Tim Byrdak

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name = Tim Byrdak
team = Houston Astros
number = 48
position = Relief pitcher
birthdate = birth date and age|1973|10|31
birthplace = city-state|Oak Lawn|Illinois
bats = Left
throws = Left
debutdate = August 7
debutyear = 1998
debutteam = Kansas City Royals
statyear = 2007
stat1label = Win-Loss
stat1value = 4-5
stat2label = Earned run average
stat2value = 5.50
stat3label = Strikeouts
stat3value = 108
teams =
*Kansas City Royals (by|1998–by|2000)
*Baltimore Orioles (by|2005–by|2006)
*Detroit Tigers (by|2007)
*Houston Astros (by|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 by|1998 to by|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 by|2005-by|2006, Byrdak was designated for assignment on August 30, by|2006. On November 17, 2006, the Tigers signed him to a minor league deal. On March 26, by|2008, Byrdak was released after posting a 13.50 ERA during spring training and later signed with the Houston Astros.

Prior to the by|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 to which David Ortiz struck out looking. Aside from major league baseball Tim 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, IL during the off-season.

External links

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* [http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/stats/mlb_individual_stats_player.jsp?playerID=136263&statType=2 Byrdak player bio on mlb.com]