Tim Byrdak

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**Tim Byrdak**

Houston Astros — No. 48
Relief pitcher
Born: October 31, 1973 (1973-10-31) (age 34) Oak Lawn, Illinois
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
Major League Baseball debut
August 7, 1998 for the Kansas City Royals
Selected MLB statistics (through 2007)
Win-Loss	4-5
Earned run average	5.50
Strikeouts	108
Teams
Kansas City Royals (1998–2000) Baltimore Orioles (2005–2006) Detroit Tigers (2007) Houston Astros (2008–present)

Timothy Christopher Byrdak (born October 31, 1973 in Oak Lawn, Illinois) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Houston Astros. His previous major league experience came from 1998 to 2000, when Byrdak played for the Kansas City Royals, an injury-plagued stint with the Baltimore Orioles, and one year with the Detroit Tigers.

After playing for the Orioles from 2005-2006, Byrdak was designated for assignment on August 30, 2006. On November 17, 2006, the Tigers signed him to a minor league deal. On March 26, 2008, Byrdak was released after posting a 13.50 ERA during spring training and later signed with the Houston Astros.

Prior to the 2007 season, Byrdak developed a forkball, a type of pitch that he had previously not thrown. This enabled him to throw 3 pitches (along with a fastball and curveball), and as a result he began to post the best numbers of his career. In his Detroit debut, Byrdak struck out 5 of 6 batters in the heart of the powerful Boston Red Sox lineup, including an inning-ending curve that left David Ortiz frozen looking at the third strike.

[edit] Personal life

Aside from major league baseball Tim works at the Diamond Sports Academy and gives pitching lessons alongside many former major leagers including former Rockies ace, Marvin Freeman. Tim is married to Heather and has two kids, daughter Briana and son Christopher. He and his family reside in Lockport, IL during the off-season.