Kyle Gibson

Kyle Benjamin Gibson (born October 23, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins.

For the basketball player, see Kyle Gibson (basketball).
Kyle Gibson
Gibson with the Minnesota Twins in 2016
Texas Rangers – No. 44
Pitcher
Born: (1987-10-23) October 23, 1987
Greenfield, Indiana
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 29, 2013, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Win–loss record67–68
Earned run average4.52
Strikeouts845
Teams
Kyle Gibson
Medal record
Baseball
Representing  United States
World University Championship
2008 Brno National team

Amateur career

Gibson transferred to Greenfield-Central High School from Cathedral High School between his freshman and sophomore years. He was ruled ineligible for varsity baseball by the IHSAA for his sophomore year due to the transfer. During his junior year, he was 7–2 and led the Cougars to a sectional championship and to the regional finals. In his senior year, he was 8–6 with a 0.98 ERA and 140 strikeouts. He led Greenfield to the Elite Eight by pitching all of his team's tournament games. He was named the Hancock County Player of the Year after his senior year. He was also named to the Indianapolis Star All-East team in both his junior and senior years. After his senior year, he was named All-East Player of the Year and made the Indiana All-Star Team.

Following his senior year, he was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 36th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft but chose to attend the University of Missouri, where he played for the Missouri Tigers baseball team. In 2007, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[1]

Professional career

Minnesota Twins

Gibson was drafted by the Minnesota Twins with the 22nd overall pick of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. He was given a $1,800,000 signing bonus.

Prior to the 2010 season, Gibson was rated the number 61 overall prospect by Baseball America.[2] In 2010, he started the year with the class A Fort Myers Miracle then was called up to the class AA New Britain Rock Cats. On August 13 Gibson was promoted to the class AAA Rochester Red Wings.

Going into the 2011 season, Gibson was rated the number 34 overall prospect by Baseball America. Gibson was part of 19 non-roster players to get invited to spring training in 2011.[3]

Gibson spent the 2011 season with the Red Wings but after 18 starts, was sidelined with a sore elbow, ultimately resulting in his undergoing Tommy John surgery on November 7, 2011.[4] Gibson returned in late 2012, starting two games for the Red Wings and six more in the Arizona Fall League.[5]

Gibson made his major league debut on June 29, 2013, against the Kansas City Royals. He pitched six innings, giving up two runs on eight hits, walking none and striking out five while also picking up his first major league win. Gibson wound up with a 6.53 ERA in 10 starts for the Twins.

For the 2014 season, Gibson was a mainstay in the Twins rotation, contributing 13 wins in 31 starts for Minnesota. His ERA was 4.47, second to Phil Hughes on the starting staff. The following year, Gibson improved his numbers overall from 2014. He led the team in innings, in wins and bettered his ERA from 4.47 to 3.84 in 2015.

After suffering a right shoulder strain early in 2016, he remained a part of the Twins’ rotation but saw a dip in the quality of his numbers. Starting in 25 games that year, he had an ERA of 5.07 and batters hit over .290 against him. He compiled the same ERA in 2017, but with 12 wins, and hitters again hit over .290 against him. In 2018, he entered the Twins’ rotation again and started achieving a career-high strikeout rate than before — as of June 2018, he had struck out 66 batters in just 63 innings. Gibson finished the season with a record of 10-13 in ​196 2⁄3 innings. He led the team in ERA, finishing with a 3.62 ERA and a career high 179 strikeouts. He slotted 2nd in the Twins rotation in 2019. Gibson's K/9 rose to a career high 9 despite registering an ERA of 4.84 in 160 innings. Gibson tied a career high in wins with 13.[6]

Texas Rangers

On December 6, 2019, Gibson signed a three-year contract with the Texas Rangers.[7]

Scouting report
Gibson pitching for the Minnesota Twins in 2015

A groundball pitcher since his days in the minors, Gibson relies on a 92 MPH sinker, an 81 MPH curveball, an 85 MPH circle change-up and an 85 MPH slider.[8][9]

Personal life

Gibson is married to Elizabeth Gibson. The married couple have three children together.[10] Gibson is a Christian.[11] Gibson was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis near the end of the 2019 season.[12]

References
  1. "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  2. "Prospects: Rankings: Top 100 Prospects: 2011 Top 100 Prospects: 21-40". Baseball America. February 23, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  3. D.J. Short (January 11, 2011). "Twins invite top pitching prospect Kyle Gibson to spring training". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  4. Rhett Bollinger (March 11, 2012). "Making steady progress, Gibson optimistic". MLB.com. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  5. John Shipley (November 21, 2012). "Kyle Gibson hopes big leagues next step on road to recovery". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  6. Kenny Kelly (November 19, 2019). "Don't sleep on Kyle Gibson". Beyond the Box Score. SB Nation. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  7. "Rangers sign free agent RHP Kyle Gibson to three-year contract". MLB.com. December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  8. "Player Card: Kyle Gibson". Brooks Baseball. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  9. David Laurila (June 23, 2015). "Kyle Gibson on Pitching to Contact". FanGraphs.com. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  10. Chris Miller. "Kyle Gibson is Twins' nominee for Roberto Clemente Award". Star Tribune. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  11. "Kyle Gibson". The Increase. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  12. Do-Hyoung Park (September 1, 2019). "Gibson to IL to address ulcerative colitis". MLB.com. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
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