Kyle Bird

Kyle Bird
Bird with the Charlotte Stone Crabs in 2016
Relief pitcher
Born: (1993-04-12) April 12, 1993 (age 31)
Orange Park, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Professional debut
MLB: March 28, 2019, for the Texas Rangers
NPB: June 14, 2021, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Last appearance
MLB: July 30, 2019, for the Texas Rangers
NPB: September 30, 2021, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average7.82
Strikeouts10
NPB statistics
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average4.11
Strikeouts30
Teams

Ronald Kyle Bird (born April 12, 1993) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.

Amateur career

Bird attended Clay High School in Green Cove Springs, Florida.[1] Undrafted out of high school in 2011, Bird attended Florida State University for two years (2012 and 2013),[2] before transferring to Division II Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, for his junior season in 2014.[3] He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 35th round, 1,057th overall, of the 2014 MLB draft.[4]

Professional career

Tampa Bay Rays

After signing with Tampa Bay, Bird was assigned to the rookie–level Princeton Rays to make his professional debut in 2014. In 19 innings pitched, he posted a 1–0 record with a 4.19 earned run average (ERA). He split the 2015 season between the Single–A Bowling Green Hot Rods and the Triple–A Durham Bulls. Through 33 games (1 with Durham), he accumulated 4–0 record with a 2.54 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 70+1⁄3 innings. He played the 2016 season with both the High–A Charlotte Stone Crabs and the Double–A Montgomery Biscuits. He appeared in 68 innings across 43 games, earning a 3–2 record with a 2.28 ERA and 60 strikeouts. He split the 2017 season between Montgomery and Durham. In 54 games, he posted a 4–2 record with a 2.89 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 74+2⁄3 innings. He again played the 2018 season at both Double–A and Triple–A. He appeared in 43 games, making 6 starts, and accumulated a 3–3 record with a 2.39 ERA and 88 strikeouts across 74 innings.[5] After the 2018 regular season, Bird pitched for the Yaquis de Obregón of the Mexican Pacific League in winter ball.[6] In 18 games with them, he went 1–0 with a 2.00 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 18 innings.[5]

The Rays added Bird to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season.[7]

Texas Rangers

On December 21, 2018, Bird was traded to the Texas Rangers as part of a three team deal in which the Rangers also acquired Brock Burke, Yoel Espinal, Eli White, and $750,000 of international signing bonus pool space; the Rays acquired Emilio Pagan, Rollie Lacy, and a competitive balance pick in the 2019 MLB draft (Seth Johnson); and the Oakland Athletics acquired Jurickson Profar.[8]

Bird made the Rangers' 2019 Opening Day roster. On March 28, 2019, and made his major league debut that afternoon against the Chicago Cubs,walking Anthony Rizzo, the only batter he faced.[9] He split the season between the Rangers and the Nashville Sounds. With Texas he logged a 7.82 ERA 12+2⁄3 innings, and with Nashville he went 5–1 with a 2.86 ERA in 34+2⁄3 innings.

On January 15, 2020, Bird was designated for assignment by the Rangers and outrighted to Triple–A a few days later.[10] Bird did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] He became a free agent on November 2.[12]

Hiroshima Toyo Carp

On November 26, 2020, it was announced that Bird had signed with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball.[13] He made his NPB debut on June 14. In 33 appearances for Hiroshima, Bird pitched to a 4.57 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 21+2⁄3 innings pitched. He became a free agent after the season.

Seattle Mariners

On March 8, 2022, Bird signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners.[14] He elected free agency on November 10, 2022.

References

  1. ^ Randy Lefko (November 28, 2018). "Bird gets call to Rays' 40-man roster". Clay Today. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
  2. ^ "Kyle Bird". Florida Seminoles. June 28, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  3. ^ "Kyle Bird". Flagler Athletics. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  4. ^ Tom Bone (June 24, 2014). "Bird gets his shot with Rays". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Kyle Bird". Baseball Cube. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  6. ^ "Kyle Bird, Último Extranjero de Yaquis". Puro Beisbol (in Spanish). October 3, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  7. ^ Marc Topkin (November 20, 2018). "Rays DFA C.J. Cron in Adding 5 Prospects to Roster". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  8. ^ T.R. Sullivan (December 21, 2018). "Rangers Deal Profar to A's in 3-Team Trade". MLB.com. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  9. ^ Adam J. Morris (March 28, 2019). "Texas Rangers Set Opening Day Roster, DFA Connor Sadzeck". Lone Star Ball. SB Nation. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  10. ^ "Texas Rangers: Jeffrey Springs, Kyle Bird Designated for Assignment". January 15, 2020.
  11. ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled".
  12. ^ "Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  13. ^ "広島が新助っ投・バードを獲得 エルドレッド駐米スカウト撮影のビデオが決め手（東スポWeb） - Yahoo!ニュース". news.yahoo.co.jp. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020.
  14. ^ "Kyle Bird Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.