Normal Acquires Right-Hander Zach Kirby from Florence
July 6, 2018 - Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
NORMAL, Ill. - Prior to opening the final series before the All-Star break, the Normal CornBelters have announced the trade for Zach Kirby from the Florence Freedom for a player to be named later and the release of David Perez.
Kirby joins Normal after he threw five shutout innings with only giving up two hits and one walk against the Belters on Sunday to earn his first victory of the season. He is entering his second stint in the Frontier League as he played for Florence part of last season and was signed to an extension last November.
This season Kirby is 1-4 in nine games (5 starts) and has thrown for 35.1 innings along with 19 strikeouts.
His best start of the season came on May 27 at Washington. Kirby maintained a no-hitter until he gave up his only hit in the sixth. The right-hander threw six scoreless innings and picked up five strikeouts.
Before playing in the Frontier League, he was with the Trinidad Triggers of the Pecos League where was 2-0 in three games, all starts. Also the Rochester, MA native knocked two home runs in his 15 at-bats.
His journey to baseball is out of the ordinary. Kirby stopped playing at a young age and didn't resume until his Senior year of high school. He then wound up walking on at Framingham State College and was eventually named an All-American during his Junior year.
This is the second time Normal and Florence have been traded partners since 2017, as the Freedom traded current Belter outfielder Andrew Godbold last year. Kirby will make his first start on Saturday against Schaumburg.
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