Dirk Hayhurst
Encyclopedia
Dirk Von Hayhurst is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
.
for four seasons from – for Kent State University
and played with the Bethesda Big Train
in .
in the 8th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft
. He was called up from the Triple-A Portland Beavers
and made his major league debut on August 23, , for the San Diego Padres against Barry Zito
and the San Francisco Giants
at AT&T Park
in San Francisco, California
.
on October 6, 2008, but was released four months later before the season started, and re-signed to a minor league deal. On June 2, 2009, Hayhurst's contract was purchased by the Blue Jays from their triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s
.
Hayhurst missed the entire 2010 season while on the disabled list following surgery on his right shoulder. He was sent outright to the minors following the season.
with an invitation to spring training. He was then released on August 29, 2011.
and he has also contributed numerous articles to his hometown (Canton, Ohio) newspaper, The Repository.
His book about his time in the minor leagues, The Bullpen Gospels, was published on March 30, 2010 by Citadel Press, an imprint of Kensington Books
. Keith Olbermann
plugged the book on MSNBC
's Countdown with Keith Olbermann
, saying it "might be one of the best baseball books written in forty years." The Bullpen Gospels debuted on the Paperback NonFiction New York Times Best Sellers List at #19.
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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
.
Early life
Hayhurst played college baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
for four seasons from – for Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
and played with the Bethesda Big Train
Bethesda Big Train
The Bethesda Big Train are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Bethesda, Maryland. Most of its players are drawn from the college ranks. The team is a member of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League . The Big Train plays its home games at Shirley Povich Field...
in .
San Diego Padres
He was selected by the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in the 8th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft
2003 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2003 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 3 and 4. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.Source: -First round selections:...
. He was called up from the Triple-A Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
and made his major league debut on August 23, , for the San Diego Padres against Barry Zito
Barry Zito
Barry Zito is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. He previously played seven seasons with the Oakland Athletics, where he won the 2002 American League Cy Young Award and made three All-Star teams....
and the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
at AT&T Park
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
Toronto Blue Jays
He was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
on October 6, 2008, but was released four months later before the season started, and re-signed to a minor league deal. On June 2, 2009, Hayhurst's contract was purchased by the Blue Jays from their triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
.
Hayhurst missed the entire 2010 season while on the disabled list following surgery on his right shoulder. He was sent outright to the minors following the season.
Tampa Bay Rays
Prior to the 2011 season, Hayhurst signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay RaysTampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
with an invitation to spring training. He was then released on August 29, 2011.
Personal life
He is well known for his popular 'Non-Prospect Diary' for Baseball AmericaBaseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
and he has also contributed numerous articles to his hometown (Canton, Ohio) newspaper, The Repository.
His book about his time in the minor leagues, The Bullpen Gospels, was published on March 30, 2010 by Citadel Press, an imprint of Kensington Books
Kensington Books
Kensington Publishing Corp. is an American book publisher.- Overview :Kensington was founded in 1974 by Walter Zacharius, formerly of Lancer Books. Steven Zacharius became president and CEO in 2005. Vice president Michael Rosamilia has been the CFO since 1989. Laurie Parkin is the vice president...
. Keith Olbermann
Keith Olbermann
Keith Theodore Olbermann is an American political commentator and writer. He has been the chief news officer of the Current TV network and the host of Current TV's weeknight political commentary program, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, since June 20, 2011...
plugged the book on MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
's Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Countdown with Keith Olbermann is an hour-long weeknight news and political commentary program that airs on Current TV, where it began airing on June 20, 2011. The program was broadcast on MSNBC from March 31, 2003, to January 21, 2011. On MSNBC, the show presented five selected news stories of...
, saying it "might be one of the best baseball books written in forty years." The Bullpen Gospels debuted on the Paperback NonFiction New York Times Best Sellers List at #19.