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- By Frobby,
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Ranked #259 prospect in 2020 draft Gibson popped onto the national radar last fall in Jupiter, when he struck out 12 batters and walked two while showing a four-pitch mix over six innings. The Liberty commit has a physical, 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame and a below-average operation, but he showed an ability to repeat it consistently and threw solid strikes in that outing. What will challenge scouts given the shortened 2020 season is Gibson’s limited track record. He was close to an unknown before his performance in Jupiter, and teams probably don’t feel great about the information they were able to add to his file this spring. In Jupiter, Gibson threw a 90-93 mph fastball and showed good feel for a slider, curveball and changeup. The slider sat in the mid-80s and was a firm breaking ball, the curve flashed two-plane break and his changeup was in the 82-85 mph range with good depth and sink. His curveball and changeup both looked like above-average offerings. With some stiffness and crossfiring action in his delivery, scouts wonder about Gibson’s reliever risk and without significant looks to clarify that question this spring teams might opt to let him get to campus in Lynchburg. -
Baseball America 4YR Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted Age At Draft: 21.2 Gibson made a strong early impression at Liberty by putting up a 3.32 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 21 walks in 65 innings as a freshman in 2021. His second season wasn’t as strong. With 72 strikeouts in 56 innings, his strikeout rate was actually up year over year, but otherwise, the numbers paint a grimmer picture. His ERA ballooned to 6.75, his hits allowed per nine innings went from 7.1 to 10.1 and his walks allowed per nine innings went from 2.9 to 4.8. Gibson didn’t pitch at all for Liberty in the 2023 season, but threw in the Cape Cod League during the summer. He struggled through his first four appearances, posting a 13.50 ERA in 10 innings, with 12 strikeouts and eight walks. Gibson pitched around 89 and got his fastball up to 92, but he struggled to land his secondaries, which include a downer curveball in the mid 70s, a low-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup. There’s arm talent here, but his inconsistencies, lack of playing time and history with arm injuries in 2022 could make him a complicated draft target.
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Well Vespi has been decent in AAA where almost everyone else has been getting lit up. Matt Krook who is similar to Vespi and Luis Gonzalez have been decent from the left side. Wandisson Charles may be worth a look for a little bit. I'm not convinced his fastball works despite the velocity since it's a low spin pitch and doesn't seem to have good vertical movement, but he's interesting since he can sit 98 MPH. Garrett Stallings is a guy that could be a multi-inning guy if he can find a way to get lefties out. None of these guys are thrilling, but as the 7th reliever to each a few innings for he bullpen when the team is up or down a lot, sure. -
Good job on the Carlos Tavera mention. He finished with 4 perfect innings an 7 strikeouts. Easily his best performance since 2022 in Aberdeen and perhaps in his pro career. If he follows this one up with something similar he gets his own page.
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