a tremendous job, and I think to his credit he is probably putting himself on the radar a little bit,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said before the Mets’ 8-1 win over the Giants at Oracle Park. “Offensively and defensively, he’s taken a step forward I would say over the last month or two.”

A left-handed bat, Gilbert could potentially share center field with Tyrone Taylor, allowing Jeff McNeil to move back to second base full time.

But that would have ramifications in decreasing the at-bats received by players such as Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña.

“Offensively, he has put it together,” said a talent evaluator who has watched Gilbert throughout the season. “He controls the strike zone really well and hits the ball plenty hard. They have got to get him to hit the ball up in the air a little bit more, that’s all. He’s stronger than he looks.”

Gilbert, who arrived in the 2023 trade that sent Justin Verlander to the Astros, missed much of last season with hamstring injuries. Gilbert has remained healthy this season.

He owns an .823 OPS with 14 homers in 314 at-bats overall this season.