Kurt Birkins

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name=Kurt Birkins
position=Pitcher
team=Free Agent
number=--
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1980|8|11
debutdate=May 4
debutyear=2006
debutteam=Baltimore Orioles
statyear=July 14, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=6-4
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=5.85
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=64
teams=
*Baltimore Orioles (by|2006-by|2007)
*Tampa Bay Rays (by|2008)

Kurt Daniel Birkins (born August 11, 1980 in West Hills, California) is a relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. He made his major league debut on May 4, by|2006. Kurt is married to Ashley Birkins and they welcomed their daughter, Charlie Susan Birkins, on July 4th, 2008.

Birkins first pitched at UCLA for one season before taking a year off. He then attended Los Angeles Pierce College and signed with the Baltimore Orioles prior to the draft as they held his rights from the previous year.

He began the season in AAA Ottawa's starting rotation before his contract was purchased on May 2. He pitched out of the Orioles' bullpen until going on the disabled list on August 1 with left elbow neuritis and missed the rest of the season. He appeared in 35 games, all in relief, in his 3 months on the Orioles' active roster. Opponents batted just .221 (25-113) off him. Was primarily a starter in 5 of his 6 minor league seasons and had not made more than 2 relief outings in any season except 2004, when he pitched out of the bullpen 21 times in 27 appearances for Class A Frederick. He did not allow a run in his first 4 appearances (7.0IP). Pitched to an 0.86 ERA in his first 17 games, yielding only 2 earned runs in his first 21.0 IP through June 15. Allowed runs in 8 of his last 18 appearances, pitching to a 13.50 ERA (10.0IP, 15ER) starting on June 18. He gave up 7 runs on 5 hits, 4 walks and a hit batter in 1.2 IP over his final 4 outings, July 22-29. Went on the DL on August 1, and made 5 outings on minor league rehab assignment. Was shut down for the remainder of the season and transferred to the 60-day DL on August 29. Split time on his rehab assignment with Short-A Aberdeen, Class A Frederick and AA Bowie, pitching in 5 total games. He allowed 4 runs on 4 hits in 2.0 IP on August 27 for Bowie vs. New Hampshire in his last outing. He made his big-league debut on May 4 at Texas, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings. He allowed one run on 6 hits in his first 13 outings, spanning 17.2 IP. He struck out a season-high 4 batters in 2.0 IP in his 2nd big league outing on May 6 at Boston. He pitched 4.0 hitless innings on May 24 at Seattle, his longest outing of the season. He earned his first major league victory on May 28 at Los Angeles, retiring all 4 batters faced and striking out 2 in the Orioles' 7-6 win. Retired all 3 batters faced on June 8 vs. Toronto to earn his 2nd win of the season. Credited with the win on July 1 at Atlanta, retiring both batters he faced to strand 2 inherited runners in the 5th inning. He was charged with 2 runs and the loss on June 30 at Atlanta, allowing 3 of 4 batters faced to reach base. He earned his 4th win with 0.2 scoreless IP in the O's comeback on July 9 at Cleveland. He pitched a scoreless inning on July 17 vs. Oakland for his 5th win. He allowed 3 runs on a pair of home runs in 0.1 IP on July 22 at Tampa Bay. Also allowed 2 homers on June 28 vs. Philadelphia, the only other game in which he allowed a home run. He allowed 3 runs in 0.2 IP on July 25 at Kansas City, suffering his only blown save and his second loss. It was his second straight outing allowing 3 runs. Became the Orioles' first pick from the 2000 First Year Player Draft to reach the majors and the lowest selection (33rd round) to join the club since Ryan Minor 33rd round pick in 1996 played for the O's from 1998-2000. On October 29, 2007, Birkins was claimed off waivers by the Devil Rays.

On August 29, 2008 the Rays released him.

External links

*baseball-reference|id=b/birkiku01