| IP | 191 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.53 |
| WHIP | 1.07 |
| BB/9 | 1.08 |
| SO/9 | 8.43 |
- Full name George Joseph Kirby
- Born 02/04/1998 in Rye, NY
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Elon
- Debut 05/08/2022
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Drafted in the 1st round (20th overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 2019 (signed for $3,242,900).
View Draft Report
One of the best strike-throwers in the country, Kirby formed an impressive one-two combination with righthander Kyle Brnovich at Elon this spring. Kirby is the higher-rated draft prospect, however, due to his slew of starter’s traits and solid four-pitch mix. While there are pitchers with louder pure stuff than the 6-foot-4, 201-pound righthander, Kirby is among the most likely 2019 draft prospects to make a major league impact because of his clean arm action and plus command. Through 11 starts and 71.2 innings this spring, Kirby had struck out 84 hitters and walked just five, which ranked as the best strikeout-to-walk ratio (16.8) in the country. While some scouts will critique the level of competition that Kirby faced in the Colonial Athletic Association and don’t expect him to miss many bats against better competition, it’s impossible to ignore his strike-throwing ability. There’s also his impressive 2018 in the Cape Cod League, where Kirby worked as a reliever and posted a 1.38 ERA over 13 innings, striking out 24 and walking only one. Kirby’s fastball has reached as high as 97 mph in the past, but this spring he’s worked mostly in the low 90s while touching 94-95 mph consistently. His fastball grades out as a plus offering because of his ability to spot it to both sides of the plate and elevate it when necessary. Kirby throws a curveball and a slider, and both pitches will flash plus at times, but they lack consistency right now and might be average pitches, at best, in a starting role. Kirby’s top offspeed pitch could be his mid-80s changeup, which he throws with conviction and consistently lands in the bottom of the strike zone. Kirby looks the part of a solid, middle- to back-of-the-rotation starter, and he should be selected in the middle of the first round this June.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Track Record: Kirby walked six batters in 14 starts his junior year at Elon and posted the best strikeout-to-walk ratio (16.8) in the country. Despite modest stuff, Kirby’s elite control and command convinced the Mariners to draft him 20th overall and give him a $3,242,900 signing bonus. Kirby remade his body in 2020 at the alternate training site and re-emerged with vastly improved stuff in 2021. He posted a 2.53 ERA in 15 starts and rose to Double-A, although he missed a month with shoulder tenderness.
Scouting Report: Kirby’s fastball has jumped from 91-94 mph in college to 95-99 as a pro with explosive late life up in the zone. He generates his velocity with little effort and locates his fastball to both sides of the plate with plus-plus command, making it a swing-and-miss pitch even when batters are geared up for it. Kirby complements his fastball with a plus, wipeout slider in the 85-89 mph range that misses bats and an above-average, 79-80 mph curveball with depth and bite. His fading, 85-86 mph changeup has excellent separation from his fastball, but it plays down a tick because his control of it is just average. Despite his long, lanky build, Kirby is a good athlete with excellent body coordination and repeats his delivery for elite control. He has averaged 1.5 walks per nine innings in his minor league career and his misses are very small.
The Future: Kirby’s rare mix of power and precision gives him the potential to be a No. 1 or 2 starter as long as he stays healthy. His major league debut should come in 2022.
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Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 50. Control: 70.
TRACK RECORD: Kirby was known for impeccable control at Elon and was drafted 20th overall by the Mariners in 2019. That trait showed up in his professional debut at short-season Everett, when he went 23 innings without walking a batter. He spent 2020 at the Mariners’ alternate training site remaking his body to add velocity and power to his arsenal.
SCOUTING REPORT: Kirby’s fastball sat in the low 90s in college and touched 95 mph, but he showed an uptick in his pro debut and took another jump in 2020. Kirby’s fastball averaged 96 mph and peaked at 99 at the alternate site, and that extra velocity did not come at the expense of his plus-plus control. He also added movement to his fastball, making it a bona fide plus pitch. Kirby’s mid-80s slider with deep, crisp break is another plus pitch, while his low-80s, downer curveball projects as average. Kirby doesn’t throw his 85-87 mph changeup often, but it has good action and has the potential to be an above-average pitch.
