Minnesota Twins Promote Kyle Gibson, To Debut Saturday

Possibly the biggest question surrounding the Minnesota Twins’ season has centered on the team’s plans for top pitching prospect Kyle Gibson. Specifically the questions have focused on when Gibson might arrive in the Major Leagues. It would seem that time has finally arrived, as the team announced Sunday afternoon that Gibson would indeed be called up from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, with Pedro Hernandez being demoted in order to make space on the active roster.

Gibson is scheduled to make his first start on Saturday, at home against the Kansas City Royals.

Taken in the 1st Round of the 2009 Draft, Gibson has carried high expectations since he first joined the Twins organization. His development and arrival in Minnesota were slowed thanks to Tommy John Surgery in mid-2011 which kept him out until late last season, but Gibson appears set to finally make his long-anticipated debut. He’s made 15 starts at Triple-A on the year, going 7-5 with a 3.01 ERA and 1.144 WHIP. He’s already thrown 92.2 IP on the year, however, and is believed to be on a fairly strict innings limit as it is his first full season back on the mound. Presuming Gibson remains with the Twins for the remainder of the season, he likely only has about 60-70 innings of work left before the team shuts him down.