Kyle Gibson, Greenfield native, announces end of MLB career

GREENFIELD, Ind. (WISH)— Kyle Gibson, a longtime big-league pitcher and hometown product of Greenfield-Central High School, has officially called it a career after 13 seasons in Major League Baseball.

Gibson, 37, announced his retirement during an episode of the “Serving It Up” podcast, which he co-hosts with fellow former MLB players Lance Lynn and Matt Holliday. The decision marks the end of a professional journey that began in central Indiana and carried him to ballparks across the country—including a World Series appearance and an All-Star nod.

“It’s been a lot of fun to be around the family a lot more,” Gibson said on the podcast. “I’ve been so blessed to play this game for as long as I have, but it just felt like the right time.”

A 2006 graduate of Greenfield-Central, Gibson starred at the University of Missouri before being drafted 22nd overall in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins. He made his debut with the Twins in 2013 and spent seven seasons in Minnesota, quickly establishing himself as one of the state’s most accomplished baseball exports.

In all, the right-hander pitched for six major league teams: Minnesota, Texas, Philadelphia, Baltimore, St. Louis, and briefly with the Orioles again in 2025.

Gibson’s final MLB season came in 2024 with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he went 8-8 with a 4.24 ERA over 30 starts. He didn’t re-sign with the club and remained a free agent until late spring 2025, when Baltimore brought him back. But in four starts, he struggled, going 0-3 with a 16.78 ERA before being released.

Still looking for another shot, Gibson signed a minor-league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. In Triple-A Durham, he posted dominant numbers—allowing just one earned run in 17 1/3 innings. Despite a strong showing, a major-league opportunity never came.

“My time in Tampa was great. I felt like my stuff was back to where it needed to be,” Gibson said. “But they didn’t have a spot, and I didn’t hear much from other teams. That gave me time to talk with my wife Elizabeth and the kids, and we decided it was time.”

Gibson lives with his family near St. Louis, but his Indiana roots have remained central to his story. Known for giving back to his hometown and often visiting during the offseason, he remains a proud Greenfield native.

His major-league resume includes a 112-111 career record with a 4.60 ERA, 1,520 strikeouts, and nearly 1,900 innings pitched. In 2021, while with Texas, Gibson posted a league-best 1.98 ERA in the first half and earned his only All-Star selection before being traded to Philadelphia. He later helped the Phillies reach the 2022 World Series.

In 2023 with Baltimore, he notched a career-high 15 wins and led all of MLB with 33 starts.

When asked about his future, Gibson emphasized family and staying close to home.

“I’d like to do something nearby,” he said. “Watching our four kids grow up is something I don’t want to miss. One of my grandfathers told me, ‘If you miss that, you miss everything in life.’ That really stuck with me.”

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