"Dirk Hayhurst writes about baseball in a unique way. Observant, insightful, human, and hilarious."
--Bob Costas
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"Even more than he did in
The Bullpen Gospels, Dirk Hayhurst teaches us here what happens when a 'dream career' collides with reality. There is such universality in his struggles, that if by the book's end you don't
become him in your mind, there's probably something wrong with your heart. This book shows why baseball is so often used as a metaphor for life."
--Keith Olbermann
"Not many pitchers have replaced future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. Only one has written a delightful book about it. This isn't the story of any old Triple-A veteran trying to finally reach the majors. This is the story of Dirk Hayhurst finally reaching the majors. Which makes the story worth reading."
--Rob Neyer, Sports Nation
"Hayhurst has done it again... Turns out he's a starter and a closer."
--Tim Kurkjian, ESPN
"A stirring, revealing tale of humanity."
--Ken Rosenthal, Fox Sports
"Gripping, revealing--and not at all what you'd expect."
--Tyler Kepner, The New York Times
"With razor-sharp wit and keen observational powers, Dirk Hayhurst delivers a rare gem of a baseball book. Out of My League captures both the joy and the toll of becoming a big leaguer unlike anything else before it."
--Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated
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"Hilarious, illuminating and poignant...This is more than a baseball book. It's the story of a man learning that it's possible to grip a baseball without it gripping him."
--Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports.com
"Hayhurst has done it again...If only I could pitch as well as he can write, I might have more Cy Youngs than Greg Maddux."
--Jayson Stark, ESPN.com
"Memorable... Hayhurst delivers an entertaining story for more than just sports fans. This is about life, relationships and the sacrifices made to pursue a dream"
--Jordan Bastian, MLB.com
"Funny, earthy, touching. Dirk finally makes it to a big-league mound, but as a writer, he's been throwing strikes in the Show for a while now, and "Out of My League" is another quality start."
--King Kaufman, Bleacher Report
"The most candid portrayal of life as a professional athlete I've ever seen."
--Michael Dolan, Editor-in-Chief, Athletes Quarterly
"It's never too inside baseball, even though it is literally from inside baseball."
--John Manuel, Editor, Baseball America
"Dirk is a good friend who has never been afraid to tell it like it is. He has a genuine gift for telling the stories of his life in such a way that they reveal profound truths. I find his writing both entertaining and thought provoking... unlike his fastball."
--Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays All-Star
"Baseball is a game governed by countless rules, none bigger than this one: Don't over think it. Dirk Hayhurst takes us down the rabbit hole that is his mind, to a place where that rule is constantly violated, every decision, every move, every breath over thought. In the process, he provides a brutally honest take on life in the majors--the oversized ballparks, hotel rooms, and personalities, but also the self-doubt, loneliness, and despair. I laughed, I cried, I even learned how to doctor a baseball."
--Jonah Keri, author of The Extra 2%
"Compulsively readable and enjoyable...Apparently, it's not enough for Hayhurst to be a major league pitcher; he has to be a fantastic writer, too."
--Matt Fraction, Marvel Comics
Dirk Hayhurst.
--The Person.
Born in Canton, Ohio in 1981, Dirk grew up in the small town area of Canton South where he attended Canton South high school, home of the Wildcats. Though Dirk now makes his home in Hudson, Ohio with his wife, Bonnie, Dirk's family remains in Canton South. Dirk holds a degree in communication studies from Kent State University, where he is also a member of the athletic hall of fame.
--The Player.
Dirk was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 8th round of the 2003 amateur player draft. He signed as a senior in college at Kent State University, put his communication degree on hold, and set off to the fabled Northwest League to become a mighty Eugene Emerald.
After 6 years of toiling in the minors, playing for the Eugene Emeralds, Fort Wayne Wizards, Lake Elsinore Storm, Mobile BayBears, San Antonio Missions, and Portland Beavers, Dirk emerged in the big leagues with San Diego to start against the San Fransico Giants on August, 23, 2008. His performance in that start was unremarkable, but the story between the two aforementioned dates is not, and is detailed in his 2 books, The Bullpen Gospels, and Out Of My League.
--The Writer.
Dirk's first book, The Bullpen Gospels, came out on March 30, 2010 and was met with a surge of acclaim from all manner of key figures, such as Keith Olbermann, Bob Costas, Jayson Stark, Tim McCarver, Tom Verducci, and several esteemed print sources like, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, The Boston Globe, and the list goes on. You can read more reviews about Dirk's book on the Book's page, or order it at all fine book sellers.
Dirk second book, OUT OF MY LEAGUE is slated to hit shelves in 2012, and it the story of how Dirk made it to the Big Leagues for the first time, and all the the trials and tribulations that came with it.
