Busy travel day brings parents of O's prospect Gibson to NYC for son's MLB debut

NEW YORK -- JR and Karen Gibson had been staying at a hotel near Stetson University in Florida the past few nights, as their daughter, Nikki (the youngest of their two kids), was wrapping up her college softball career for Florida Gulf Coast University. They expected to be there through the weekend.

Then, a call came around midnight late Friday night from their son, Trey.

"Had to be some good news or something," Karen said. "It definitely was."

Trey, a 23-year-old right-hander in the Orioles' organization, informed his parents he was heading to The Show. Not only that, but Baltimore's No. 3 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) was going to New York, where he would make his MLB debut by starting for the O's in the third game of their four-game series at Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

JR and Karen almost couldn't believe it.

"Our initial emotions were shocked and speechless," JR said.

At that point, the travel plans were changed and a new course of action was set in motion.

The Gibsons stayed at a hotel in Punta Gorda, Fla., on Saturday night, then woke up Sunday morning and drove about 2 hours north to Tampa International Airport. From there, they flew to LaGuardia Airport in New York, before commuting to the Bronx for the biggest day of their son's baseball career thus far.

Because JR and Karen came from Florida, they didn't have any Orioles apparel. When they arrived at Yankee Stadium, they were still wearing FGCU gear. So an O's employee brought them some hats and sweatshirts so they could have the proper attire to support Trey and his new teammates.

"We had so much love and support from friends and family, calling, texting, it’s been amazing," JR said. "Everyone wishes Trey the best."

It's been quite a rise for Trey, a Newport News, Va., native who played two seasons at Liberty University and then signed with Baltimore as an undrafted free agent in August 2023. He quickly ascended the O's Minor League ranks, won the organization's Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award in '25 and had a solid start to the season at Triple-A Norfolk.

"I always felt Trey had the stuff, you know? It was just a matter of him being able to focus and concentrate and be available when that opportunity happens and just play the game," JR said. "The opportunity was there, and he took advantage of it. And things have worked out."

But Sunday brought a much bigger stage. It was a day that JR and Karen thought could be coming soon and one they had been highly anticipating.

Trey became the first starting pitcher in Orioles history (since 1954) to make his big league debut at Yankee Stadium, and he went head-to-head with left-hander Max Fried in the matchup.

JR and Karen knew their son surely would be nervous -- as they were themselves -- but they wanted Trey to soak it in. For a kid who has been playing baseball since he was 5 (and pitching since he was 9), this is the game that everything was building toward.

"First, you’ve got to enjoy the moment. It’s a game," JR said. "But then, you’ve just got to trust your fundamentals. Just breathe, step and throw, and let it happen. You can’t control the uncontrollables. You’ve got to just embrace the moment and have fun with it."

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime day," Karen added. "To start your MLB career at Yankee Stadium."