Nathan

Kirby

Kirby re-signed with the Pirates last November after being acquired from the Brewers in a trade last summer. The 28-year-old lefty registered a 2.74 ERA, 1.91 WHIP and 18/22 K/BB ratio across 23 innings (15 appearances, four starts) this season at Triple-A Indianapolis.

Kirby was acquired from the Brewers in exchange for infielder Kevin Kramer last July and wound up recording a 4.26 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 56/28 K/BB ratio across 38 innings at the Triple-A level last season. The 27-year-old lefty has struggled to limit free passes and is merely organizational filler at this stage in his career.

Kirby, 27, missed the 2016 and 2017 seasons due to a pair of elbow surgeries. More elbow troubles sidelined him for the entire 2019 season, but he has done a nice job at Double-A Biloxi this season, registering a 1.93 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 19/13 K/BB ratio across 18 2/3 innings.

Kirby, who was selected No. 40 overall by the Brewers back in 2015, is expected to miss 8-12 weeks. It’s an awful break for the 23-year-old, who missed the entire 2016 season following Tommy John surgery.

Kirby was viewed as a potential top-10 pick heading into the spring, but an inconsistent junior season in which he experienced command issues and suffered a lat injury hurt his draft stock considerably. When he’s on, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound left-hander features three above-average to plus pitches in a 90-94 mph fastball, a sharp, swing-and-miss slider, and one of the better changeups in the class. The 21-year-old had a strong season on paper, posting a 2.25 ERA and 11.38 K/9 in 59 1/3 innings (10 starts), but his regression from last year in BB/9 (4.55 from 2.62) and WHIP (1.35 from 0.89) highlight the concerns scouts have about his command ceiling. The recommend slot value for the No. 40 overall pick is $1,545,400.

The 40th pick in this year’s Draft, Kirby’s bonus was reduced at the last minute due to an undisclosed medical issue, although it’s not clear whether it involved his elbow. Regardless, it’s a tough break for the left and the Brewers, as he’ll now be sidelined until 2017.

Kirby has only made five appearances -- with poor results -- since being selected 40th overall in the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of Virginia. There should be an update from the Brewers later this week.

Kirby was selected No. 40 overall in this June’s First-Year Player Draft and made just five appearances before going down with the injury. He’s now likely to be sidelined until 2017, so it’s a tough break for the 21-year-old.

Kirby has battled injuries since being drafted by Milwaukee in 2015 with the 40th pick. He missed all of 2016 following Tommy John Surgery, and he missed five months after undergoing ulnar nerve transposition surgery in May.