Exclusive Red Sox Interview: Jason Gilman's Grit and Determination Led Him To Professional Baseball

“I would say it’s probably a very unique story.”

Jason Gilman never imagined that one phone call after his season with Division III Kean University ended would change the trajectory of his baseball career. Gilman, who wound up being a 16th-round pick in the 2025 draft by the Boston Red Sox, recalled the events that brought him to pro baseball.

“I was actually on my way touring University of Virginia and I get a call. I wound up answering it and it winds up being an agent... at the time, I would say advisor. I took it [the call]. Learning about the draft process, learning what it entails. I’m very new to the [draft] scene, I don’t know many people who were drafted around me. Being a D3 [athlete], it’s not like teammates get that look often. And this is actually 12 days before the draft,” Gilman explained.

To say things quickly changed for Gilman is an understatement. His 2025 season was one of complete dominance for the left-handed pitcher, helping to lead Kean University to a 41-11 record and making it all the way to the NCAA Division III College World Series. Gilman himself pitched like an ace for the team, going 14-1 in 15 games, 14 of them starts. He finished the season with a 2.08 ERA in 112 1/3 innings and struck out 150 batters while walking just 32.

And when it mattered most, Gilman stepped up. With his team facing elimination after losing their first game of bracket play in the finals, Gilman took the mound against top-seeded Johns Hopkins University and left everything out on the field.

“We were facing elimination and we’re playing the number one seed. It was a do-or-die game and win or lose, I knew it would probably be my last outing at Kean. So, it was definitely leave it all out on the field,” the southpaw reflected.

And he did just that. Leading the team from the mound, Gilman pitched a complete game, allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits and striking out 14. He would not leave the mound until his team won the game, tossing a whopping 152 pitches as he led them to a 5-3 victory and keeping their championship dreams afloat. Although Kean lost the next game 5-4 and was eliminated by Endicott College, Gilman can always say he gave it his all.

And while his plans for the draft changed drastically with less than two weeks to go, Gilman prepared for his future, committing to Ole Miss to play a fifth year of baseball at the NCAA level. Instead, the Red Sox called and altered everything. After signing, Gilman did not get into any games but instead was assigned to the team’s complex in Fort Myers.

During his time there, he was slowly eased back into baseball shape and was placed on the same throwing program as others in his draft class. It was an opportunity to learn what it was like to be in a professional organization and what was expected from them. And, in a sense, it was a precursor to his first spring training.

“It helped me a lot. I became familiar with the staff, the people, other players and my draft class. We started to create some bonds. It’s been helpful,” Gilman said about the two months down at the complex. But it wasn’t just forming bonds that occurred, as the team had Gilman begin to work on his physical conditioning.

“If you look at me, I was one of the smaller pitchers in our draft [class]. Right away I needed to gain weight and throw harder. It wasn’t stuff right on the mound but taking care of your body, eating the right way and working hard in the weight room. As we got closer to spring training and in spring training, we’ve done a lot of stuff for velocity. That’s been my number one goal."

And now that he’s had the taste of his first spring training, Gilman has better expectations of professional ball. A pitcher who only had Division III experience has now made his way to the best league in the world. He will likely pitch in affiliated ball once the minor-league season kicks off. For a pitcher who grew up loving baseball, nothing beats it.

“I was a kid and I just started throwing a ball. Apparently, it was my first toy, so that’s pretty cool.” Pretty cool indeed.