Greenfield-Central High School Class of 2006
Kyle Gibson was named a Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star for the Texas Rangers in 2021 garnering the distinction of reaching all-star recognition at every level of baseball he has played including high school, college, minor league and finally the MLB. Kyle is now a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, but he displayed the passion and skills for the game that would honor him way back when he played for his high school team.
Kyle enjoyed three years at Greenfield-Central High School. He appreciated the friendships and relationships and knows that his time there had a great impact on him. “The teachers and administration at G-C during my time had so much passion for their work and a genuine care for their students’ well-being, in and out of the classroom,” says Kyle. “From the moment you walked in the door for school, there were smiles on faces of administrators, and I believe that is a testament to the leadership of Mr. Bryant and his staff around him!”
One part of the school that Kyle was extremely grateful for was the Radio and TV station. He says, “Mr. Renshaw and Mr. McKenna offered me countless opportunities behind the camera and microphone. Those opportunities sparked a passion that eventually would lead me to choosing to major in broadcast communications at the University of Missouri. I was so fortunate to have a school system who made that station a priority for the students who wanted to explore those different opportunities. It allowed me to learn a lot, at a young age, about something I believed could be a part of my future career. I will always be thankful for those opportunities!”
During his G-C baseball career, Kyle led the Cougars to a sectional championship and to the regional final his junior year. In his senior year, he led the school to the Elite Eight by pitching all of his team’s tournament games. He was named the Hancock County Player of the Year after his senior year. He was also named to the Indianapolis Star All-East team in both his junior and senior years. After his senior year, he was named All-East Player of the Year and made the Indiana All-Star Team. He was also runner-up in the Indiana Mr. Baseball award in his senior year.
Kyle was drafted out of high school by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006, however he chose to attend the University of Missouri and played baseball for the Tigers for three years. While there he made a name for himself as he became an integral part of teams that reached the NCAA regional play all three years. His 304 strikeouts and 28 career wins are second in Missouri history. He was named a Golden Spikes National Player of the Year semi-finalist as a junior in 2009. He was also a second-team Louisville Slugger all-American and a first-team all-Big 12 Conference selection that same season. Kyle pitched for USA Baseball’s National Collegiate Team, going 5-0 on the mound while earning the win in Team USA’s Gold Medal game at the 2008 FISU World Championships.
Kyle was then drafted 22nd in the first round of the MLB draft by the Minnesota Twins. He was the Twins’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2010 as he started the year in single A and advanced through the minor league system to AAA all in 2010. He made his MLB debut in 2013. As a free agent he joined the Texas Rangers for 2020–2021. He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on July 30, 2021, and recorded his 1,000 career strikeout in his Phillies debut on August 1 and went on to pitch in the 2022 World Series. Joining the Baltimore Orioles at the end of 2022, Kyle achieved the 100th win of his MLB career on August 5, 2023.
Along the way, Kyle amassed other accolades including Joseph H. Haynes Twins Pitcher of the Year (2015), Carl R. Pohlad Outstanding Community Service Award (2017), Mike Augustin Media Good Guy Award (2018, 2019), Charles 0. Johnson Most Improved Twin (2018), University of Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame (2019), Philadelphia Phillies Community Service Award (2022) and the Greenfield-Central Athletic Hall of Fame (2012).
Beyond baseball, Kyle has been recognized by his teammates, the communities where he has lived, and Greenfield for his compassion and interest in others. Bill McKenna saw it in high school and notes that Kyle continues to support his hometown through the Boys and Girls Club of Hancock County and donations of memorabilia to worthwhile local causes. On a national and international level, Kyle and his wife have been involved in many community philanthropic endeavors. Because of this, Kyle is a 3-time nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, which is bestowed annually to a player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
Nominated by the Twins in 2019, the Phillies in 2022, and the Orioles in 2023, Kyle has taken seriously his role as a leader, not just in the clubhouse, but off the field as well. Says the award’s website, “Shortly after he was drafted in 2009, Kyle and his wife, Elizabeth, traveled to the Dominican Republic to attend the grand opening of a community project that his agent and a few other players had worked on together. That was when the couple realized the opportunity they had to make an impact abroad. Soon thereafter, the Gibsons joined Help One Now, a nonprofit which aims to empower families to end extreme poverty, with whom they helped build a secondary school in Ferrier Village, Haiti. The Gibsons are still involved with Help One Now, frequently raising money for the organization to continue its efforts in third world countries.”
Kyle has shown a great willingness to become involved on a personal level with his community. The Gibsons have given and helped raise funds for numerous organizations like food pantries and soup kitchens, Crisis Aid International, STAND Mentorship, Grace’s Place, and more than can be named. Nearly a half million dollars have been raised for the communities where Kyle has played.
Kyle met his wife Elizabeth while at Missouri. They have four children: Hayden, Mills, Rossilyn and Novilee. He is grateful for their support while having played 10+ seasons in Major League Baseball. Kyle also notes, “I am also very thankful for the community of Greenfield supporting me from afar all of these years as well! Knowing you are following me each year, no matter the city I am in, means more than words can express! Thank you so much! Go Cougars!”
Congratulations Kyle on all your accomplishments!