Kurt Birkins #25

Attended El Camino Real HS (CA), where he earned three letters in baseball, was named All-City in 1998, and led the team to become LA City Champs in 1997 and 1998...Attended UCLA for one year before transferring to La Pierce (CA) JC, where he followed Barry Zito...Hobbies are watching sports and playing cards...Was signed by Orioles scout Gil Kubski.

2007

Had five separate stints with the Orioles in 2007, appearing in 19 games for the Birds and 20 games for the AAA Norfolk Tides...Was recalled from AAA Norfolk on August 31 and spent the remainder of the season with the Orioles...Also was up from April 8-16, April 30-May 7, June 30-July 12 & August 3-10...Went 8-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 20 games, including 19 starts, for AAA Norfolk (105.2IP, 102H, 39R/36ER, 38BB, 98K)...Took the loss in his first Orioles appearance on April 11 vs. Detroit, allowing a grand slam by Craig Monroe in the 12th inning...Recorded the final out in the 9th inning on August 9 vs. Seattle after entering with the bases loaded, marking the first time in 7 outings he retired the first batter he faced...Earned his only win of the season on August 31 at Boston, allowing one run in 3.0 IP in relief...Made his first major league start on September 3 at Tampa Bay, recording a no-decision (4.0IP, 4ER)...Made his second start and took his second loss of the season on September 15 at Toronto, allowing hits to all 6 batters he faced and failing to record an out...Pitched 4.1 scoreless innings with 6 strikeouts on September 26 vs. Toronto, both career highs...Allowed runs in 11 of 17 relief appearances on the season, pitching to a 6.23 ERA (30.1IP, 21ER) in his relief outings...Was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on October 29.

2006

Began the season in AAA Ottawa's starting rotation before his contract was purchased on May 2...Pitched out of the Orioles' bullpen until going on the disabled list on August 1 with left elbow neuritis and missed the rest of the season...Appeared in 35 games, all in relief, in his 3 months on the Orioles' active roster...Opponents batted just .221 (25-113) off him...Was primarily a starter in 5 of his 6 minor league seasons and had not made more than 2 relief outings in any season except 2004, when he pitched out of the bullpen 21 times in 27 appearances for Class A Frederick...Did not allow a run in his first 4 appearances (7.0IP)...Pitched to an 0.86 ERA in his first 17 games, yielding only 2 earned runs in his first 21.0 IP through June 15...Allowed runs in 8 of his last 18 appearances, pitching to a 13.50 ERA (10.0IP, 15ER) starting on June 18...Gave up 7 runs on 5 hits, 4 walks and a hit batter in 1.2 IP over his final 4 outings, July 22-29...Went on the DL on August 1, and made 5 outings on minor league rehab assignment...Was shut down for the remainder of the season and transferred to the 60-day DL on August 29...Split time on his rehab assignment with Short-A Aberdeen, Class A Frederick and AA Bowie, pitching in 5 total games...Allowed 4 runs on 4 hits in 2.0 IP on August 27 for Bowie vs. New Hampshire in his last outing...Made his big-league debut on May 4 at Texas, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings...Allowed one run on 6 hits in his first 13 outings, spanning 17.2 IP...Struck out a season-high 4 batters in 2.0 IP in his 2nd big league outing on May 6 at Boston...Pitched 4.0 hitless innings on May 24 at Seattle, his longest outing of the season...Earned his first major league victory on May 28 at Los Angeles, retiring all 4 batters faced and striking out 2 in the Orioles' 7-6 win...Retired all 3 batters faced on June 8 vs. Toronto to earn his 2nd win of the season...Credited with the win on July 1 at Atlanta, retiring both batters he faced to strand 2 inherited runners in the 5th inning...Was charged with 2 runs and the loss on June 30 at Atlanta, allowing 3 of 4 batters faced to reach base...Earned his 4th win with 0.2 scoreless IPin O's comeback on July 9 at Cleveland...Pitched a scoreless inning on July 17 vs. Oakland for his 5th win...Allowed 3 runs on a pair of home runs in 0.1 IP on July 22 at Tampa Bay...Also allowed 2 homers on June 28 vs. Philadelphia, the only other game in which he allowed a home run...Allowed 3 runs in 0.2 IP on July 25 at Kansas City, suffering his only blown save and his second loss...Was his second straight outing allowing 3 runs...Became the Orioles' first pick from the 2000 First Year Player Draft to reach the majors and the lowest selection (33rd round) to join the club since Ryan Minor 33rd round pick in 1996 played for the O's from 1998-2000.

2005

Spent the season at AA Bowie and was 2nd on the Baysox staff in starts (24) and innings (129.0) ... Posted a 6.06 ERA in April but had an ERA below 4.00 in each month for the rest of the season ... Allowed 13 runs in 9.2 innings in consecutive starts, 8/2-7, but then allowed 4 earned runs in 31.2 innings over his final 4 starts of the season ... Struck out a season-high 9 batters in 8.0 scoreless innings on 8/12 at Erie ... Lost his final two starts of the year and led the club with 11 losses.

2004

Spent his second consecutive season at Class A Frederick ... Made 21 of his 27 appearances in relief ... Pitched 4.0 innings on 7/1 at Myrtle Beach to earn his first professional save ... Won his first three outings in August, pitching a combined 12.0 scoreless innings ... Started his final 4 games of the season.

2003

Spent the season at Frederick and tied for the Carolina League lead with 11 losses ... Allowed two unearned runs in a season-high 7.1 innings and took the loss on 7/12 vs. Myrtle Beach ... Pitched 6.0 scoreless innings to earn the win vs. Winston Salem in his last start of the season on 9/1.

2002

Spent the season at Class A Delmarva and was 2nd on the staff in starts (25) and innings pitched (143.2) and 3rd in strikeouts (102) ... Went 5-1 with a 2.50 ERA through his first 8 starts of the year before dropping his next 3 starts ... Pitched 3 complete games over the span of 6 starts, the last coming on 7/12, when he allowed 3 hits in a 2-1 win at Hagerstown ... Went winless over his last 8 starts of the year, losing once and collecting 7 no-decisions.

2001

Began the season at Gulf Coast, appearing in 5 games, including 4 starts ... Over his last 3 starts, pitched 16.0 innings, allowing 8 hits and 2 runs while striking out 17 ... Was transferred to Bluefield, where he won his first four decisions and pitched 6.0 innings or more in each ... Struck out 8 or more on four occasions.