Ian Gibaut earns bigger role in the Cincinnati Reds bullpen with a unique pitch mix
NEW YORK – Ian Gibaut was claimed off waivers one week before the Cincinnati Reds deployed him against the heart of the New York Yankees lineup on back-to-back days.
Gibaut pitched with a three-run deficit Tuesday and entered with a one-run lead Wednesday.
He lost the lead Wednesday, giving up a solo homer to Giancarlo Stanton over the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium, but he responded by striking out the next three batters. Across the two appearances, he struck out five of the seven hitters he faced.
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“He allowed the home run, immediately, I start thinking, OK, do we get somebody up because that can be tough,” Reds Manager David Bell said. “You have one inning to do your thing as a reliever typically, and it starts off like that. Well, what’s going to happen next? That was really impressive what he did after that.”
What was unique about Gibaut’s relief appearances, besides being the new guy and already earning trust to pitch against top hitters, is he changed his pitch mix.
In Tuesday’s game, a 4-3 comeback win, Gibaut relied primarily on his cutter and four-seam fastball. The next night, it was a heavy fastball and slider mix.
“You see some relievers and they can be effective with maybe just one pitch, two pitches; Gibaut has a few different weapons,” Bell said. “The thing I like about him most, putting him in for the middle of the order against really good hitters, he has a few different ways to get those guys out.”
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Gibaut has a four-pitch mix: four-seam fastball, cutter, slider and changeup. Surprisingly, he’s never been a starter. He’s been a full-time reliever since pitching in college at Tulane.
The cutter is his newer addition. He wanted a harder and separate pitch from his slider.
“I’ve been tinkering with some things this year,” Gibaut said. “My slider wasn’t feeling too great and kind of switched some things up (Wednesday) in the bullpen and then brought it out to the game and it felt a lot better than what it had been. I was able to land it and throw it with more action in the zone.”
It’s been a winding journey for Gibaut, who is in his sixth organization since 2019. The Los Angeles Dodgers claimed him off waivers on June 30 and then designated him for assignment four days later before he pitched in a game.
Teams see a pitch mix that has potential. His fastball is up to 98 mph this year, a level of velocity he hadn’t reached since a lat strain sidelined him for 10 weeks in 2019.
“I feel like I’m back to my old self,” he said.
Gibaut is out of minor league options, so he’ll have to pitch well to remain in the Reds bullpen. So far, he’s passed the initial tests.
“I think it’s the multiple weapons that can make him a really good pitcher for us,” Bell said.
Reds success story: Dauri Moreta registers his first career save
Dauri Moreta saw the line drive flying toward center field and he didn’t even wait for Nick Senzel to catch the final out before he began celebrating.
Moreta recorded the final two outs in Thursday’s wild, 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees in 10 innings. It was his first career save.
“That means a lot,” Moreta said. “Everyone knows the Yankees are one of the best teams in baseball. That was awesome. Exciting.”
It was a roller coaster after Luis Castillo overpowered the Yankees lineup for seven innings, yielding two hits and one run. Jeff Hoffman coughed up a three-run lead in the eighth inning, bending over at the waist when Gleyber Torres connected on a game-tying, two-run homer.
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With a three-run lead in the 10th inning, Reiver Sanmartin surrendered the unique leadoff two-run homer to Matt Carpenter. Moreta entered with a runner on first base and one out.
Moreta, pitching inside Yankee Stadium for the first time, induced a fielder’s choice groundball, gave up a single and then stranded the tying run at second base with the lineout. He kept a ball as a memento from his first save, which he’ll give to his mom in the Dominican Republic.
It was special for Moreta to close a game that was started by Castillo, who has mentored the rookie reliever.
“Castillo, for me, is my dad because he always tries to help me,” Moreta said. “We signed at the same place in the Dominican, so I know him and he’s a pretty good person.”
Reds connections: David Bell and Aaron Boone part of baseball families
Bell and Aaron Boone chatted for several minutes in batting practice before Thursday’s series finale at Yankee Stadium.
They represent two of the five father-son managerial combinations in MLB history. Yankees third-base coach Luis Rojas, the son of Felipe Alou, is another one.
“I’ve always felt like a connection with the Boone family,” Bell said. “I actually got to know Bret because we played together. I’ve known Aaron for just as long. He and my brother, Mike, played together. I don’t know, I feel like I know Aaron probably better than I do, but I know Bret really well.”
Bell knows Rojas well too. Bell managed in the Dominican Winter League in 2015 and Rojas was his bench coach.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ian Gibaut impresses in Reds bullpen; Dauri Moreta gets first save
