Brian Kirby, a former draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds, died in an accident on the roof of a church last week.
The former MLB prospect “tragically lost his life” at the age of 46 while working as an HVAC technician at Graves Memorial Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Ark., according to a Facebook post.
The church shared a post on Facebook on April 15 that said “a tragic accident occurred at our church building involving an employee of Kirby Heating and Air.
“He was more than an employee — he was part of our family and our community. Tragically, he lost his life. He was a highly skilled and experienced HVAC technician, and his loss is deeply felt.”
Out of respect to the family, the church cancelled services that evening to give them “space, privacy, and respect” as they mourned.
“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.”
What happened to Kirby?
Kirby’s cause of death and what led to the accident remain unclear.
In a report obtained by the Christian Post, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called to the church at about 11:20 a.m. and found Kirby unresponsive on the roof.
The file also said that a drone was used to locate Kirby’s body “near two air conditioning units on the roof.”
Kirby’s playing career
Kirby was selected in the 23rd round of the 1997 MLB draft by the Reds out of high school, but opted to attend the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 2001, he was then drafted in the 31st round by Cleveland and began his pro career.
Kirby played five seasons of minor-league baseball, reaching triple-A as part of the Colorado Rockies organization in 2005. He played catcher, first base and outfield during his 361 career games, batting .231 and hitting 50 home runs.
Kirby is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and the couple’s two daughters, as well as his parents, Curtis and Cindy.