THE FUTURE: Kirby has to show he can maintain his velocity uptick over the course of a full season in a competitive environment. If he can, he’ll be a potential mid-rotation starter or better. -
TRACK RECORD: Kirby walked just six batters in 88 innings in his final season at Elon and became the highest drafted player in school history when the Mariners selected him 20th overall. He signed for $3,242,900. Kirby reported to short-season Everett after signing and didn't walk a batter in 23 innings while striking out 25.
SCOUTING REPORT: Kirby is more than just a strike-thrower and possesses an impressive arsenal of pitches. His fastball sat 93-95 mph and touched 98 in his pro debut, though those velocities were higher than usual because he was limited to shorter outings. He generally sits in the low 90s and touches 95. His best secondary pitch is a potentially above-average to plus slider at 83-88 mph with depth and a crisp break. His 79-83 mph curveball with 11-to-5 break projects to be an average pitch, while his 85-87 changeup flashes above-average, though he didn't use it much after signing. Where Kirby stands out most is his plus-plus control. He has a clean arm action and plus command, allowing him to put the ball wherever he wants in the strike zone.
THE FUTURE: Kirby has a chance to jump straight to high Class A Modesto and rejoin his college pitching coach, Sean McGrath, whom the Mariners hired in the offseason. He's a likely No. 3 or 4 starter.
Draft Prospects
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One of the best strike-throwers in the country, Kirby formed an impressive one-two combination with righthander Kyle Brnovich at Elon this spring. Kirby is the higher-rated draft prospect, however, due to his slew of starter's traits and solid four-pitch mix. While there are pitchers with louder pure stuff than the 6-foot-4, 201-pound righthander, Kirby is among the most likely 2019 draft prospects to make a major league impact because of his clean arm action and plus command. Through 11 starts and 71.2 innings this spring, Kirby had struck out 84 hitters and walked just five, which ranked as the best strikeout-to-walk ratio (16.8) in the country. While some scouts will critique the level of competition that Kirby faced in the Colonial Athletic Association and don't expect him to miss many bats against better competition, it's impossible to ignore his strike-throwing ability. There's also his impressive 2018 in the Cape Cod League, where Kirby worked as a reliever and posted a 1.38 ERA over 13 innings, striking out 24 and walking only one. Kirby's fastball has reached as high as 97 mph in the past, but this spring he's worked mostly in the low 90s while touching 94-95 mph consistently. His fastball grades out as a plus offering because of his ability to spot it to both sides of the plate and elevate it when necessary. Kirby throws a curveball and a slider, and both pitches will flash plus at times, but they lack consistency right now and might be average pitches, at best, in a starting role. Kirby's top offspeed pitch could be his mid-80s changeup, which he throws with conviction and consistently lands in the bottom of the strike zone. Kirby looks the part of a solid, middle- to back-of-the-rotation starter, and he should be selected in the middle of the first round this June. -
With additional strength and experience, Kirby could develop into a strong starting pitching prospect down the line. His fastball reached 94 at one point last summer, but more typically worked in the upper 80s and peaked at 92 in short bursts. He shows the natural hand speed to develop a quality breaking ball, but struggles to stay on top of the pitch, an issue that could be attributed to his hooked wrist in the back of his arm action. Kirby mixes in a changeup sparingly, but has feel for the offering and can generate late dive on the pitch. He has room to fill in his 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame, and could develop into a more prominent prospect with three years of development in college. He's committed to Elon.
Minor League Top Prospects
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When he was drafted, Kirby’s reputation was as a pitcher whose very good stuff was accentuated by sublime control and command. This year, his stuff took huge steps forward without sacrificing his ability to pound the edges of the strike zone. Kirby’s fastball took a huge leap forward. It regularly parked in the upper 90s and peaked as high as 102 mph. It heads a four-pitch arsenal with three secondaries that each grade at least above-average. His slider, which was reshaped to feature sweepier break, is a favorite of scouts. His changeup has plenty of admirers, too. About the only blip on Kirby’s ledger was a bout of shoulder discomfort that cost him roughly a month before his promotion to Double-A. Kirby’s mix of strikes and stuff is one of the best in the minors.
