Former Bronc making waves in Salem
By Benjamin Shinault
Flash back to the 2023 NCAA tournament, where nationally ranked Coastal Carolina tailed Rider baseball by one run in extra innings.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the tenth, the pitch was dealt, lined to center and caught, allowing Rider to capture its first NCAA tournament win since 1987. The man on the mound was Danny Kirwin, a graduate student.
On April 23, the former Bronc signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox, so Kirwin now toes the rubber for a different team.
The road to Salem
Kirwin, a native of Langsdale, Pennsylvania, finished his collegiate career in 2023, during which he was named an All-American, the first Rider baseball player to do so since 1995. Kirwin was also named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference reliever of the year and had 14 saves, ranking third in the nation.
In the past, a resume like Kirwin’s likely would have led to a phone call on draft day, but since the Major League Baseball Draft was cut down from 40 to 20 rounds in 2022, Kirwin’s phone never rang.
As a result, Kirwin’s first step to a professional career was pitching for an MLB Draft League team, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Kirwin also went through player development training to make his deadly fastball even more devastating.
“After the Rider season in 2023 …, I went to Tread Athletics in North Carolina, and I was there for two and a half months and topped out [my fastball] at 97.7 mph after my previous personal record was 95,” Kirwin said, “and then I was signed to the Oakland Ballers.”
Before Kirwin could even step on the mound for Oakland’s Pioneer League team, a scout from the Boston Red Sox approached him. On April 23, the Rider Alum signed a minor league contract with the team. With the signing, Kirwin became the first ever Oakland Ballers player to sign a professional contract and he is only the eighth Rider Bronc to sign with a major league club and the first since 2019.
Kirwin had a solid first year with the Salem Red Sox, Boston’s Single-A affiliate, ending the year with a 3.63 ERA, 69.1 innings pitched and 69 strikeouts. To the 285 batters he faced, Kirwin only allowed 54 hits.
“It was a great year. I liked all my stats, metrics and velocity. It was all good,” Kirwin said.
At the conclusion of the Red Sox season, Kirwin brought out his best stuff as he pitched three innings, struck out five and only allowed one hit.
Power of the coach
Kirwin listed Rider baseball Head Coach Barry Davis as one of the biggest people he had to thank in his journey to professional baseball, along with others.
Davis, who saw Kirwin as a freshman, told us about a time in Kirwin’s 2023 season that he felt truly characterized Kirwin as a player.
The Broncs, who just took the lead over nationally-ranked Duke, were going to be without their closer – or so they thought.
“He was not available, that was the agreement … and then all of a sudden, I look down to the bullpen and he’s warming up. He just decided that he was going in and closing this game,” Davis said.
Kirwin gave a list of individuals that have helped him get to where he is today.
“Barry Davis was a big part of it, coach [Mike] Petrowski, the pitching coach at Rider, Tread Athletics, a big thank you to them and my parents for sure. [I] wouldn’t be here without them,” Kirwin said.
What’s next
The Salem Red Sox season recently came to an end, and Kirwin already has his eyes set on the next place he will be playing baseball.
“[Salem wants] me to be in Double-A by the end of the year, and I’m going to the Arizona Fall League in a couple weeks here,” Kirwin said.
The Arizona Fall League will open the season on Oct. 7 and will serve as yet another stepping stone in Kirwin’s minor league career and ultimatly his path to the major leagues.
“I’m very proud of Danny and his work ethic. He made himself into the player he is,” Davis said, “He took every opportunity we gave him and he has maximized [each one].”
