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

— 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.

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.”

Kyle Gibson – Serving it Up!

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.

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.

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.

In their recent string of losses, it’s been the Twins bats that have gone to sleep. Minnesota’s pitching staff remains among the best in the MLB. But the Twins’ starting rotation wasn’t always the bright spot of this roster.

Kyle Gibson signing with Tampa Bay Rays

Not that long ago, it was a group lead by names like Phil Hughes, Michael Pineda and Kyle Gibson. Those were not the good old days. Speaking of Gibby, who is now at the end of his career and recently released by the Baltimore Orioles, he has a new team. Coincidentally, it’s the aforementioned Tampa Bay Rays.

Veteran righthander Kyle Gibson is signing with the Rays

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 28, 2025

This offseason, Gibson flirted with retirement, before the Baltimore Orioles lured him back onto the mound with a $5.25 million salary. Unfortunately for Kyle and the Orioles, he struggled (along with the rest of the staff) and he was DFA’d last week.

The Rays play in the same AL East that the Baltimore Orioles, whose starting staff has been the worst in all of baseball. Tampa Bay — who held the Twins to four runs in three games during their series — checks in at 25th overall.

In four starts with Baltimore, Gibson allowed 23 runs on 29 hits across just 12 1/3 innings. He had a paltry 10/7 K/BB and served up seven dingers. It’s possible that Gibson provides the Rays some length out of the bullpen, and is able to show a level of veteran leadership.

Related: Byron Buxton Return Timeline Updated…

There isn’t much on the line for Tampa Bay either. Baltimore is footing the entire $5.25 million bill after Gibson cleared waivers. The Rays are on the hook for just a prorated portion of the big league minimum. The Rays will come to Minnesota over 4th of July weekend at Target Field. We’ll see if Gibby is still around by then.

Rays send former Minnesota Twins catcher packing

On Tuesday night, former Minnesota Twins catching prospect Ben Rortvedt played against his former franchise. The Rays designated him for assignment, immediately after that game vs the Twins, because they needed to make room for newly acquired Matt Thais from the Chicago White Sox.

#Rays are expected to DFA C Ben Rortvedt to make room for Thaiss to be added to roster Wednesday. Rortvedt was emotional in clubhouse saying goodbyes to players.

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 28, 2025

Rortvedt was in his second year with Tampa Bay, after joining them in 2024, following a stop with the New York Yankees. The former second round pick from Wisconsin has always been a defensive player first. Last season, he batted .228/.317/.303 in 112 games for Tampa Bay. The 80 OPS+ with plus defense.

This season, Rortvedt appeared in 26 games and batted just .095/.186/.297 (-11 OPS+). At 27 years old, however, it’s likely he’ll find another shot somewhere. Wherever he lands, it’s probably be in the minors.

Their prowess on the bump afforded them an opportunity to demote struggling starter Simeon Woods Richardson, in favor of higher-ceiling young depth in Zebby Matthews. Not every team is afforded that kind of pitching luxury.

Kyle Gibson DFA’d by Baltimore Orioles

Like the Baltimore Orioles, whose early season pitching struggles has dropped them to 0-6 against the Twins this season, and 15-29 overall. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has already been fired. And on Sunday, former Minnesota Twins 1st round pick Kyle Gibson was cut loose.

The Baltimore Orioles, who signed veteran starter Kyle Gibson to 1-year, $5.25 million this spring, cuts ties with him after 4 starts and 12.1 innings (0-3, 16.78 ERA).

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 18, 2025

Gibson gave the Orioles 12 1/3 innings across four starts. He allowed a whopping 29 hits, 23 runs, seven homers, and had just a 10/7 K/BB. To say a 16.78 ERA doesn’t do it justice is probably eye-opening enough.

This spring, the Baltimore Orioles sought additional pitching depth. It looked like a serious weakness for a roster with intentions to compete in 2025. So, they talked Gibson, who’s 37 years old and was ready to hang up his cleats, into a return as an innings-eater, enticing him with $5.25 million. Kyle has history in Baltimore, having pitched their in 2023.

Not the Kyle Gibson Baltimore was hoping for

As a starter that season for the Orioles, Gibson posted a league-high 33 starts and tallied 192 innings. He also allowed a league-high 198 hits while posting a 4.73 ERA (4.13 FIP). That Orioles team was young, but the youth pushed them to a 101-61 record to win the AL East.

There is still plenty of youth on this Baltimore team, but they haven’t performed and the pitching has been dreadful. Gibson needed time to ramp up after missing spring training. After three starts in the minors he joined the major league rotation.

We're through the top of the 2nd, and Tides starter Kyle Gibson has retired six-of-seven batters faced. pic.twitter.com/gdExYTJvJz

— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) April 10, 2025

Velocity has never been a calling card for Gibson. It’s not as though it is diminished further at this point either. His whiff rate, however, is at a career-low 8.6% and his 60.7% hard hit rate is otherworldly. When opposing hitters are barreling 14.3% of your pitchers, that’s a recipe for disaster.

