George Kirby

George Joseph Kirby

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 205 lb.
• School Elon University
• High School Rye High School
• Debut May 8, 2022

• Born February 4, 1998 in Rye, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

George Kirby was the 20th overall pick of the 2019 amateur draft, by the Seattle Mariners out of Elon University, making him the highest drafted player in school history. He was just the 6th pitcher selected in a draft dominated by position players. His last two seasons at Elon were dominant, as he went 10-3, 2.89 as a sophomore in 2018, and 8-2, 2.75 as a senior in 2019. He had earlier been drafted in the 32nd round of the 2016 amateur draft, by the New York Mets, but went on to attend college.

In his first professional season in 2019, he only pitched 23 innings in 9 games (8 starts) with the Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League, as the Mariners sought not to overwork him. He did not have a decision and his ERA was 2.35. He would get plenty of additional rest in 2020 as the minor leagues were shut down by the Coronavirus pandemic, then was again held on a short leash in 2021. He made 15 starts between Everett, which had been raised two levels to the High-A West since George had last pitched there, and the Arkansas Travelers of the Double-A Central. These were good outings, however, as he was 5-3, 2.53 with 80 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings, against only 15 walks.

He started the 2022 season back at Arkansas and went 2-0, 2.19 over his first five starts. He was called up to make his major league debut with Seattle on May 8th, starting against the Tampa Bay Rays. He had an excellent first outing, giving up just 4 hits and no runs in 6 innings with no walks and 7 strikeouts. The Game was still scoreless when he left, but the Mariners eventually won it, 2-1, on a walk-off homer by Abraham Toro. In a start against the Washington Nationals on August 24th, he began the game by throwing 24 consecutive strikes - the most by any pitcher since pitch tracking began in 1988. He was named the American League Rookie of the Month for August after putting up a 2.15 ERA in five starts, winning four, and striking out 34 batters in 29 1/3 innings while allowing just 3 walks. It was the third time a Mariners player had won the award that season, as OF Julio Rodríguez had done so in May and June.

Notable Achievements

• AL All-Star (2023)

Further Reading

• David Adler: "This pitcher hates walks so much, he just might make history", mlb.com, June 24, 2023. [1]
• Pat James: "Big-time arm Kirby to debut today for Mariners", mlb.com, May 7, 2022. [2]
• Daniel Kramer: "New MLB record: 24 straight strikes to start the game!", mlb.com, August 24, 2022. [3]

Related Sites

• George Kirby on mlb.com
• BR Minors page
• Elon University bio