First Babies Of 2026 Welcomed At Hospitals Across Tampa Bay

TAMPA BAY, FL — Hospitals throughout the Tampa Bay area are ushering in 2026 by celebrating their first babies born in the new year.

Robbie Torres and Jennifer Tavarez Torres welcomed their baby boy, Enzo, at 12:15 a.m. on Thursday, at St. Joseph’s Hospital-South in Riverview. He weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces, according to a news release from the hospital.

HCA Florida Brandon Hospital welcomed Jack Theodore Garipey, born to Kristen and Patrick Gariepy, at 1:11 a.m. on New Year’s Day. He was 8 pounds, 21 inches long.

“Jack’s birth is extra special because his proud parents … are both dedicated nurses at Brandon Hospital,” the hospital said in a news release.

Kristen serves as an ICU nurse, while Patrick is the ICU clinical educator. Jack is their first child.

Baby Redmond was born at 1 a.m. at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg. Weighing 7 pounds and measuring 21 inches long, he is the son of Blair Kennedy and Garrett Lister.

Tampa General Hospital’s first baby of the year came at 7:28 a.m., when baby Merritt Elizabeth Brown made her debut.

Proud parents Peyton and Jared Brown were thrilled to welcome their healthy baby girl, who weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 20 inches long, the hospital wrote in a social media post.

Both Sarasota Memorial Hospitals also welcomed new babies early on the first day of the year.

In Venice, parents Corey Gifford and William Zimmerman welcomed their son, Zaiden Amaris Zimmerman, affectionately known as “Zaz,” at 12:50 a.m. He weighed 6 pounds and measured 19.5 inches long.

“It’s funny because my brother was the first baby of the year at Sarasota Memorial 14 years ago,” William said in a news release.

Gifford added, “We thought we were going to have him on the 30th, but he decided to take his time and share a birthday with his uncle.”

At the Sarasota campus, the first baby arrived shortly after “Zaz.”

Austin Gordon Jr., known as “AJ,” was born at 1:25 a.m. to first-time parents Isabel Castillo and Austin Gordon. AJ weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 19.7 inches long.

Manatee Memorial Hospital also celebrated the arrival of the first baby of 2026 when baby Yulian was born at 2:38 a.m., the hospital said in a news release. The boy was 6 pounds and 7 ounces, and measured 20.5 inches.

“The arrival of a new baby represents fresh beginnings, promise, and joy, and it is a wonderful way to start the new year. We extend our warmest congratulations to the family and wish them a lifetime filled with love, health, and happiness,” Arianne Botts, director of the Family Birthplace at Manatee Memorial Hospital, said.