Top 100 Rankings
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Control in the Seattle Mariners in 2020
Scouting Reports
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Track Record: Kirby walked six batters in 14 starts his junior year at Elon and posted the best strikeout-to-walk ratio (16.8) in the country. Despite modest stuff, Kirby’s elite control and command convinced the Mariners to draft him 20th overall and give him a $3,242,900 signing bonus. Kirby remade his body in 2020 at the alternate training site and re-emerged with vastly improved stuff in 2021. He posted a 2.53 ERA in 15 starts and rose to Double-A, although he missed a month with shoulder tenderness.
Scouting Report: Kirby’s fastball has jumped from 91-94 mph in college to 95-99 as a pro with explosive late life up in the zone. He generates his velocity with little effort and locates his fastball to both sides of the plate with plus-plus command, making it a swing-and-miss pitch even when batters are geared up for it. Kirby complements his fastball with a plus, wipeout slider in the 85-89 mph range that misses bats and an above-average, 79-80 mph curveball with depth and bite. His fading, 85-86 mph changeup has excellent separation from his fastball, but it plays down a tick because his control of it is just average. Despite his long, lanky build, Kirby is a good athlete with excellent body coordination and repeats his delivery for elite control. He has averaged 1.5 walks per nine innings in his minor league career and his misses are very small.
The Future: Kirby’s rare mix of power and precision gives him the potential to be a No. 1 or 2 starter as long as he stays healthy. His major league debut should come in 2022.
-
When he was drafted, Kirby’s reputation was as a pitcher whose very good stuff was accentuated by sublime control and command. This year, his stuff took huge steps forward without sacrificing his ability to pound the edges of the strike zone. Kirby’s fastball took a huge leap forward. It regularly parked in the upper 90s and peaked as high as 102 mph. It heads a four-pitch arsenal with three secondaries that each grade at least above-average. His slider, which was reshaped to feature sweepier break, is a favorite of scouts. His changeup has plenty of admirers, too. About the only blip on Kirby’s ledger was a bout of shoulder discomfort that cost him roughly a month before his promotion to Double-A. Kirby’s mix of strikes and stuff is one of the best in the minors. -
Kirby enhanced his arsenal while maintaining his plus-plus control, earning him future top-of-the-rotation projections. His fastball sits 95-99 mph with explosive late life that beats hitters at the top of the zone, his slider and changeup both flash plus and he locates everything to both sides of the plate. He also has a curveball that shows average, giving him the rare combination of elite velocity, a four-pitch arsenal and impeccable control. He missed most of July with shoulder tenderness, but there was no structural damage and he has resumed throwing. -
Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 50. Control: 70.
TRACK RECORD: Kirby was known for impeccable control at Elon and was drafted 20th overall by the Mariners in 2019. That trait showed up in his professional debut at short-season Everett, when he went 23 innings without walking a batter. He spent 2020 at the Mariners’ alternate training site remaking his body to add velocity and power to his arsenal.
SCOUTING REPORT: Kirby’s fastball sat in the low 90s in college and touched 95 mph, but he showed an uptick in his pro debut and took another jump in 2020. Kirby’s fastball averaged 96 mph and peaked at 99 at the alternate site, and that extra velocity did not come at the expense of his plus-plus control. He also added movement to his fastball, making it a bona fide plus pitch. Kirby’s mid-80s slider with deep, crisp break is another plus pitch, while his low-80s, downer curveball projects as average. Kirby doesn’t throw his 85-87 mph changeup often, but it has good action and has the potential to be an above-average pitch.
THE FUTURE: Kirby has to show he can maintain his velocity uptick over the course of a full season in a competitive environment. If he can, he’ll be a potential mid-rotation starter or better. -
Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 50. Control: 70.
TRACK RECORD: Kirby was known for impeccable control at Elon and was drafted 20th overall by the Mariners in 2019. That trait showed up in his professional debut at short-season Everett, when he went 23 innings without walking a batter. He spent 2020 at the Mariners’ alternate training site remaking his body to add velocity and power to his arsenal.
SCOUTING REPORT: Kirby’s fastball sat in the low 90s in college and touched 95 mph, but he showed an uptick in his pro debut and took another jump in 2020. Kirby’s fastball averaged 96 mph and peaked at 99 at the alternate site, and that extra velocity did not come at the expense of his plus-plus control. He also added movement to his fastball, making it a bona fide plus pitch. Kirby’s mid-80s slider with deep, crisp break is another plus pitch, while his low-80s, downer curveball projects as average. Kirby doesn’t throw his 85-87 mph changeup often, but it has good action and has the potential to be an above-average pitch.
