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Former MN Twins First Round Pick Calls it a Career
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- Former MN Twins First Round Pick Calls it a Career
Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
The Major League Baseball Draft just wrapped up on Monday and the Minnesota Twins made 21 selections . They would love it for all of those to become big leaguers. They would certainly love for first round pick Marek Houston to be an All-Star.
The nature of the MLB Amateur Draft, and ascent through the minor leagues, makes that improbable however. That's why, when a player winds up generating a substantial return on their potential, it is to be celebrated.
Watching Kyle Gibson 's MLB debut with @BrandonOlson58 …hopefully the beginning of something special! #faith pic.twitter.com/BkAbvk4SvZ
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— John Licht (@John_Licht) June 29, 2013
More than 15 years ago the Minnesota Twins used the 22nd overall pick on a right-handed pitcher from Missouri. Kyle Gibson made his big league debut in 2013, four years after his 2009 draft, and is now putting his cleats to the side.
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Kyle Gibson announces his retirement
No one truly knew what the Minnesota Twins were going to get out of Kyle Gibson on June 29, 2013. He was a top 100 pitching prospect , and someone the system had waited for, but the rest of the story was unwritten. Now, 13 big league seasons later , he has announced his retirement from baseball.
"I really wanted to have a big league opportunity. Didn't really have a big league opportunity until probably two weeks after that last start [at Triple-A Durham]. At that point I'd had plenty of time to talk with Elizabeth, and talk with the family. I apologize that I've missed the last two episodes, but I actually decided to retire a couple of weeks ago. It's been a lot of fun. You know, being able to be around the family a lot more…It's been exciting being home and has been exciting kind of turning the page to a new chapter."
Gibson contemplated retirement this offseason before the Baltimore Orioles came knocking and brought him back on a one-year deal worth $5.25 million. Ultimately he made just four starts, and posted a 16.78 ERA (10.54 FIP), before he was released .
Rather than retire at that moment, Gibson found a landing spot with the Tampa Bay Rays . He took four turns at Triple-A Durham and was spectacular. Across 17 1/3 innings he racked up 22 strikeouts and walked just six while allowing a single run on 12 hits. Unfortunately the Rays didn't have a big league opening and Gibson opted out.
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Looking back at Kyle Gibson's career
The tale of former MN Twins starter Kyle Gibson's tape is now done. He appeared in 334 games making 328 starts. Gibson won 112 games (one more than his 111 losses), and had a 4.60 ERA across 1,878 innings. His 7.3 K/9 (1,520 strikeouts) is indicative of the type of pitcher he was. More finesse than overpowering, Gibson utilized stuff more than blowing the ball by hitters.
After spending seven seasons with the Minnesota Twins, Gibson was named to his first All-Star Game during 2021 with the Texas Rangers . He posted a 2.87 ERA (3.76 FIP) across 19 starts before being dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies . Before the National League adopted the designated hitter, Gibson made sure to swat his only career home run.
KYLE GIBSON!
His first Major League home run!!! #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/8SPLoCSuok— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 24, 2021
A 13-year career is exactly what you'd hope to get out of a top draft pick. Gibson spent 11 years in the Twins system before playing with Texas, Philadelphia, St. Louis , and Baltimore. After signing for a $1.85 million bonus, he did alright for himself over the course of his career as well. Thanks to that last payday from Baltimore, his total earnings check in at $73.102 million.
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Related: What We Learned About MN Twins Top Pick Marek Houston – MSF Exclusive
Gibson was never the ace that every team hopes they are developing, but he was a reliable member of virtually every rotation he pitched in. He worked through adversity and was an all-around good guy as well.
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