Former Mercer Pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long Earns Win in MLB Return

CHICAGO, Illinois – (41NBC/WMGT) – Former Mercer University standout Sawyer Gipson-Long made his return to the Major Leagues on Wednesday night, taking the mound for the Detroit Tigers for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2024.

Pitching against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, Gipson-Long struck out three batters while allowing five hits and three earned runs over 3 2/3 innings. The outing marked his first appearance back with the Tigers after more than a year of recovery.

Detroit secured a 5-4 victory, improving to 41-22 on the season after becoming the first team in Major League Baseball to reach 40 wins on Monday. The win also marked Gipson-Long’s first of the 2025 season.

Gipson-Long, who played his college ball at Mercer, was originally drafted by the Minnesota Twins before being traded to Detroit.