John Walter Gast is an American professional baseball player.
Education
Gast attended Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Florida where he was a pitching standout. Gast was drafted in the 5th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft by the Texas Rangers, but chose to attend Florida State University instead and play college baseball for the Seminoles.
Career
A left-handed pitcher, he plays in the Saint Louis Cardinals organization. Gast made his Major League debut on May 14, 2013 against the New York Mets. He also played on the United States. Junior National Team.
Gast suffered an elbow injury during the spring of his senior year in high school, which required Tommy John surgery on May 1, 2007 and forced him to be inactive during most of his first year with the Florida State team
In 2009 Gast played for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League. The Saint Louis Cardinals selected Gast in the sixth round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft.
The minors
In 2011, Gast split time between the Palm Beach Cardinals and the Double-Associate of Arts affiliate Springfield Cardinals, posting a combined record of nine wins and eight losses. He started the 2012 season with the Springfield Cardinals again but in mid-May was moved up to Triple-A baseball with the Memphis Redbirds, finishing the year with a 13-7 record.
2013
Gast began the 2013 season with the Memphis Redbirds, where he pitched thirty-two consecutive scoreless innings.
He was named Pacific Coast League pitcher of the week for the week ending April 21. Gast was called up on May 12, 2013, after Jake Westbrook was put on the 15-day disabled list. He made his major league debut on May 14, 2013 at Busch Stadium against the New York Mets.
Gast threw five shutout innings but gave up four runs in the sixth inning.
He gave up six hits total, walked one, and struck out three to earn his first victory as a Cardinal. He was placed on the disabled list on May 26, after suffering a shoulder strain.
On July 26, 2013 Gast underwent season-ending surgery on his left shoulder. According to the Cardinals John Mozeliak that the expected recovery and rehabilitation time is between eight and twelve months.
lieutenant is the second major surgery for Gast, his first being Tommy John surgery while he was a high school senior.
Gast was outrighted off the Cardinals roster on November 20, 2013. John Gast is the son of David and Sharon Gast, and has been an avid baseball fan since age six. His family was present at Busch Stadium when he made his major league debut for the Cardinals.
While at Florida State Gast majored in Marketing.
He excelled academically as well as athletically, being named to the Administrative Committee on Company-ordination Honor Roll and earning Deans List honors.