Tim Byrdak

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Tim Byrdak
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Byrdak with the Houston Astros in 2009
Relief pitcher
Born: (1973-10-31) October 31, 1973 (age 51)
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
August 7, 1998, for the Kansas City Royals
Last MLB appearance
September 26, 2013, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Win–loss record 13–13
Earned run average 4.35
Strikeouts 326
Teams

Timothy Christopher Byrdak (born October 31, 1973) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He has pitched for the Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros and New York Mets. A relief pitcher, Byrdak attended Rice University where he played college baseball.

Career

Kansas City Royals

Byrdak was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round of the 1994 MLB Draft out of Rice University.[1] He made his Major League debut as a reliever against the New York Yankees on August 7, 1998.[1] In parts of three seasons with the Royals, he was 0–4 with an 8.27 ERA in 48 games.[1] However, he did pick up his first career save on July 4, 1999 against the Cleveland Indians.[2]

Cleveland Indians

He signed as a minor league free agent with the Indians on February 19, 2001.[1] He only appeared in four games with the AAA Buffalo Bisons in 2001 and 11 with the Kinston Indians and Akron Aeros in 2002 due to injury issues.

Northern League

In 2003 he pitched in the Northern League with the Gary Southshore Railcats and the Joliet Jackhammers.

While playing for the Rail Cats, he faced 77-year-old Minnie Miñoso leading off the game at St. Paul on July 16, 2003, and got a walk.[3] The plate appearance marked Minoso’s seventh decade of professional baseball, and Byrdak was quoted in the "Scorecard" section of Sports Illustrated on his impressions on facing the former White Sox star.

San Diego Padres

He signed as a minor league free agent with the San Diego Padres on January 30, 2004, and made 20 appearances for the AAA Portland Beavers, where he was 3–0 with a 5.45 ERA.

Baltimore Orioles

He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on June 22, 2004, and pitched for the Ottawa Lynx in 2004 and 2005. Byrdak made his first appearance in the Majors in five years when the Orioles purchased his contract and he appeared against the Indians on July 2, 2005. He made 57 appearances for the Orioles Major League team in 2005 and 2006, with a 1–1 record and 5.88 ERA.[1]

Detroit Tigers

He signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers on November 17, 2006. Prior to the 2007 season, Byrdak developed a forkball, a type of pitch that he had previously not thrown. This enabled him to throw three pitches (along with a fastball and curveball).

In his Detroit debut, Byrdak struck out five of six batters in the heart of the powerful Boston Red Sox lineup, including an inning-ending curve to which David Ortiz struck out looking. He pitched in 39 games for the Tigers, and was 3–0 with a 3.20 ERA.[1]

Houston Astros

He signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros on April 3, 2008. In three seasons with the Astros, he was 5–5 with a 3.53 ERA in 199 appearances.[1]

On September 28, 2010, Byrdak surrendered a walk-off home run to Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce that clinched the Reds the National League Central division title.[4][5]

New York Mets

File:Tim Byrdak 2011.jpg
Byrdak during his tenure with the New York Mets in 2011

On January 21, 2011, Byrdak signed with the New York Mets. That season, he had a 2–1 record and 3.82 ERA. Despite some discussion about a possible trade,[6] He was re-signed following the season.

Byrdak had surgery to repair a torn meniscus on March 13, 2012. He was scheduled to miss six weeks.[7] However, on Opening Day, April 5, 2012, Byrdak made his season debut and struck out the only two batters he faced, preserving the Mets 1–0 victory.[8] Through June 16 he had a 2–0 record and 3.44 ERA.[1]

On August 6, 2012, it was announced that Byrdak had suffered an anterior capsule injury in his left shoulder.[9] He did not pitch at all for the rest of the season.

On November 26, 2012, Byrdak re-signed with the Mets on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Personal life

Aside from major league baseball Byrdak works at the Bo Jackson's Elite Sports Facility in Lockport, IL and gives pitching lessons alongside former and current major leaguers including John Cangelosi and Dean Anna. Tim is married to Heather and has two children, daughter Briana and son Christopher. He and his family reside in Lockport, Illinois during the off-season.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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