THE FUTURE: Kirby has to show he can maintain his velocity uptick over the course of a full season in a competitive environment. If he can, he’ll be a potential mid-rotation starter or better. -
TRACK RECORD: Kirby walked just six batters in 88 innings in his final season at Elon and became the highest drafted player in school history when the Mariners selected him 20th overall. He signed for $3,242,900. Kirby reported to short-season Everett after signing and didn’t walk a batter in 23 innings while striking out 25.
SCOUTING REPORT: Kirby is more than just a strike-thrower and possesses an impressive arsenal of pitches. His fastball sat 93-95 mph and touched 98 in his pro debut, though those velocities were higher than usual because he was limited to shorter outings. He generally sits in the low 90s and touches 95. His best secondary pitch is a potentially above-average to plus slider at 83-88 mph with depth and a crisp break. His 79-83 mph curveball with 11-to-5 break projects to be an average pitch, while his 85-87 changeup flashes above-average, though he didn’t use it much after signing. Where Kirby stands out most is his plus-plus control. He has a clean arm action and plus command, allowing him to put the ball wherever he wants in the strike zone.
THE FUTURE: Kirby has a chance to jump straight to high Class A Modesto and rejoin his college pitching coach, Sean McGrath, whom the Mariners hired in the offseason. He’s a likely No. 3 or 4 starter. -
TRACK RECORD: Kirby walked just six batters in 88 innings in his final season at Elon and became the highest drafted player in school history when the Mariners selected him 20th overall. He signed for $3,242,900. Kirby reported to short-season Everett after signing and didn't walk a batter in 23 innings while striking out 25.
SCOUTING REPORT: Kirby is more than just a strike-thrower and possesses an impressive arsenal of pitches. His fastball sat 93-95 mph and touched 98 in his pro debut, though those velocities were higher than usual because he was limited to shorter outings. He generally sits in the low 90s and touches 95. His best secondary pitch is a potentially above-average to plus slider at 83-88 mph with depth and a crisp break. His 79-83 mph curveball with 11-to-5 break projects to be an average pitch, while his 85-87 changeup flashes above-average, though he didn't use it much after signing. Where Kirby stands out most is his plus-plus control. He has a clean arm action and plus command, allowing him to put the ball wherever he wants in the strike zone.
THE FUTURE: Kirby has a chance to jump straight to high Class A Modesto and rejoin his college pitching coach, Sean McGrath, whom the Mariners hired in the offseason. He's a likely No. 3 or 4 starter. -
One of the best strike-throwers in the country, Kirby formed an impressive one-two combination with righthander Kyle Brnovich at Elon this spring. Kirby is the higher-rated draft prospect, however, due to his slew of starter's traits and solid four-pitch mix. While there are pitchers with louder pure stuff than the 6-foot-4, 201-pound righthander, Kirby is among the most likely 2019 draft prospects to make a major league impact because of his clean arm action and plus command. Through 11 starts and 71.2 innings this spring, Kirby had struck out 84 hitters and walked just five, which ranked as the best strikeout-to-walk ratio (16.8) in the country. While some scouts will critique the level of competition that Kirby faced in the Colonial Athletic Association and don't expect him to miss many bats against better competition, it's impossible to ignore his strike-throwing ability. There's also his impressive 2018 in the Cape Cod League, where Kirby worked as a reliever and posted a 1.38 ERA over 13 innings, striking out 24 and walking only one. Kirby's fastball has reached as high as 97 mph in the past, but this spring he's worked mostly in the low 90s while touching 94-95 mph consistently. His fastball grades out as a plus offering because of his ability to spot it to both sides of the plate and elevate it when necessary. Kirby throws a curveball and a slider, and both pitches will flash plus at times, but they lack consistency right now and might be average pitches, at best, in a starting role. Kirby's top offspeed pitch could be his mid-80s changeup, which he throws with conviction and consistently lands in the bottom of the strike zone. Kirby looks the part of a solid, middle- to back-of-the-rotation starter, and he should be selected in the middle of the first round this June.
