The Seattle Mariners selected George Kirby with the 20th overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft out of Elon University in North Carolina. The 24-year-old right-handed pitcher will make his MLB debut Monday, May 9th against the Philadelphia Phillies per Jeff Passan. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. at T-Mobile Park.
After being drafted, Kirby was assigned to the Everett AquaSox, then at the Single-A Short Season level. Kirby had a 2.35 ERA in 23 innings pitched with Everett over nine games, eight of which he started. With the shuffle of the minor leagues during the extended 2020 offseason that saw no games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Everett moved up to the High-A level. In 2021 at the High-A level, Kirby went 4-2 in 41.2 innings pitched with a 2.38 ERA over nine games, all of which he started.
Kirby was then promoted to the Double-A Arkansas Travelers for the remainder of the 2021 season. During Kirby’s time there, he went 1-1 in 26 innings pitched with a 2.77 ERA over six games, all of which he started. Kirby returned to Arkansas for the 2022 season, where he went 2-0 in 24.2 innings pitched with a 1.82 ERA over five games, all of which he started.
Overall during Kirby’s minor league career, he went 7-3 in 115.1 innings pitched with a 2.34 ERA over 29 games, 28 of which he started.
In addition to Kirby’s promotion, catcher Cal Raleigh was recalled from the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. This move was needed with catcher, Tom Murphy being put on the 10-day Injured List due to a dislocated left shoulder.
Northwest Sports Desk 