Ex-Razorback Kirby fitting in nicely

August 4, 2002

BY RICK FIRES, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

FAYETTEVILLE - Brian Kirby doesn't have to check the lineup card each day he arrives at the ballpark for the Columbus (Ga.) RedStixx.
Kirby knows he's playing, the only question is where.
Kirby bats cleanup and has played four positions for the RedStixx, a Class A team in the Cleveland Indians organization. Kirby plays mostly in the outfield, but he's also played at second base, first base and catcher and served as the team's designated hitter. "The plan, originally, was to use Brian as a backup catcher and play him some at first base and DH," Columbus Manager Torey Lovullo said. "It took me a while to see how good this kid was and that he could play a lot of places. Brian is best when he's moving around, and he does a solid job wherever we put him. I just can't say enough about how pleased we are with Brian. He's done everything we've asked."
Kirby was batting below. 240 and playing sporadically when Columbus' roster was hit hard by injuries and promotions. With few options, Lovullo finally turned to Kirby, who has improved his average to. 255 and is tied for the team lead in home runs with 12. "I was given an opportunity and now I'm just trying to take advantage," said Kirby, who played at North Little Rock and Arkansas. "It doesn't matter what position I play, just as long as I'm in the lineup and getting some at-bats."
Kirby played for four years at Arkansas, mostly in right field. He made Collegiate Baseball's Freshman All-American team in 1998 after hitting. 306 with 11 home runs. In 1999, Kirby hit. 272 with 10 home runs as Arkansas won its only SEC overall championship.
But Arkansas failed to make the SEC Tournament the next two seasons and Kirby slumped so badly he was not even drafted after his junior year. Late in his senior season, Kirby was moved to catcher and played well enough to be drafted by Cleveland in the 31 st round of the 2001 draft.
Kirby is sure former Arkansas Coach Norm DeBriyn helped his chances with the scouts by moving him to catcher. "I was recruited to Arkansas as a catcher, then moved to the outfield," Kirby said. "Coach DeBriyn just came to me one day my senior year and told me to get the catcher's gear on. I'm sure he was trying to help me by doing that, and I appreciate it. I also appreciate Cleveland for drafting me and taking a chance with me."
Lovullo, who reached the majors and played mostly with Detroit, knows the value of a player who can fill in at different positions. "I know the mind-set, because I had to learn to play different positions to stay in the big leagues," Lovullo said. "You help your chances tremendously when the manager can stick you in there somewhere and not hurt the team. Some guys don't like to move to other positions and some guys aren't good enough to try it. But Brian is good enough and he understands that it could help him move up within the organization."
Kirby hit. 200 while dividing his time last season between Cleveland's rookie team in North Carolina and the Indians' Class A team in Ohio. But after a slow start, Kirby is showing the Cleveland organization he may be a player worth watching. "This is really my first full year in pro baseball, so I think I'm making good progress," Kirby said. "Pro baseball is a business with 140-plus games. You can't let up because the competition is stiff and everyone's after the same thing. It's all about development at this level."

Kirby prolongs playing career with Ducks

By Eric Bailey
News-Leader Staff

June 6, 2004

When Springfield-Ozark's Brian Kirby lofted a lazy fly ball to center field in Friday night's victory against River City, he didn't jog to first base.
Despite a 10-run lead, he gave 100 percent, sprinting to second base.
"When you combine character and work ethic with talent, that's what we're looking for," Ducks manager Greg Tagert said. "He showed that when he was standing on second base (at the end of the play)."
On Saturday night, Kirby slammed his team-leading sixth home run of the season to lead the Ducks to a 2-1 victory over River City.
Kirby's seventh-inning shot tied the game and the Ducks took the lead for good on an unusual play in the eighth.
David Munoz was on second base with two outs when Steve Haake struck out, but reached on a dropped third strike. Munoz raced home after a bad throw to first from catcher Zack Riera.
Four Ducks pitchers - Mike Schaefer, Jim Cooney, Rodrigo Miralles and Randy Vanderplow - combined for the three-hitter.
Kirby has been a quiet leader on the Ducks squad this season.
"He is the perfect 'lead by example' player," Munoz said. "He just really goes about his business.
"I don't know if he's talked to half the guys on the team."
Kirby, an outfielder/first baseman, has let his bat do the talking.
He homered for the second straight night against the Rascals and is among the Frontier League leaders in slugging percentage.
Not bad for a player without a team just last month.
His professional baseball dreams hit a new low when he was released by the Cleveland Indians organization in April. With nowhere to go, he began exploring different options, which led to the Ducks.
A four-year starter at the University of Arkansas, he remembered playing Southwest Missouri State at Price Cutter Park.
He hunted down Tagert's phone number and circled May 8, the tryout date, on his calendar.
"I kind of had the feeling that (my playing career) wasn't over," said Kirby, 24. "I've played the game too long to give up this soon."
The slugger without a team was soon surrounded by baseball wannabes at the open tryouts.
Some couldn't hit a high school curve ball and most would be cut immediately, but not Kirby.
He easily stood out.
"After talking to him in April and May, I thought the worst that could happen was we'd see him at the tryout," Tagert said. "Best-case scenario, he'd be a pleasant surprise. He did enough in camp to keep our interest."
Kirby has always impressed in baseball, since starting in Little League when he was 9 years old in North Little Rock.
He played football for a while and basketball until he was in ninth grade, but focused on baseball in high school.
His dream to play at a higher level came true when Arkansas recruited him.
He was drafted in the 23rd round by the Cincinnati Reds out of high school, but decided to play for the Razorbacks.
He made an instant impact in college and was named a Freshman All-American in 1998.
During his four-year career - which included an SEC championship in 1999 - he clubbed 39 home runs, the third-most in school history. After his senior season, he was picked up in the 31st round by the Indians.
He worked his way to Single-A Kinston before being released last month.
After a few hitting sessions a few weeks ago with instructor Pat Harrison ("He's helped me relax and concentrate on seeing the ball," Kirby said), his journey has taken him to Ozark.
He is just five hours shy of a bachelor's degree in industrial technology, but wants to see how far baseball will take him.
"My ultimate goal is to get to the big leagues," Kirby said. "If it doesn't happen, then the good Lord didn't want me to play big league ball.
"But I am going to be satisfied with the effort."

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