Tim Byrdak
| Tim Byrdak | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Free agent | |
| Relief pitcher | |
|
Born: October 31, 1973 Oak Lawn, Illinois | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| MLB debut | |
| August 7, 1998 for the Kansas City Royals | |
| Career statistics (through 2013 season) | |
| Win-loss record | 13-13 |
| Earned run average | 4.35 |
| Strikeouts | 326 |
| Saves | 4 |
| Teams | |
Timothy Christopher Byrdak (born October 31, 1973) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has pitched for the Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros and New York Mets. A relief pitcher, Byrdak attended Rice University where he played college baseball.
Career
Kansas City Royals
Byrdak was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 5th round of the 1994 MLB Draft out of Rice University.[1] He made his Major League debut as a reliever against the New York Yankees on August 7, 1998.[1] In parts of 3 seasons with the Royals, he was 0-4 with a 8.27 ERA in 48 games.[1] However, he did pick up his first career save on July 4, 1999 against the Cleveland Indians.[2]
Cleveland Indians
He signed as a minor league free agent with the Indians on February 19, 2001.[1] He only appeared in 4 games with the AAA Buffalo Bisons in 2001 and 11 with the Kinston Indians and Akron Aeros in 2002 due to injury issues.
Northern League
In 2003 he pitched in the Northern League with the Gary Southshore Railcats and the Joliet Jackhammers.
While playing for the Rail Cats, he faced 77-year-old Minnie Miñoso leading off the game at St. Paul on July 16, 2003 and got a walk.[3] The plate appearance marked Minoso’s seventh decade of professional baseball, and Byrdak was quoted in the “Scorecard” section of Sports Illustrated on his impressions on facing the former White Sox star.
San Diego Padres
He signed as a minor league free agent with the San Diego Padres on January 30, 2004 and made 20 appearances for the AAA Portland Beavers, where he was 3-0 with a 5.45 ERA.
Baltimore Orioles
He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on June 22, 2004 and pitched for the Ottawa Lynx in 2004 and 2005. Byrdak made his first appearance in the Majors in 5 years when the Orioles purchased his contract and he appeared against the Indians on July 2, 2005. He made 57 appearances for the Orioles Major League team in 2005 and 2006, with a 1-1 record and 5.88 ERA.[1]
Detroit Tigers
He signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers on November 17, 2006. 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).
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 to which David Ortiz struck out looking. He pitched in 39 games for the Tigers, and was 3-0 with a 3.20 ERA.[1]
Houston Astros
He signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros on April 3, 2008. In 3 seasons with the Astros, he was 5-5 with a 3.53 ERA in 199 appearances.[1]
On September 28, 2010, Byrdak surrendered a walk-off home run to Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce that clinched the Reds the National League Central division title.[4][5]
New York Mets
On January 21, 2011, Byrdak signed with the New York Mets. That season, he had a 2-1 record and 3.82 ERA. Despite some discussion about a possible trade,[6] He was re-signed following the season.
Byrdak had surgery to repair a torn meniscus on March 13, 2012. He was scheduled to miss six weeks.[7] However, on Opening Day, April 5, 2012, Byrdak made his season debut and struck out the only two batters he faced, preserving the Mets 1-0 victory.[8] Through June 16 he had a 2-0 record and 3.44 ERA.[1]
On August 6, 2012, it was announced that Byrdak had suffered an anterior capsule injury in his left shoulder.[9] He did not pitch at all for the rest of the season.
On November 26, 2012, Byrdak resigned with the Mets on a Minor League deal with an invitation to spring training.
Personal life
Aside from major league baseball Byrdak works at the Diamond Sports Academy and gives pitching lessons alongside many former major leaguers including former Rockies ace, Marvin Freeman. Tim is married to Heather and has two children, daughter Briana and son Christopher. He and his family reside in Lockport, Illinois during the off-season.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Tim Byrdak Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
- ↑ Jason O. Watson/US Presswire. "Mets' Tim Byrdak records save for fourth different organization". NJ.com. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
- ↑ "For The Record - 07.28.03 - SI Vault". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. 2003-07-28. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
- ↑ http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100928/SPT04/309280077/Jay-Bruce-s-walk-off-homer-clinches-NL-Central-Cincinnati
- ↑ "Bruce's no-doubter earns Reds NL Central title | MLB.com: News". Cincinnati.reds.mlb.com. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
- ↑ "Report: Sandy Alderson, New York Mets Shopping Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod), Jason Isringhausen, Tim Byrdak « CBS New York". Newyork.cbslocal.com. 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
- ↑ Snyder, Matt (2012-03-12). "Tim Byrdak will undergo knee surgery Tuesday". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
- ↑ Hale, Mark (2012-04-06). "Tim Byrdak, bullpen secure Mets’ Opening Day victory over Braves". NYPOST.com. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
- ↑ Mazzeo, Mike (2012-08-06). "Tim Byrdak has tear in shoulder". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)