Drew GilbertVFL and San Francisco outfielder Drew Gilbert. Photo via @SFGiants on X.

Former Tennessee baseball star Drew Gilbert started the 2026 season in AAA XXXX. But after a slow start to the season, the San Fransisco Giants called Gilbert up earlier this week in hopes that his high energy would provide a spark.

Gilbert did just that in his third game at the big league level this season, blasting a solo home run in the Giants’ 10-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.

The ‘GooBear is BACK pic.twitter.com/ni6f5ggVxH

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) April 17, 2026

Gilbert is one-for-seven at the plate early this season with the solo home run and two walks. The Giants are 2-1 in the three games that Gilbert has played this season.

San Fransisco is 8-12 early this season and are already 7.5 games back in the NL West behind the 15-4 Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s been a streaky early season for the Giants as they have already had two four-game losing streaks and another three-game losing streak.

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Former Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello is looking to right the ship for San Fransisco and is hoping that Gilbert will provide a boost.

Gilbert played 39 games for the Giants in his rookie season and slashed .190/.248/.350 with three home runs, nine extra-base hits and 13 RBIs.

Gilbert spent three years at Tennessee and was a two-year starter, helping lead the Vols to the 2021 College World Series and to the 2022 SEC Regular-Season and Tournament Championship.

The centerfielder was good as a sophomore, but developed into one of the SEC’s best players in his junior season. Improving his hard contact rate, strikeout rate and batting average, Gilbert hit .362 with 11 home runs and 70 RBIs in his final collegiate season.

The Houston Astros selected in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft before trading him to the New York Mets. New York traded Gilbert to San Fransisco at the trade deadline last season and Gilbert made his MLB debut shortly afterwards.