End of the line for former Minnesota Twins starter?

It’s possible that this is it for Gibson. He didn’t receive enough interest to sign a deal prior to spring training. He only went back to Baltimore after they came calling just before the season. If retirement was already on his mind, then it’s very possible he’s thrown his last baseball from an MLB mound..

Gibson gets a nice parting gift from Baltimore, in that his entire $5.25 million salary is guaranteed. He can ride off into the sunset while topping off the more than $73 million he made during his career.

Related: New Minnesota Twins Promotions Bring Two Debuts

The seven years Gibson spent with the Minnesota Twins to start his big league career, makes up more than half of his 13-years of total MLB service time. The 2009 No. 22 overall pick pitched in 193 games in a Twins uniform, posting a 4.85 ERA across 1,087 innings.

38 YEARS YOUNG AND STILL HUSTLING AROUND THIRD@ncboomstick23 ? #MNTwins

?: https://t.co/UXHhcQtBmP pic.twitter.com/oP4xkLx4Ml

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) June 27, 2019

“We start practicing during spring, and then they all kind of fall into place naturally.” The @Twins take their handshakes pretty seriously. #NationalHandshakeDay ? pic.twitter.com/Q4GH3n1yD1

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) June 27, 2019

But, things fell off the cliff from there, offensively. The Twins couldn’t put up another run for the next 17 innings. If that were a normal 2-game stretch, people might be getting worried… well not with this team. It didn’t take long for the Rays to come back and tie the game up at 2-2. They got both runs back in the top-half of the second and it was a dualing gem between Martin Perez and the Rays Bullpen, who were using their own “opener” strategy.

Perez went 7 innings, only allowing 3 hits, those two earned runs, and 1 walk. The Twins used every single bullpen arm they had after that, until it came between Kyle Gibson, who started on Tuesday, and Ryne Harper, who had already pitched in 2-straight games. They went with Gibson, who pitched a scoreless 17th, but were forced to go to Harper in the 18th, and he had issues throwing strikes, before giving up the game-winner and more.

¡El control es nuestro! #RaysBéisbol pic.twitter.com/uPRPSWprwS

— Rays de Tampa Bay (@raysbeisbol) June 27, 2019

But guess what, the Twins are still up 8 games on the Indians and go to play the shitty White Sox tomorrow. There was even better news than that coming out of Thursday evening, too.

Jorge Polanco was voted in as an All-Star for the upcoming game in the beginning of July. It looks like Eddie Rosario, Jake Cave, and Nelson Cruz will have to get in by way of MLB players and the commissioner’s office. Technically, any of the Twins could get in. It’s not just down to those who made the final vote as starters.

Starting at shortstop for the A.L. in the 2019 All-Star Game: @Jorge_Polanco1!

Congrats on your first All-Star selection, Polo! #MNTwins #BombaBallot pic.twitter.com/IDlCGf5dBb

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 27, 2019

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

As Minnesota gets set for this weekend’s three-game series  vs the Tampa Bay Rays, the A.L. Central leading ballclub should be plenty rested. Between a bullshit April blizzard, and off days surrounding the Puerto Rico trip, the Twins have played two games (25 innings, though) over the past week.

With their next trio of contests taking place away from Target Field, there’s no need to sweat the forecast. The Rays play their home games at Tropicana Field.

Tropicana Field is the Metrodome’s doppelgänger pic.twitter.com/egaWEWfFoL

— Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN) April 20, 2018

Sidebar: My sources say there’s no chance there of a dome collapse due to snow.

After Lance Lynn takes the mound on Friday, barring any unforeseen events, Kyle Gibson will do the same on Saturday. While Lynn and Gibson have already combined for five starts, Sunday’s pitcher will be making his MLB season debut:

Sunday starter? Phil Hughes looks ready for first start for #mntwins since July, @LaVelleNeal reports https://t.co/jMLt6KOs53 pic.twitter.com/DW5rUewv6C

— Star Tribune Sports (@StribSports) April 20, 2018

Per LaVelle E. Neal III, the 31 year-old, Phil Hughes, will be activated from the disabled list in time to start Sunday against Tampa Bay. The move comes in anticipation of next week’s four game series vs. the Evil Empire:

Hughes’ appearance will mark the end of Paul Molitor’s previously employed four-man rotation.

Minnesota’s next (scheduled) off day isn’t until May 17th. With their best pitcher from 2017, Ervin Santana, expected to return around that time, how long Hughes stays among the reigning A.L. Manager of the Year’s Top 5 starters will remain to be seen.

The 2004 first round draft pick is coming off of a 2017 season that was a doppelgänger of his 2016 campaign.

Latest setback ‘disheartening’ for Phil Hughes, who could face 2nd season-ending surgery in 12-plus months. https://t.co/cfZ0RmNz1E

— Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) July 18, 2017

According to our friends at the Mayo Clinic, “Thoracic outlet syndrome is a group of disorders that occur when blood vessels or nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib are compressed.” While that breakdown makes the condition sound worse, Hughes has expressed that he FEELS better.

