Who is 2021 MLB All-Star Kyle Gibson? Veteran Pitcher Announces Retirement After 13 Seasons

Kyle Gibson, a veteran right-hander who made the All-Star Game in 2021, has confirmed his retirement from professional baseball at the major league level, bringing an end to his steady but unsplashy 13-year career.

The 37-year-old disclosed an episode of his podcast, Serving It Up, after turning down a minor-league deal from the Tampa Bay Rays and coming to the realization during a family vacation that it was time to retire. Durable, Gibson was a powerhouse pitcher and inspirational leader inside and outside of the lines, boasting a lifetime record of 112–111 with a 4.60 ERA over 1,878 innings.

Kyle Gibson’s career path and key achievements

Gibson was selected 22nd overall in the 2009 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins out of the University of Missouri.

He was drafted in 2010, but had Tommy John surgery the next year, and debuted in the majors with Minnesota in 2013, going on to spend seven years with the Twins. Gibson steadily became a part of the rotation in Minnesota, accumulating a 67–68 record and 4.52 ERA. He never made fewer than 25 starts in a season in which he was healthy and, in total starts between 2013 and 2024, trailed only Max Scherzer on the leaderboard.

Following the 2019 campaign, he signed a three-year, $28 million deal with the Texas Rangers.

In 2021, he emerged, going 6–3 with a 2.87 ERA in 19 starts before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. That season, he was chosen for that year's MLB All-Star Game —the only All-Star selection of his career.Gibson recorded a career-high 15 wins in 2023 with the Baltimore Orioles and made 30 starts in 2024 for the St. Louis Cardinals, finishing with a 4.24 ERA. He last played in the majors in early 2025 when he briefly returned to Baltimore.

He was released in May after four starts. He then pitched well at Triple-A Durham for the Rays before opting out of his deal in June.

Reflection and future outlook for baseball veteran

Gibson said he had not heard from turns, and the timing of a family vacation was meaningful in clarifying that decision. He explained on his podcast that it seemed like the necessary time. But the way he spoke, you got the sense that it was a decision he was at peace with, content with the work he had done on the mound.Also Read: MLB Star Shohei Ohtani Pens Children’s Book About His Dog Decoy, Set for 2026 ReleaseGibson was regarded as a sturdy back-end option his entire career, garnering the reputation as an innings-eater and a great clubhouse guy. For over a decade, he was nothing if not a professional who practiced perseverance as he dealt with injury, new teammates, and performance going hot and cold with a quiet stoicism.Gibson has hinted at coaching or working with the youth as he moves away from pro baseball, but said he would enjoy the time with family for now. Kyle Gibson goes out on his terms — a baseball man, with a legacy of consistency, durability, and leadership.