Matt Kinzer

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Matthew Roy Kinzer (Born June 17, 1963 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is a former NFL punter and MLB pitcher. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2nd round of the 1984 amateur draft. During 1987 NFL strike, he served as 1 game a punter for the Detroit Lions. He recorded 7 punts for a 34.0 avg. Kinzer begin his pro baseball career In the minor leagues playing from 1984-89, He played for the Arkansas Travlers of the double A.Texas League in 1984. After stops in Springfield with the Cardinals of the class A Mid West League 1985 and the St. Petersburg Cardinals of the class A Florida State League in 1986. He returned to the Arkansas Travlers in 1987 and once again in 1988. But 1988 Kinzer also saw playing time in the Major leagues with the St.Louis Cardinals. In 1989 Kinzer played for triple A Louisville Cardinals of the American Assciation and also saw time with the St. Louis Cardinals once again. he had a record of 34-25. He made his MLB debut on May 18, 1989 for the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching 3.1 Innings, giving up 1 hit and striking out 3 versus the Houston Astros. He pitched in 7 more games (1 start) and gave up 19 earned runs in 13.1 innings to finish with an 0-2 record and a 12.83 ERA. On May 26, 1990 he pitched his only game of the season for the Detroit Tigers against the Chicago White Sox. He pitched 1.2 innings, giving up 3 hits, 3 walks, 3 earned runs, and struck out one batter. It would be his last game in the major leagues. In 9 career games he has an 0-2 record an a 13.20 ERA.

Kinzer is the only person to have played for both the Detroit Lions and the Detroit Tigers.

After his major league days, he served as a scout for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and has been an agent and as well as director for Kinzer Camps.