The Orioles tonight announced that they have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher KYLE GIBSON on a one-year contract for the 2023 season.
Gibson, 35, made 31 starts for the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies in 2022, the fifth time in his career making at least 30 starts in a season. He went 10-8 with a 5.05 ERA (94 ER/167.2 IP) and a career-best 3.00 K/BB ratio (144 K/48 BB). In 18 home starts, Gibson pitched to a 7-4 record with a 4.57 ERA (52 ER/102.1 IP) and 80 strikeouts, compared to a 3-4 record with a 5.79 ERA (42 ER/65.1 IP) and 64 strikeouts in 13 road starts.
Gibson appeared on his fifth career Postseason roster and made his World Series debut in Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park, working 1.0 scoreless inning out of the bullpen with one hit and one strikeout in Philadelphia’s 7-0 loss to the Houston Astros. In two relief appearances during the 2022 Postseason, he worked 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
He was named the Phillies’ 2022 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes a player from each club who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, sportsmanship, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions, both on and off the field. While with the Phillies, Gibson donated to Philabundance (a Philadelphia-area nonprofit food bank) and Cradles for Crayons after every strikeout and win and started a Philly Fantasy Football League to support Help One Now, an organization that empowers families in developing countries to end extreme poverty. Gibson serves as vice president of Big League Impact, a nonprofit founded in 2013 by Roberto Clemente Award winner Adam Wainwright (2020) to help people meet basic human needs, including food, clean water, medical care, shelter, and education. He was also nominated for the Clemente Award in 2019 as a member of the Minnesota Twins.
A native of Greenfield, Ind., Gibson was selected by Minnesota in the first round (No. 22 overall) of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Missouri. The 2021 American League All-Star was also a 2011 All-Star Futures Game selection before undergoing ligament transplant surgery on his right elbow late in 2011. He made his MLB debut on June 29, 2013 vs. Kansas City (W: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, HBP, 5 K) and became the third Minnesota pitcher all-time to win his debut while recording at least five strikeouts. Gibson is 89-91 with a 4.52 ERA (755 ER/1,504.0 IP) in 267 career games (261 starts) between the Phillies, Twins, and Texas Rangers. He has appeared in six games, all starts, at Oriole Park while going 3-1 with a 4.13 ERA (15 ER/32.2 IP).