Michael Kirkman

Michael Kirkman

Kirkman with the Texas Rangers
Milwaukee Brewers
Pitcher
Born: September 18, 1986
Lake City, Florida
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 21, 2010 for the Texas Rangers
Career statistics
(through 2014 season)
Win–loss record 2–6
Earned run average 4.98
Strikeouts 103
Teams

Michael Scott Kirkman (born September 18, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers.

Early life

Prior to playing professionally, he attended Columbia High School in Lake City, Florida. He was drafted by the Rangers in the fifth round of the 2005 amateur draft and began his professional career that year.

Professional career

Texas Rangers

With the AZL Rangers in 2005, Kirkman went 3–1 with a 3.44 ERA in 14 games (nine starts), striking out 58 batters in 521⁄3 innings. He split 2006 between the AZL Rangers (eight games) and Clinton Lumber Kings (six games), going a combined 1–5 with a 9.70 ERA in 14 games (10 starts). He walked 51 batters in 341⁄3 innings while striking out 30. Despite posting an ERA near ten, he did not allow a single home run in 2006.

Kirkman pitched for the Lumber Kings (five games) and Spokane Indians (nine games) in 2007, going a combined 1–5 with a 7.14 ERA in 14 games (eight starts). He pitched for Spokane and Clinton again in 2008, improving to a combined record of 5–4 with an ERA of 3.84 in 17 games (16 starts).

2009 became a breakout year for Kirkman. In eight Bakersfield Blaze games Kirkman threw 48 innings with a 2.06 ERA, striking out 54 and issued 18 walks. Kirkman was promoted to AA Frisco, threw 96 innings in 18 games and earned a spot on the 40_man roster after the 2009 season. In an interview with Jason Cole, Kirkman attributed his 2009 improvement to watching film of Cliff Lee.[1]

“ I started watching Cliff Lee pitch, and I started watching video of him and video of me. I was comparing myself to him. One thing he did is he shortened up his front arm and it let him get through the ball rather than having to go around himself to get to the plate. That really, I think, is what turned me on. ”

— Michael Kirkman

He began 2010 with the Oklahoma City RedHawks and was ranked as the 15th best prospect at the start of the year by Jamey Newberg.[2][3] In his major league debut with the Rangers on August 21, he struck out the first three batters he faced and retired all four.

After beginning the 2011 season with the Rangers, Kirkman was optioned to Triple-A on April 20.[4]

Kirkman started the 2013 season with the Rangers until June 9 when he was placed on the 15-day disabled list.[5] He was designated for assignment on March 28, 2014 and outrighted to the minors four days later.[6] He was called back up by the Rangers on September 2, 2014.

He was non-tendered on December 2, 2014 and became a free agent. He re-signed to a minor league deal two days later.

Milwaukee Brewers

On April 22, 2015, Kirkman signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.[7]

Personal

On May 21, 2012, the Rangers announced that Kirkman was being treated for skin cancer.[8] On June 9, 2013, it was announced that there was a re-occurrence.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Mike Hindman (August 28, 2010). "Hindsights Vol: 5: Mike Kirkman's Bizarre Odyssey". BBTIA.com. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Minor League stats". Baseball-reference.com. September 18, 1986. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  3. ↑ pwh9980 (January 1, 2010). "Newberg's top 72 prospects". Lone Star Ball. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  4. ↑ Rangers bring Tomko back to major leagues, Associated Press, April 20, 2011.
  5. ↑ Toman, Chris (June 9, 2013). "Kirkman heads to DL after learning of cancer diagnosis". mlb.com. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Rangers add RHP McCutchen as long reliever". Associated Press. ESPN.com. April 1, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  7. ↑ Gleeman, Aaron (April 22, 2015). "Brewers sign left-hander Michael Kirkman". hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  8. ↑ Michael Kirkman battling form of skin cancer ESPN Dallas/Fort Worth. Retrieved May 21, 2012
  9. ↑ Toman, Chris (June 9, 2013). "Kirkman heads to DL after learning of cancer diagnosis". mlb.com. Retrieved June 9, 2013.

External links