| Kurt Birkins | |
|---|---|
 Kurt Birkins | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:August 11, 1980 West Hills, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 4, 2006, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 4, 2008, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 6–4 |
| Earned run average | 5.85 |
| Strikeouts | 64 |
| Teams | |
Kurt Daniel Birkins (born August 11,1980) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) player who pitched for the Baltimore Orioles (2006-2007) and Tampa Bay Rays (2008).
Birkins attended El Camino Real high school in Woodland Hills,California. He played baseball for the Conquistadors and helped them win back-to-back LA City Championships in 1997 and 1998. He was named MVP of the 1998 championship game after throwing a 10 inning complete game,striking out 12,and hitting the go ahead 2-run double. [1]
Birkins pitched for the UCLA Bruins in 1999 and led the staff in ERA,but decided to step away after the season due to burn out. During his time away from school,he volunteered as an assistant coach for his alma mater. That June,Birkins was selected in the 33rd round (984th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles. El Camino Real's senior infielder Conor Jackson was drafted in the 31st round (936th overall) by the Cleveland Indians which meant a player and coach from the same high school were drafted on the same day,and both went on to play in the Major Leagues.
In the fall of 2000,Birkins enrolled at Los Angeles Pierce College and was rated by Baseball America as the #1 Junior College draft prospect in the country. [2] Birkins signed with the Baltimore Orioles prior to the 2001 draft as they held his rights from the previous year as a "draft-and-follow" prospect.
Birkins made his Major League debut on May 4,2006,against the Texas Rangers throwing 2.1 scoreless innings in relief. He struck out Mark Texiera to record his first Major League strikeout. He picked up his first Major League victory on May 28,2006,against the Anaheim Angels. Birkins retired all four batters he faced including two strikeouts.
After the 2007 season,Birkins was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays. [3] He was a member of the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays which won the franchise's first American League pennant.
He signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies in February 2009 and pitched for the AAA Colorado Springs SkySox in 2009 and 2010. After conclusion of the 2010 season,Birkins retired from professional baseball.
After his baseball career,Birkins enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and graduated summa cum laude. He is currently the Assistant Executive Director at the ABCA and resides in Winston-Salem,North Carolina with his wife Ashley and their two daughters.
Érik Joseph Bédard is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles,Seattle Mariners,Boston Red Sox,Pittsburgh Pirates,Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays. With Baltimore,Bédard was the staff ace,setting the franchise single-season strikeouts per nine innings record at 10.93 in 2007.
Lance Robert Cormier (CORE-mee-ay) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays,Atlanta Braves,Arizona Diamondbacks,Baltimore Orioles,and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Wade Daniel Townsend is an American former professional baseball pitcher,twice selected as a first-round Major League Draft pick out of Rice University. Townsend attended Dripping Springs High School in Dripping Springs,Texas where he graduated in 2001. He played for coach Tom Hancock while at Dripping Springs. After his junior season of high school he was offered a scholarship to play baseball at Rice University. After college,Townsend was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles with the eighth pick of the 2004 Draft,but was ruled ineligible to continue negotiation with the Orioles while remaining at Rice to finish his degree. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' with the eighth pick of 2005 Draft,signing for a $1.5 million bonus.
James Anthony Shields is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2006 through 2012,the Kansas City Royals in 2013 and 2014,the San Diego Padres in 2015 and 2016,and the Chicago White Sox from 2016 to 2018. He was an All Star in 2011.
Dequam LaWesley Wright is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros,Tampa Bay Rays,Chicago Cubs,Baltimore Orioles,and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Below are select minor league players and the rosters of the minor league affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles:
Chaz Daniel Roe is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks,New York Yankees,Baltimore Orioles,Atlanta Braves,and Tampa Bay Rays.
Albert Joe Suárez Subero is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Francisco Giants. He has also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and in the KBO League for the Samsung Lions.
Preston Blake Guilmet is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians,Baltimore Orioles,Tampa Bay Rays,Milwaukee Brewers,St. Louis Cardinals,Toronto Blue Jays,and Miami Marlins. He also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. He grew up in Roseville,California and graduated from Oakmont High School. He later played college baseball for the University of Arizona.
Brett Maverick Phillips is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers,Kansas City Royals,Tampa Bay Rays,Baltimore Orioles,and Los Angeles Angels.
David James Hess is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles,Miami Marlins,and Tampa Bay Rays.
Zachary M. Burdi is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox,Baltimore Orioles,and Tampa Bay Rays.
Garrett J. Cleavinger is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jalen Christopher Beeks is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. Boston selected Beeks in the 12th round of the 2014 MLB draft,and he made his MLB debut for them in 2018.
Shane Peter McClanahan is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2020 and was an All-Star in 2022 and 2023.
Grayson Greer Rodriguez is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Orioles selected Rodriguez in the first round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. He made his MLB debut in 2023.
Evan John Phillips is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves,Baltimore Orioles,and Tampa Bay Rays.
Eric Dru Hanhold is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles.
Joseph Roland Krehbiel is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Seattle Mariners organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks,Tampa Bay Rays,and Baltimore Orioles.
Seth William Johnson is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB).