Jacob deGrom has a ‘hair apparent’ in Robert Gsellman
Mets pitcher Robert Gsellman throws a live batting session during a spring training workout, Feb. 27, 2016 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – “Hey, Jacob! Jacob deGrom!”
It’s something Mets pitching prospect Robert Gsellman has heard often during spring training. Fans who have flocked to Tradition Field to watch the Mets work out consistently confuse Gsellman for deGrom.
The reason? Gotta be the hair.
DeGrom’s long, flowing locks have become legendary around the Mets and make him instantly recognizable to fans. Unless Gsellman is nearby. Gsellman also has long hair that flows down to his shoulders and flies around when he’s pitching.
So it was quite amusing on Saturday morning when Gsellman was throwing a bullpen session while deGrom was going through bunting practice on a nearby field. Fans who stood between the two fields did a double-take before figuring out which one was deGrom and which one was not.
For the record, the 6-4, 180-pound deGrom is more slender than Gsellman, a 13th-round pick in 2011 who is listed at 6-4 and 200 pounds. And Gsellman has facial hair.
But still.
“It happens sometimes,” Gsellman said. “I’ve heard it in camp.”
One day, he’d probably be happy to hear it at Citi Field, too. The righthander went a combined 13-7 with a 2.89 ERA in 24 starts for Class A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton in 2015.
“It’s fun here,” Gsellman said of being in his first major-league camp. “I’d like to stay.”
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
