Nathan Winston Kirby (born November 23, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He was drafted 40th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2015 MLB draft.
| Nathan Kirby | |
|---|---|
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1993-11-23) November 23, 1993 (age 28) Richmond, Virginia | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
Kirby attended James River High School in Chesterfield County, Virginia.[1] As a senior, he was the Virginia Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year[2] after going 9–1 with a 1.24 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 56+2⁄3 innings pitched.[3] He declared himself ineligible for the 2012 Major League Baseball draft after electing not to fill out certain drug tests and medical forms that are required by Major League Baseball.[4][5]
As a freshman at the University of Virginia in 2013, Kirby pitched in 24 games and made two starts. He finished the season 4–1 with a 6.06 earned run average (ERA) and 37 strikeouts in 32+2⁄3 innings. Kirby was one of Virginia starting pitchers as a sophomore in 2014. On April 5 he pitched a no-hitter with 18 strikeouts against Pittsburgh.[6][7] He was named the co-Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year and was named to the All-ACC First Team. He was also an All-American by Louisville Slugger and Baseball America.[8][9][10] In 18 starts in 2014, he was 9–3 with a 2.06 ERA. As a junior in 2015 he compiled a 5–3 record and 2.53 ERA in 12 games (11 starts). He was named to the All-ACC First Team for the second year in a row.
On June 8, 2015, Kirby was selected 40th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2015 MLB draft. The Brewers finalized his signing on July 17, 2015, a few hours before the signing deadline. After five appearances in the minors for the Single-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, where he posted a 5.68 ERA in 12+2⁄3 innings, it was announced that Kirby would need Tommy John surgery.[11] Kirby missed the entire 2016 and 2017 seasons due to injury.[12]
Kirby spent 2018 with the High-A Carolina Mudcats, going 3–5 with a 4.82 ERA in 27 games (11 starts).[13] He missed all of the 2019 season after undergoing thoracic outlet surgery and fracturing a rib.[14] Kirby did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[15] He was assigned to the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers to begin the 2021 season, where he logged a 1.93 ERA in 17 appearances.
On July 4, 2021, Kirby was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Kevin Kramer.[16] He spent the remainder of the year with the Double-A Altoona Curve, but struggled to a 6.52 ERA in 17 appearances. He elected free agency following the season on November 7, but re-signed with the Pirates on a minor league contract on November 14, 2021.[17] He was released on June 26.[18]
2014 College Baseball All-America Team consensus selections | |
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Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Year | |
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Virginia Cavaliers 2015 College World Series champions | |
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