Nicholas Raymond Bierbrodt (born May 16, 1978) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He spent four seasons from 2001 to 2004 in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers.

Nick Bierbrodt
Bierbrodt with the Long Beach Armada in 2008
Pitcher
Born: (1978-05-16) May 16, 1978 (age 45)
Tarzana, California, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
June 7, 2001, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Last MLB appearance
July 6, 2004, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record6–9
Earned run average6.66
Strikeouts112
Former teams

Career edit

He was a first round pick for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1996 MLB draft, becoming the first player ever drafted by the franchise. He had compiled a minor league record of 28-28 from 1996 to 2001, when in 2001 he was promoted to the Major League team and added to the Diamondbacks rotation.[1] He made 5 starts for the Diamondbacks before being traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Albie Lopez and Mike DiFelice. Between Arizona and Tampa Bay, Bierbrodt finished with a record of 5–6 with a 5.55 ERA in 16 starts.

Bierbrodt was shot three times in the arm and chest in a taxi cab in Charleston, South Carolina in June 2002.[2] He missed the entire 2002 season while recovering.

In 2003, Bierbrodt made the Opening Day roster.[3] His return to the Majors was short lived, as in 13 games for the Devil Rays, he had a 9.14 ERA and was later claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians[4] In 2004, he signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers, appearing in 4 starts for them that year.

In 2005, Bierbrodt signed with the Somerset Patriots, an independent league team.[5] He would remain with the Patriots for two years before signing with the Bridgeport Bluefish. After playing for the Brother Elephants of the Chinese Professional Baseball League in 2007, he returned to the United States the next year, joining the Long Beach Armada of the independent Golden Baseball League.

In 2010, Bierbrodt signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies.[6][7] In 2011, the Baltimore Orioles signed Bierbrodt to a minor league deal.[8] He spent 2011 in the Orioles farm system before retiring.

References edit

  1. ^ "Diamondbacks Call Up Bierbrodt". Apnews.com. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  2. ^ Topkin, Marc. "Bierbrodt shot in chest", St. Petersburg Times, June 8, 2002
  3. ^ "Bierbrodt Likely to be No. 3 Starter - tribunedigital-orlandosentinel". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-07-04.
  4. ^ "Baseball Scoreboard | Amarillo.com | Amarillo Globe-News". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
  5. ^ "Patriots sign former Major League pitcher Nick Bierbrodt". Oursportscentral.com. 4 May 2005. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Sky Sox pitcher Bierbrodt getting another shot at baseball | Colorado Springs Gazette, News". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
  7. ^ "Minor League Transactions: Bierbrodt, Jimerson, Cintron". MLB Trade Rumors. 23 February 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Orioles Sign Nick Bierbrodt". MLB Trade Rumors. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2021.

External links edit