Missouri ace Kyle Gibson is focused on one thing: Baseball

In the first half of the 20th Century, French Lick, Ind., was home to and bottled one of the top selling curatives in the country. It was called Pluto Water, and it supposedly resolved a multitude of ailments. The water was derived from the nearby West Baden Springs leading users to coin the phrase, “what’s in the water?” The Chicago Cubs once held spring training there in 1943. Two years later, they went to the World Series.

A century later, people are asking the same question about towns within a 40-mile radius of the state’s capital, Indianapolis. Only this time, the baseball talk surround the inordinate number of big-time pitching that continues to blossom within the area.

Over the last two years, the area has seen several top-shelf arms develop and either find their way to the professional ranks or head off to major Division I baseball programs. In 2007, Ossian, Ind., saw the Arizona Diamondbacks select flamethrowing right-hander Jarrod Parker. That same year, Brownsburg High School saw another hard-throwing right-hander, Drew Storen, sign with Stanford University.

Then last year Greenburg High School watched as Kentucky picked up 6’6 right-hander Alex Meyer. This year, Kyle Gibson continues the trend, leading many to ask:

What’s in the water?

“There are a lot of kids who can play, in Indiana,” Gibson said. “The thing is they’re just getting a little more attention now. Travel baseball is getting a little more popular, so you know kids are playing more. You know, you get guys who throw that hard because they throw a lot. You can’t play games outside, but you can throw in the gym.”

And in a basketball-crazy state like Indiana, playing catch over playing basketball is akin to heresy in some parts. But it’s paid off.

“Obviously there’s some God-given ability with a lot of these guys, and I’ve been blessed to have the body and ability I have,” Gibson said. “But I mean it’s about hard work and making the decision to not play basketball and go and play catch every day and throw every day.”

Indeed, the 6’6 junior is the Friday night starter for a University of Missouri team that was picked by most experts as a preseason Top 10 team. Likewise, most draft experts see Gibson going in the Top 10 slots in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. However, Gibson is a team guy and draft status can change quickly within the fickle minds of pro scouts. So it’s in the background and will remain there during the season.

“Really, that’s kind of on the back of my mind right now,” Gibson said. “I try to keep that out of the locker room because that stuff just creates division and the team’s going to go this way [makes a hands parting motion] if that I don’t do that. I’m kind of a lead by example guy, so what I want to do is show people that I’m here for team. The draft will be there when it’s there. When it happens, it happens. But until then, I’m all for the Tigers.”

Gibson’s fastball, which sits at around 92-94 and power slider have the Big 12 in 2008, as Gibson posted a 9-4 record with a 3.64 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 86.2 innings. The length of his body and projectability has many comparing Gibson to another Tiger—Clemson Tiger—former Pirates first-rounder Kris Benson

“One thing I try to focus on is going out there every time and giving my team the best chance as possible to win the game,” Gibson said. “And as long as I’m doing that, I’m happy. If that means they score 12 runs and I give up six, then that’s the best chance we have to win. Obviously every one wants to throw a shutout every time, but I’ve got to realize that’s not going to happen. But what I want to do is come as close to that as possible.”

In 2009, Gibson has done exactly that, going 3-1 with a miniscule 0.90 ERA and an amazing 38/8 strikeout/walk ratio after 30 innings pitched despite an early season slump that saw the Tigers losing seven in a row.

Since his days at Greenfield High School, Gibson has remained as focused as a microscope. A talented basketball player as well, Gibson forsook the parquet and zeroed in on his goal—to play in the major leagues, going so far as to attend the professional athlete machine, IMG, while in high school to further mold his future as a major-leaguer.

“Everywhere I’ve played, I’ve been blessed to be able to train and workout at great indoor facilities,” said Gibson, a native of Greenfield, Ind., just outside of Indianapolis. “But the thing that really helped me was in my sophomore, junior and senior years in high school I went down to Florida to play summer ball. I was right down in there at Pirate City, at IMG. That really helped me out a lot. I was able to lift weights and play baseball at the same time so I think I developed a lot.”

Indeed, Gibson’s determination seems to have paid off. Answering questions, Gibson is polite to a fault and thorough in his answers. To the chagrin, he says, of some of past friends or teammates, he has remained committed to achieving his goal.

“While all my friends were playing basketball, I concentrated on baseball, just playing catch with my dad. But I don’t regret any of it; I would take back any sacrifices I made because that’s what I focused on doing,” Gibson said. “I might have wrecked friendships, I’m sure, because I didn’t pay enough attention to them or have opportunities other kids had, but you know what, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. All of the opportunities I have now, to play for Missouri, spend time with my family, and be the draft pick I possibly could be, I wouldn’t trade it in the world.” And while Missouri chases another shot at Omaha, Gibson will be a huge part of that run.