Ian Gibaut Chooses Free Agency Path
On October 31, Ian Gibaut made headlines by choosing the free agency route. This decision follows a series of transactions involving the right-handed pitcher. Earlier, on October 28, he had been activated from the 60-day injured list and promptly assigned to Triple-A Louisville.
Ian Gibaut’s Injury and Performance History
Gibaut has faced challenges due to a right shoulder impingement. He has accumulated more than three years of service in Major League Baseball (MLB), which grants him the right to decline minor league assignments in favor of free agency. The 31-year-old athlete has been a part of the Cincinnati Reds organization from 2022 to 2025.
Career Statistics
- Innings Pitched: 137 2/3
- ERA: 3.92
- Strikeout Rate: 22.5%
- Walk Rate: 9.3%
His most notable season came in 2023, where Gibaut achieved a 3.33 ERA over 75 2/3 innings in the bullpen. Additionally, he successfully limited hard contact against him, recording a hard-hit rate of just 31.8%, significantly lower than the league average of 38.2% among qualified relievers that year.
Challenges and Changes
Despite his success, Gibaut’s 2024 season was cut short due to surgery for a nerve issue in his forearm, resulting in only two appearances. Following this setback, the Reds non-tendered him in November 2024. However, they re-signed him to a minor league contract in January 2025.
In the current season, he has made 25 appearances, pitching 25 1/3 innings with a 4.62 ERA. Despite the struggles, Gibaut managed to keep his walk rate at 7.3%, which is an improvement over the league average. Nevertheless, he faced challenges with his strikeout rate, which dropped to 13.2%. Injuries may have affected his performance, including a noticeable decline in his average fastball velocity, which fell from 95.2 mph in 2023 to 94.0 mph in 2025.
Future Prospects
As Ian Gibaut embarks on this new chapter in free agency, he aims to regain his form and prove his value in the league. With his experience and an impressive ability to limit hard contact, teams looking for reliable bullpen options may find him appealing.
