D-backs' Gibson had short but sweet Fall League campaign

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Daniel Gibson threw only eight innings in the Arizona Fall League, but he made the most out of his limited action.

The left-handed reliever out of the University of Florida struck out 10 batters, allowed four hits and did not allow an earned run.

"I think I've done well," Gibson said. "I came here just trying to finish off the year strong. I just wanted to get a couple more appearances, a couple more outings, face unbelievable competition from the other teams and the guys that are out here."

The D-backs' seventh-round Draft pick in 2013 said the Fall League gave him a chance to work with catchers he otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity to, which, for him, has translated into an improved ability to mix up his pitches and speed.

"Being able to work with someone new, who I haven't been able to work with during the season and to still have success and chemistry between the pitcher and the catcher, is nice," Gibson said.

However, the Florida native said that one of the biggest things he took away from his time in the Fall League is something that can only be seen off the field.

"It's weird having a group of guys on a team that you've never really played with before," Gibson said. "Some of them I've played against, but it's different when you play with them on the same team. You start building friendships, you start hanging out with people off the field, it's nice."

Specifically, Gibson said he became close with the other left-handed relievers on his team. The friendly competition among the group pushed them all to improve.

"There's one [left-handed reliever] from the Mets and one from the Blue Jays," Gibson said, talking about his Salt River Rafters teammates Kyle Regnault and Chad Girodo, respectively. "We've become pretty good friends, and it's fun -- we have a little friendly competition when it comes to being left-handed relievers, and we try to outdo each other."

Gibson hopes he showed enough in his time during the Fall League to earn him an invitation back to Arizona, but this time for Spring Training with the D-backs.

"That is always something you want to do," Gibson said. "You just want to keep getting better and keep improving, and hopefully I'll have a chance this year to get up into the big club and have a chance to help them win."