Sawyer Gipson-Long, an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of MLB, is making his parents proud of his outstanding sports career.
The MLB star Sawyer Gipson-Long made his long-awaited return to the MLB on June 4, 2025, after 615 days away due to right elbow and left hip surgeries.
In his first start since September 2023, Gipson-Long pitched 3⅔ innings against the Chicago White Sox, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk.
Although he didn’t complete the fourth inning, his performance helped keep the game close, with the Tigers eventually winning 5-4.
With Sawyer Gipson-Long’s powerful comeback, he has captured the attention of many curious about his personal life, including details about his parents and family background, as he has kept much of it private.
Alec Sawyer Gipson-Long was born on December 12, 1997, in Lithia Springs, Georgia, United States, to his mother Lili Gipson.
While very little information about his parents is available, they separated when Swayer Gipson-Long was young.
However, both his mothers were there to support their son when Gipson-Long made his MLB debut in 2023 for the Detroit Tigers.
Furthermore, Sawyer Gipson-Long was raised by his mother, Lili Gipson, whom he regards as his best friend and constant supporter.
Lili Gipson, who was raised by Depression-era parents, Glenn Gipson and Amy Gipson Graham, tried to pass down that work ethic, raising Sawyer while pursuing her own career as a chiropractor.
Lili Gipson said,
“We were raised to just go to work, If there’s not a bone sticking out or you’re not standing in blood, go to work”
She further added:
“He was born on Friday; I was back to work on Monday. He came to work at 3 days old in the office, and all of my people were there because I needed a babysitter, a nanny.”
NYTimes
Lili Gipson’s strong work ethic and dedication helped her son, Sawyer, become one of the most popular MLB players.
Not only did Sawyer Gipson-Long inherit his hardworking nature from his mother, but he also inherited his athletic skills from Lili Gipson, a former high school and college athlete.
Sawyer Gipson-Long’s Mother, Lili Gipson, Was Lettered In Four Sports In High School
Lili Gipson is not just an amazing mother to Sawyer Gipson-Long, but also is a former athlete who excelled in multiple sports while attending high school and college.
Growing up in the small town of Tarpon Springs, Florida, near the Tampa Bay area, Lili began her athletic journey from a very young age.
Furthermore, she was lettered in four sports at Tarpon High School, later continuing her athletic journey in junior college and at the University of South Florida, from which she earned her BS degree.
However, she decided to end her sports journey and focus on her medical career after moving to Atlanta, Georgia.
Lili earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree in Health and Wellness from Life University and began her career as an exceptional chiropractor.
She established her own Chiropractic clinic named Basic Chiropractic in 1988 in Woodstock, Georgia, and has been serving her patients for over 37 years.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Sawyer Gipson-Long played college baseball at Mercer University.
- He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the sixth round, with the 179th overall selection, of the 2019 MLB draft.
- Sawyer is in a relationship with Carly Chulock, a WVU alumnus who is an Occupational Therapist, Registered, Licensed.