Chiefs Add Former Wisconsin Pitcher Austin Bibens-Dirkx
July 6, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
July 6, 2009
Chiefs Add Former Wisconsin Pitcher Austin Bibens-Dirkx
Peoria's roster full at 25 as ten-game homestand continues
PEORIA, IL- The Peoria Chiefs in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs have announced that right-handed pitcher Austin Bibens-Dirkx will join the team after being signed by the Cubs out of the Independent Golden Baseball League.
Bibens-Dirkx pitched in the Seattle Mariners organization from 2006-2008 and spent most of the 2006 season in the Midwest League with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. This season he was leading the Independent GBL in strikeouts with 54 and innings pitched with 48 while also placing in the top ten in ERA for the Victoria Seals. In eight outings for the Seals, Bibens-Dirkx was 2-2 with a 3.70 ERA.
Drafted out of the University of Portland in the 16th round of the 2006 draft, Bibens-Dirkx pitched 25 times for the Timber Rattlers in 2006 going 2-2 with a 1.95 ERA out of the bullpen. He finished 13 games and recorded four saves while striking out 38 and walking just seven in 32 1/3 innings. He spent 2007 with High Desert in the Class A Advanced California League going 3-1 with a 4.42 ERA and eight saves in 31 relief appearances. He struggled in 2008 with High Desert going 1-1 with one save and a 7.95 ERA in 32 appearances. For his three year affiliated MiLB career, Bibens-Dirkx is 6-4 with 14 saves and a 4.64 ERA in 98 games with stops in the Arizona Rookie League, Everett of the Short-Season Northwest League, Wisconsin, High Desert and one game in Triple-A Tacoma.
Bibens-Dirkx played collegiately with current Chiefs reliever Chris Siegfried at the University of Portland and is a native of Salem, Oregon. He is the third Oregon native on the current Chiefs roster with Siegfried and outfielder Drew Rundle. Bibens-Dirkx also attended Chemeketa Community College after graduating from McNary High School in Salem. He becomes the oldest player on the Chiefs roster, having turned 24 on April 29. The Chiefs had one open spot on the roster after last Monday's promotion of starter Chris Carpenter.
The Chiefs continue a ten-game homestand Monday at 7:00 p.m. against the Beloit Snappers with half-price tickets. Peoria sends RH Justin Bristow to the hill against Snappers RH Daniel Berlind. The game can be heard live on 96.5 ESPN and www.peoriachiefs.com beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.
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