Tim Byrdak
Encyclopedia
Timothy Christopher Byrdak (born October 31, 1973 in Oak Forest, Illinois
) is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
for the New York Mets
. His previous major league experience came from to , when Byrdak played for the Kansas City Royals
, an injury-plagued stint with the Baltimore Orioles
, and one year with the Detroit Tigers
.
After playing for the Orioles from -, Byrdak was designated for assignment on August 30, 2006. On November 17, 2006, the Tigers signed him to a minor league deal. On March 26, 2008, Byrdak was released after posting a 13.50 ERA
during spring training
and later signed with the Houston Astros.
Prior to the season, Byrdak developed a forkball
, a type of pitch that he had previously not thrown. This enabled him to throw 3 pitches (along with a fastball
and curveball
), and as a result he began to post the best numbers of his career. In his Detroit debut, Byrdak struck out
5 of 6 batters in the heart of the powerful Boston Red Sox
lineup, including an inning-ending curve to which David Ortiz
struck out looking.
Aside from major league baseball Tim works at the Diamond Sports Academy and gives pitching lessons alongside many former major leaguers including former Rockies
ace, Marvin Freeman
. Tim is married to Heather and has two children, daughter Briana and son Christopher. He and his family reside in Lockport, IL during the off-season. He played for the Gary SouthShore RailCats
in 2003. While playing for the Rail Cats,he faced 77-year-old Minnie Minoso leading off the game at St. Paul on July 16, 2003 and got a walk.
The plate appearance marks Minoso’s seventh decade of professional baseball, and Byrdak is quoted in the “Scorecard” section of Sports Illustrated
on his impressions on facing the former White Sox star.
On September 28, 2010, Byrdak surrendered a walk-off home run to Cincinnati Reds
right fielder Jay Bruce
that clinched the Reds the National League Central division title.
On January 19, 2011, Byrdak signed with the New York Mets
. On June 12 he was placed on the bereavement list due to a illness/death of a family member but he returned.
Oak Forest, Illinois
Oak Forest is a suburban city about south/southwest of downtown Chicago in Bremen Township in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 28,051 at the 2000 census.-History:...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. His previous major league experience came from to , when Byrdak played for the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, an injury-plagued stint with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, and one year with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
After playing for the Orioles from -, Byrdak was designated for assignment on August 30, 2006. On November 17, 2006, the Tigers signed him to a minor league deal. On March 26, 2008, Byrdak was released after posting a 13.50 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
and later signed with the Houston Astros.
Prior to the season, Byrdak developed a forkball
Forkball
The forkball is a type of pitch in baseball. Related to the split-fingered fastball, the forkball is held between the first two fingers and thrown hard snapping the wrist....
, a type of pitch that he had previously not thrown. This enabled him to throw 3 pitches (along with a fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
and curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
), and as a result he began to post the best numbers of his career. In his Detroit debut, Byrdak struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
5 of 6 batters in the heart of the powerful Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
lineup, including an inning-ending curve to which David Ortiz
David Ortiz
David Américo Ortiz Arias , known as David Ortiz, nicknamed "Big Papi", is a Dominican American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. Previously, Ortiz played with the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox...
struck out looking.
Aside from major league baseball Tim works at the Diamond Sports Academy and gives pitching lessons alongside many former major leaguers including former Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
ace, Marvin Freeman
Marvin Freeman
Marvin Freeman is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from to for the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves and Colorado Rockies. He worked as both a starting pitcher and a reliever in his career. He is currently an assistant baseball coach at Rich Central High School in Olympia...
. Tim is married to Heather and has two children, daughter Briana and son Christopher. He and his family reside in Lockport, IL during the off-season. He played for the Gary SouthShore RailCats
Gary SouthShore RailCats
The Gary SouthShore RailCats are a professional baseball team based in Gary, Indiana, in the United States. The RailCats are a member of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The RailCats have played their home games at...
in 2003. While playing for the Rail Cats,he faced 77-year-old Minnie Minoso leading off the game at St. Paul on July 16, 2003 and got a walk.
The plate appearance marks Minoso’s seventh decade of professional baseball, and Byrdak is quoted in the “Scorecard” section of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
on his impressions on facing the former White Sox star.
On September 28, 2010, Byrdak surrendered a walk-off home run to Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
right fielder Jay Bruce
Jay Bruce
Jay Allen Bruce is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds. He was selected 12th overall in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft....
that clinched the Reds the National League Central division title.
On January 19, 2011, Byrdak signed with the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. On June 12 he was placed on the bereavement list due to a illness/death of a family member but he returned.