Brian Kirby enjoyed a successful baseball career in the minor leagues (Picture: Facebook/Smith Family Funeral Homes)
Former Major League Baseball prospect Brian Kirby, who played for minor league and independent teams in the early part of the 2000s, has died following an accident in Arkansas.
Kirby, who was 46, died on Wednesday, April 15, while working as an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) technician at the Graves Memorial Baptist Church in North Little Rock.
Deputies from the Pulaski County Sherriff’s Office were called to the building at around 11.20am and used a drone to locate his body, which was found unresponsive on the roof ‘near two air conditioning units’.
The exact cause of his death has not yet been confirmed.
Brian’s death has been called a ‘tragic accident’ (Picture: Smith Family Funeral Homes)
In a Facebook statement, the church – which cancelled services on the night of Kirby’s death – said he had been working on the building’s HVAC system as an employee of Kirby Heating and Air, calling his death ‘heartbreaking’.
‘He was more than an employee – he was part of our family and our community,’ the church said.
‘Tragically, he lost his life. He was a highly skilled and experienced HVAC technician, and his loss is deeply felt.
Kirby’s body was found by local authorities on the church roof (Picture: Google)
‘We ask that you please pray for the Brian Kirby family, the Kirby Heating and Air team, and all those impacted by this heartbreaking situation.
‘May God bring comfort and peace in the midst of this sorrow.’
Kirby, who played baseball for Little North Rock High School and Arkansas University, was drafted twice during his baseball career — for the Cincinnati Reds in 1997 and the Cleveland Indians (now the Guardians) in 2001.
Kirby is survived by his wife Jennifer, as well as his parents and daughters (Picture: Instagram)
Although he never reached the major leagues he played five seasons in the minors, reaching triple-A as part of the Colorado Rockies organisation in 2005. His career saw him playing 361 games and hitting 50 home runs.
Kirby is survived by his parents, his wife Jennifer and their two young daughters.
His funeral was held on Wednesday. Smith Family Funeral Homes in Arkansas shared an obituary which read: ‘Brian was a devoted husband and father.
‘He married Jennifer on Valentine’s Day in 2008, and together they built a life rooted in love, faith, and family. He was a proud father to Jordan and Brantley, who were the center of his world.’
Comment now
Comments
Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google
Add as preferred source
