Oakland Ballers Add Reliever to Bullpen

The B's may have just added their closer to the roster

The latest member of the Oakland Ballers (a.k.a. B's) is relief pitcher Danny Kirwin. The 6-foot-2 right-hander recently played in the MLB Draft League, posting a 3.68 ERA while striking out 21 across 14 2/3 innings. He has also played summer ball the previous two seasons in the Coastal Plains League with Tri-Valley while attending Rider University. 

Wherever Kirwin goes, strikeouts follow. During the 2023 collegiate season, he struck out 67 batters in 50 1/3 innings and held a 2.32 ERA. One concern for Kirwin is that he does have a tendency to allow some free passes. In college he walked 5.4 per nine innings, In the MLB Draft League he allowed 13 walks in just over 14 frames, and in two seasons with Tri-City he has walked 18 batters in 27 2/3 innings. 

Ballers pitching coach Ray King said of Kirwin, "Danny pitched for me this summer and he’s an absolute bulldog on the mound. I can see him coming into late game situations for us this year to shut down the opposing team’s offense and finish games forus. I am really excited have him in Oakland with us now.”

King also said that the righty's fastball sits in the mid-90's with a great slider and a good changeup. 

The newest addition to the B's roster said in a video posted on social media, "I'm stoked to be in Oakland, ready to bring baseball back to the city."

Kirwin definitely has the makings of a solid late-inning arm. How often the opposition in the Pioneer League takes free passes could determine what kind of year he, and the Ballers have. 

The team has also announced the time and date of the League's open tryouts. The first one will be in Davenport, Florida from February 9-11, followed by one in Scottsdale, Arizona from April 16-18 at Salt River Fields, where the Diamondbacks and Rockies play their Spring Training games. 

At the end of the tryout, 12 players will be drafted and offered a contract to attend a PL team's Spring Training. More information can be found here.

There is now Ballers gear available in both green and black available at Oaklandish.