Austin Bibens-Dirkx
Bibens-Dirkx with the Texas Rangers
Pitcher
Born: (1985-04-29) April 29, 1985
Salem, Oregon, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: May 17, 2017, for the Texas Rangers
CPBL: March 28, 2019, for the Uni-President Lions
Last appearance
MLB: September 12, 2018, for the Texas Rangers
CPBL: June 8, 2019, for the Uni-President Lions
MLB statistics
Win–loss record7–5
Earned run average5.27
Strikeouts71
CPBL statistics
Win–loss record2–5
Earned run average5.28
Strikeouts37
Teams

Austin Mitchell Bibens-Dirkx (born April 29, 1985) is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and for the Uni-President Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).

Amateur career

Bibens-Dirkx attended McNary High School in Keizer, Oregon,[1] Chemeketa Community College, and later the University of Portland. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 16th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft.

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

Bibens-Dirkx began his professional career in 2006, splitting time between the short season Everett AquaSox, the Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. He went a combined 2–2 with a 1.64 ERA and five saves in 381⁄3 innings pitched. In 2007 Bibens-Dirkx played for the Class-A Advanced High Desert Mavericks of the California League. He went 3–1 with a 4.42 ERA, 26 strikeouts and eight saves. Bibens-Dirkx split the 2008 season between the High Desert Mavericks and the Rookie level Peoria Mariners. He was placed on the disabled list twice and made rehab starts in Peoria. He went a combined 3–1 with a 7.06 ERA in 38 games.

Victoria Seals

In 2009, Bibens-Dirkx played for the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball League.

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs purchased his contract partway into the season.[2] He was then assigned to the Class-A Peoria Chiefs.[3] Bibens-Dirkx finished the season with a 7–2 record with a 2.04 ERA, 50 strikeouts and one save in 12 games, eight starts. He remained with the Cubs organization for the next two seasons while also pitching in the offseasons in the Venezuelan winter league with Águilas del Zulia.

Washington Nationals

In January 2012, Bibens-Dirkx signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals that included an invitation to spring training.[4] He pitched for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators and Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs in 2012.

Colorado Rockies

After leaving the Nationals organization, Bibens-Dirkx finished 2012 pitching for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox in the Colorado Rockies organization. He once again pitched in Venezuela with Zulia in the offseason.

Toronto Blue Jays

Bibens-Dirkx played for the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays and Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats in 2013 in the Toronto Blue Jays organization and also with Zulia again in the offseason. In 2014, he played for New Hampshire and the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He pitched again in the offseason but this time with Toros del Este in the Dominican winter league. He was signed to a minor league contract by the Blue Jays in November 2014 and spent the 2015 season with Buffalo and New Hampshire.[5] On November 6, 2015, Bibens-Dirkx elected free agency.[6] He spent that offseason back in Venezuela, this time with Tigres de Aragua.

Lancaster Barnstormers

On April 5, 2016, Bibens-Dirkx signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[7]

Texas Rangers

On June 14, 2016, Bibens-Dirkx signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers and spent the rest of the season with Triple-A Round Rock Express. He then pitched again with Aragua in the offseason. He signed another minor league contract with the Rangers on December 16, 2016.[8] He began the 2017 season with the Express.

On May 7,[9] 2017, the Rangers promoted Bibens-Dirkx to the major leagues.[10][11] He made his major league debut on May 17, 2017, pitching one inning and giving up one earned run. He struck out Tommy Joseph for his first major league strikeout. He was outrighted to Triple-A on November 6, 2017, but declined the assignment and became a free agent.[12] On December 19, he signed a new minor league contract with the Rangers.[13] He was assigned to AAA Round Rock Express to begin the 2018 season but also pitched 13 games with the Rangers during the season. He elected free agency after the season.

Uni-President Lions

On January 12, 2019, Bibens-Dirkx signed with the Uni-President Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).[14] He was released on June 13, 2019, as Bibens-Dirkx wished to be with his wife in the U.S., as she was expecting a baby.

Texas Rangers (second stint)

On June 29, 2019, Bibens-Dirkx signed a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers and was assigned to the team's new Triple-A affiliate, the Nashville Sounds.[15] Bibens-Dirkx was released by the Rangers organization on June 1, 2020.

Los Angeles Dodgers

On May 4, 2021, Bibens-Dirkx signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.[16] He appeared in 25 games (17 starts) for the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers and had a 10–6 record and 5.13 ERA.[17]

Mexican League

On February 7, 2022, Bibens-Dirkx signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League for the 2022 season.[18] In 3 starts, he posted a 0–1 record and 6.00 ERA. On May 10, 2022, Bibens-Dirkx was traded to the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League.[19] He made just one start, giving up 4 earned runs in 2 innings pitched. Bibens-Dirkx was released by the team on May 17, 2022.[20]

Coaching career

On January 17, 2023, Bibens-Dirkx announced that he had retired from playing and had joined the Toronto Blue Jays organization as a minor league pitching coach.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "Former Celt is one step away from major leagues | Keizertimes". keizertimes.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Seals Sell Contract of RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx to the Chicago Cubs". OurSports Central. July 4, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Chiefs Add Former Wisconsin Pitcher Austin Bibens-Dirkx". OurSports Central. July 6, 2009.
  4. ↑ Gus (March 1, 2012). "Ex-Seal Bibens-Dirkx in spring camp with Nationals". Victoria Seals Baseball.
  5. ↑ Buffalo Bisons (November 11, 2014). "Korecky signs with Blue Jays". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Eastern League Transactions". MiLB.com. p. November 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Bibens-Dirkx Gets Big League Callup". lancasterbarnstormers.com. May 12, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  8. ↑ Todd, Jeff (December 16, 2016). "Minor MLB Transactions: 12/16/16". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Transactions". MLB.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Rangers give Bibens-Dirkx chance to live out dream". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. May 7, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Rangers call up Austin Bibens-Dirkx". MLB.com. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  12. ↑ Adams, Steve (November 6, 2017). "Rangers Exercise Option On Perez, Decline Options On Barnette, Napoli". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  13. ↑ Todd, Jeff (December 19, 2017). "Rangers Sign Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Erik Goeddel". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Uni-Lions Sign Austin Bibens-Dirkx". January 12, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  15. ↑ RotoWire Staff (June 29, 2019). "Rangers' Austin Bibens-Dirkx: Back with Rangers". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Minor MLB Transactions: 5/10/21". MLB Trade Rumors.
  17. ↑ "Austin Bibens-Dirkx Minor, Independent, Winter and CBL Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  18. ↑ "EXPERIENCIA DE AUSTIN BIBENS-DIRKX SE SUMA A SULTANES". sultanes.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Austin Bibens-Dirkx Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  20. ↑ @AlgodonerosUL (May 17, 2022). "Le damos la bienvenida a Luis Serrano, joven cubano que juega el outfield y que desde hoy reporta en el #Revolución. Damos las gracias a Austin Bibens-Dirkx por su entrega con nuestro equipo. #PoderGuinda 👊🏻⚡️" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved May 17, 2022 – via Twitter.
  21. ↑ Bibens-Dirkx, Austin (January 17, 2023). "Austin Bibens-Dirkx on Instagram: "So incredibly blessed and thankful for the opportunity from the @rangers to live out my dream and get my first @mlb win! And for the lovely shower of course!"". Instagram. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
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