#MNTwins MiLB results: Fort Myers wins 5-4. Phil Hughes pitched a second time this season with the Miracle and grabbed the win. His line: 5 innings, 3 hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.

— Martin Schlegel (@mschlegel34) April 15, 2018

Good to hear. Let’s hope that his feeling-better equates to pitching better. Despite starting his Twins’ tenure strong, his last two (shortened) seasons have been brutal.

Phil Hughes’ Twins Career:

Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN)
MinnesotaSportsFan.com

2018, am I right? What a time to be alive! Literally, though:

Today, my 2nd child (first son) came into the world AND the @Twins signed Lance Lynn to complete easily their best offseason in my 28 years.

What a day. pic.twitter.com/aslSZekv5D

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) March 10, 2018

Aye!!! I’d give Minnesota Sports Fan founder, Eric Strack, kudos for the above accomplishment, but let’s give credit where credit is due. A HUGE shout-out to the mother, baby boy, big sister, Thad Levine, and Derek Falvey.

While Eric and his family welcome their new addition, the rest of us will address the newest member of the Minnesota Twins family:

Source: Lance Lynn and #Twins have agreed to 1-year, $12 million guaranteed deal. @MLB @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) March 10, 2018

With the signing of 30 year-old Lance Lynn, Minnesota has put the proverbial bow on an outstanding offseason. The notable acquisitions, which were most recently highlighted by Logan Morrison, now hand the spotlight over to the former St. Louis Cardinal.

Lynn’s Career Stats:

After missing the entire 2016 season (Tommy John), the right-hander bounced back last season with an impressive 3.43 ERA over 186.1 innings. For comparison purposes, Ervin Santana completed his 2017 campaign with a 3.28 ERA over 211.1 innings. While, most recently, the tenured Twin outperformed (barely) the new guy, Lynn’s career ERA (3.38) is better than that of Santana’s (4.02).

Putting the finishing touches on what has been an outstanding offseason for the Twins, who just kept making smart, solid, inexpensive additions. https://t.co/E3NeLWDUZA

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) March 10, 2018

Indications are that Minnesota will begin their 2018 campaign using a four-man rotation. If that’s the case, with Santana out until late April/early May, Lynn will join Jake Odorizzi, José Berríos, and Kyle Gibson as the club’s initial starters.

via GIPHY

Per Mike Berandino of the Pioneer Press, the Twins could offset some of Lynn’s $12 million contract “by cutting ties with veteran right-hander Anibal Sanchez.” Nothing personal, Anibal. Business is business.

While we enthusiastically put on our Paul Molitor hats and salivate over this Minnesota roster, not all fan bases are experiencing the same euphoria:

I like that. While the Vikings got smacked around by a Philadelphia franchise, it’s good to see the Twins (albeit slightly) aggravate the “City of Brotherly Love.” And, what Philly fans will do when upset is scary to think about, given how they celebrate when things go well…

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com

At least for this upcoming season, Eduardo Escobar will be playing baseball in Minnesota. Per Thursday’s reports, he and the Twins agreed to a one year, $4.85 million deal.

The signing came a day prior to the MLB’s arbitration deadline. Missing Friday’s cut off means that any remaining arbitration-eligible players and their team need to exchange proposed salaries for the 2018 season. The purpose of swapping desired contracts is to prepare for a potential hearing on what a player should be paid.

The January 12th time-limit is now irrelevant to Escobar. One of the Twins’ clubhouse favorites and his employer hashed things out without a third wheel. With the 29 year-old now set to make almost $5 million this year, the only thing he should be exchanging are chips at the Bellagio.

In what I consider no coincidence, they reached an agreement amid the MLB’s sexual assault investigation of Miguel Sano. With his upcoming availability in great flux, motivation to retain Escobar naturally increased.

This upcoming season will mark the switch hitter’s 8th in the majors. Of his 619 career MLB games, our infield’s Renaissance man has played 574 of them with Minnesota. In 2017, Escobar hit .254, with a career high .758 OPS. Over last year’s 499 at-bats, he also compiled a career high in HRs (21) and RBIs (73)

With Eduardo Escobar secured for what Twins’ Nation hopes is another exciting season, the following five players still remain arbitration-eligible: Robbie Grossman (OF), Ehire Adrianza (IF) and pitchers Kyle Gibson, Ryan Pressly, and Trevor May.

Relax fanboys and fangirls of Ryan Pressly. I like your passion, but damn. If Pressly and MN don’t agree to a deal by Friday’s deadline, they’ll still probably end up agreeing to one and avoid any hearings. Until actually sitting in front of arbitrators, the two involved parties can continue negotiations.

Cowboys? What the f*ck?

That’s a real hard deadline you have their, MLB. What a joke. I always wondered where my WI Public University professors got their contradictory approach to cutoff dates from.

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com