Kyle Gibson
Kyle Gibson is a Greenfield, Ind. native. He graduated from Greenfield Central High School in 2006 and was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 36th round of the Major League Baseball Draft. He instead chose to attend the University of Missouri and played for the Tigers baseball team. In 2009, he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins with the 22nd overall pick. He is currently a pitcher for the class AAA Rochester Red Wings.
Kyle Gibson: Recovery from Tommy John surgery
April 24, 2012
[email protected]
by Brett Bobb
Photo by Spencer Frady
No matter a pitcher’s age, they generate enough force to
rupture the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in the elbow.
For the Minnesota Twins prospect Kyle Gibson, it was before he even had the chance to debut in a Major League game.
On June 30, 2011, Gibson was pitching in a game against the Pawtucket Red Sox when he felt discomfort in his arm. After the game, he took about a week off before he decided to start throwing again.
He participated in the All-Star Futures Game and had two starts after the All-Star Break before he decided to shut it down and have his arm checked out. In August 2011, that is when Gibson found out he had a tear in his UCL.
Even when he rehabbed his arm for about a month and started to throw again, Gibson knew he couldn’t throw with out pain in his arm.
“When I got back to about 90 feet or so, it started hurting again,” Gibson said. “At that point, I made the decision that it is probably in my best interest to go and have it checked out again and I ended up getting the surgery.”
Gibson has been rehabbing his arm for six months since September 2011 and is about halfway done.
“Before Spring Training started, I was coming in six days a week Monday through Saturday,” Gibson said. “I had 30 minutes to 40 minutes of arm work to do and shoulder work to do before I play catch.”
Before he ever started playing catch, Gibson only did arm workouts in the gym every day. He did not start playing catch until January 2012. Now, when Gibson does his three to three and half hour workouts, he does his 30 to 40 minute arm work in the morning, goes out and plays catch and then comes back in to workout as well as run. When Gibson is done, he has to put ice on his arm to cool down and relax.
“For the most part, it is just coming out here to make sure I’m strong and make sure that when I am ready to get back on the mound, my body is ready,” Gibson said.
While Gibson keeps a great work ethic during his rehab, his coaches are noticing the prospect’s leadership and hard work to get back on the mound as soon as possible.
“He is definitely a leader,” said Twins Batting Coach Tommy Watkins. “He’s somebody that I think a lot of the young guys should model themselves after.”
When he is either on or off the field, Watkins said he always sees Gibson carry himself in a professional manner and he is always ready to work.
“He is a great guy,” said Watkins. “Ever since I have been around him, he has been a class act and he always carries himself in a manner that I think everybody should carry themselves.”
Gibson says he is scheduled to start throwing bullpen on June 7, 2012. He also says he hopes to pitch in a game around August 7, 2012.
“We go until about the first week of September in the Minor Leagues,” Gibson said. ”It will basically be to the point where I will have six starts if I am able to be ready at that point.”
For the Minnesota Twins prospect Kyle Gibson, it was before he even had the chance to debut in a Major League game.
On June 30, 2011, Gibson was pitching in a game against the Pawtucket Red Sox when he felt discomfort in his arm. After the game, he took about a week off before he decided to start throwing again.
He participated in the All-Star Futures Game and had two starts after the All-Star Break before he decided to shut it down and have his arm checked out. In August 2011, that is when Gibson found out he had a tear in his UCL.
Even when he rehabbed his arm for about a month and started to throw again, Gibson knew he couldn’t throw with out pain in his arm.
“When I got back to about 90 feet or so, it started hurting again,” Gibson said. “At that point, I made the decision that it is probably in my best interest to go and have it checked out again and I ended up getting the surgery.”
Gibson has been rehabbing his arm for six months since September 2011 and is about halfway done.
“Before Spring Training started, I was coming in six days a week Monday through Saturday,” Gibson said. “I had 30 minutes to 40 minutes of arm work to do and shoulder work to do before I play catch.”
Before he ever started playing catch, Gibson only did arm workouts in the gym every day. He did not start playing catch until January 2012. Now, when Gibson does his three to three and half hour workouts, he does his 30 to 40 minute arm work in the morning, goes out and plays catch and then comes back in to workout as well as run. When Gibson is done, he has to put ice on his arm to cool down and relax.
“For the most part, it is just coming out here to make sure I’m strong and make sure that when I am ready to get back on the mound, my body is ready,” Gibson said.
While Gibson keeps a great work ethic during his rehab, his coaches are noticing the prospect’s leadership and hard work to get back on the mound as soon as possible.
“He is definitely a leader,” said Twins Batting Coach Tommy Watkins. “He’s somebody that I think a lot of the young guys should model themselves after.”
When he is either on or off the field, Watkins said he always sees Gibson carry himself in a professional manner and he is always ready to work.
“He is a great guy,” said Watkins. “Ever since I have been around him, he has been a class act and he always carries himself in a manner that I think everybody should carry themselves.”
Gibson says he is scheduled to start throwing bullpen on June 7, 2012. He also says he hopes to pitch in a game around August 7, 2012.
“We go until about the first week of September in the Minor Leagues,” Gibson said. ”It will basically be to the point where I will have six starts if I am able to be ready at that point.”