Gilbert Showing Great Progression On The Mound

Jackson Gilbert RHP / OF / Avondale, MI / 2026

OXFORD - The progression has been astounding. Jackson Gilbert has gone from throwing 79 miles an hour as a freshman to 92 as a junior. The 6-2 195-pound right-hander hopes college coaches take notice.

“I believe in myself,” the 17-year-old explained. “I feel I can get to 92-95 by the time I get to college. I’m a good student and an overall good person.”

Admittedly, interest was not what he had hoped on Aug. 1 when college coaches could reach out to players in the 2026 class for the initial time.

“After the Future Games, where I was up to 90, I was expecting more interest,” Gilbert noted. “Oakland was the one school to reach out. It was a little disappointing after a pretty good performance at the Future Game but it gave me more energy to get back on the grind. The big thing was getting in the weight room and putting on pounds.”

Now up 15 pounds from late summer, Gilbert is beginning to gain more interest.

“I went to Florida in October and was up to 92,” Gilbert reflected. “After that a decent amount reached out, Oakland, Western (Michigan), Eastern (Michigan) and Central (Michigan). I have a 4.0 so all but two Ivys reached out. It’s cooled down the past couple months, but schools want me to come to their camp. I went to a Michigan camp and was up to 92-93 and they said they’re going to watch me progress in high school games.”

There was also a camp at West Virginia and an upcoming one is at Michigan State for the 12th-rated 2026 right-handed pitcher in Michigan.

“I started thinking about college baseball freshman year,” Gilbert related. “I played JV football and then started a pitching program in the winter and got up to 85 in the summer. It was then that I quit football and basketball to focus on pitching.

“The big turning point was the Preseason ID with Prep Baseball, my first showcase in the winter where I was up to 88. That got me focused to be ready for spring. I played for USA Prime and they contacted schools for me. Then I was invited to the (Prep Baseball) All-State but got hurt. I did the Top Prospect Games and Oakland, Eastern and Davenport saw me there. It was good to compete against all the good kids there.”

Still, there was uncertainty leading up to Aug. 1.

“I didn’t know how it would go, nobody told me,” Gilbert said. “I participated in some large tournaments and coaches were there, but maybe I should have done more camps the previous summer where they can see me individually more one-on-one.”

For now, the Avondale High School junior is working on getting better.

“I’m staying in the weight room and continuing a pitching program,” Gilbert noted. “I’m looking forward to camps where I can show myself. I hope to get up to 92-93 and see where it takes me.”

Adam Goodwin, Prep Baseball Michigan Director of Scouting, sees a promising future ahead for Gilbert.

“Jackson features one of the fastest arms in his class with a sound delivery and high level of compete when he takes the mound,” Goodwin said. “In addition, has a fastball that gets in on hitters and a tighter slider to pair. I’m looking for him to have a very good spring campaign.”

Gilbert has an idea of what he is looking for in a college.
“I want a good quality school with strong academics,” Gilbert explained. “The Ivys are a great education and they don’t take Junior College kids, the same kids are on the team throughout. I’m looking for a place that wants me to get better, a place with good support from the coaches and has nice facilities.”

In addition to camps, Gilbert has the Prep Baseball ProCase in his near future.

“Then we’ll see where I’m at,” Gilbert said. “I’d like to commit by the middle of spring season.”