Gilbert Allen Meche, called Gil, was born on September 8, 1978 in Lafayette, Louisiana. He is a right-handed pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.

High School
Gil attended Acadiana High school.

College
None.

Minor Leagues
Gil was chosen in the 1st round of the 1996 amateur draft by the Seattle Mariners.

1996 - AZL Mariners in the Arizona League
1997 - Everett Aqua Sox in the Northwest League, then Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the Midwest League
1998 - the Timber Rattlers
1999 - New Haven Ravens in the Eastern League, then the Tacoma Rainiers in the Pacific Coast League
2000 - Everett Aqua Sox, then the Timber Rattlers, then the Rainiers
2002 - San Antonio Missions in the Texas League (rehab)
2004 Tacoma Rainiers (rehab)

Major Leagues
Gil made his major league debut on July 6, 1999, against the Anaheim Angels, making him the second youngest debut for the Mariners at that time.

His 2000 season ended early, because of a dead arm. In February, 2001, he had arthroscopic surgery to partially repair a frayed rotator cuff. He was expected to only be on the disabled list for six months.

However, he had to have further surgery on October 3, 2001 on his right AC joint, and missed the entire 2001 and 2002 MLB seasons.

He made his return in to professional baseball on April 5, 2003.

Gil signed with the Kansas City Royals on December 7, 2006, on a 5-year contract worth $55 million, which matched Mike Sweeney's contract as the largest in club history to date.