MLB just lost a reliable starting pitcher to retirement.
After 13 seasons in the big leagues, 37-year-old Kyle Gibson announced his retirement on Thursday’s episode of the “Serving it Up” podcast, adding that he made the decision “a couple weeks ago.”
“It’s been exciting being home and exciting kind of turning the page to a new chapter,” Gibson said. “I’ve kind of taken the last couple weeks to call people and text people that I really wanted to let know in person and I’m going to take the next few days and try to write something up and make sure that I can properly thank everybody that needs to be thanked for the last 15-16 years in professional baseball.”
Gibson was drafted by the Twins in the first round of the 2009 draft out of the University of Missouri.
The righty then underwent Tommy John surgery in 2011 while he was pitching in Triple-A, delaying his MLB debut to 2013.
The right-hander went on to spend seven seasons with Minnesota, totaling 9.8 WAR in that span with a pitching record of 67-68 and a 4.52 ERA.
Despite never being the Twins’ ace, he had a reputation as a solid, durable arm to eat innings and keep the team in the game.
After leaving Minnesota in 2019, Gibson went on to have stints with the Rangers, Phillies, Orioles and Cardinals.
He received an All-Star nod in 2021 for his strong first half with the Rangers when he went 6-3 with a 2.87 ERA before a trade to Philadelphia at the deadline.
Baltimore was Gibson’s final stop in the big leagues, returning this season after spending 2023 with the Orioles.
In 12 ⅓ innings, he ran up a 16.78 ERA and was released.
Gibson signed a minor league deal with the Rays shortly after, but couldn’t find room in the bigs.
“I took my opt out at the end of it because they didn’t have a spot [in the majors],” Gibson said. “They thought they might and then they didn’t.”
Gibson then began enjoying his time away.
“Went on the family lake vacation and met everybody at the lake,” he said of his opt-out. “Kind of sat and waited, didn’t really hear from too many people — I really wanted to have a big league opportunity.”
From there, he took his time off to discuss with his wife, Elizabeth, and elected to retire.
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