{"id":682112,"date":"2026-04-24T13:48:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:48:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/682112\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T13:48:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:48:24","slug":"brian-kirby-mlb-draft-pick-who-died-on-church-roof-buried","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/682112\/","title":{"rendered":"Brian Kirby, MLB draft pick who died on church roof, buried"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Leonardo Blair<\/a>, Senior Reporter Thursday, April 23, 2026\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"Twitter\"<\/a>\"TheThe late Brian Kirby, 46, was a two-time MLB draft pick. | Smith Family Funeral Homes<\/p>\n

Brian Kirby, a former Minor League Baseball player and two-time MLB draft pick who died on April 15 while working as an HVAC technician on the roof of a church in North Little Rock, Arkansas, was buried on Wednesday and remembered as a man of faith. He was 46.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrian was a man of deep faith, who faithfully lived out his convictions with grace and dignity. He looked forward to the soon return of Jesus Christ \u2018when this mortal shall put on immortality \u2026\u2019 and we would all be reunited with our Savior (1 Cor. 15:54),\u201d an obituary<\/a> from Smith Family Funeral Homes announcing his April 22 memorial at Little Rock Seventh-day Adventist Church said. \u201cBrian will be forever loved and deeply missed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kirby was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in 1997 and the Cleveland Indians (now the Cleveland Guardians) in 2001. He reached the Triple-A level \u2014 the highest level of Minor League Baseball \u2014 but did not appear in a Major League game.<\/p>\n

Former Arkansas baseball coach Norm DeBriyn, who recruited Kirby from North Little Rock High School to play for the Razorbacks at the University of Arkansas, remembered him as a standout player and person.<\/p>\n

Before the Cincinnati Reds drafted him in the 23rd round of the 1997 MLB Draft, Kirby had an impressive high school record. At North Little Rock High School, he was named team MVP twice and helped the Charging Wildcats to a 43\u201310 record as a junior and senior, according to Whole Hog Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was really, really a good player and a good person,\u201d DeBriyn told the outlet. \u201cI feel like you would recruit Brian Kirby over again. He was a guy that you wanted on your team. He was a good team guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kirby broke Arkansas\u2019 freshman record for home runs, previously set by Jeff King with 11 in 1984. He went on to become the fifth Freshman All-American in program history.<\/p>\n

The Pulaski County Sheriff\u2019s Office said deputies were called to Graves Memorial Baptist Church in North Little Rock at about 11:20 a.m. April 15. They found Kirby unresponsive on the roof after using a drone to locate his body \u201cnear two air conditioning units on the roof.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

In a statement on Facebook Monday, Kirby\u2019s cousin, Allison Avra Guerin, said he was \u201cone of the good ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur family faced a very unexpected, tragic loss last week. We are still in shock and our hearts are broken after receiving the news that our cousin, Brian, was taken from this earth far too soon. He was, undoubtedly, one of the good ones,\u201d she wrote. \u201cPlease keep his sweet wife, Jennifer \u2018Moore\u2019 Kirby, and their two precious daughters in your prayers, along with our aunt and uncle, Curtis and Cindy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kirby also leaves behind a sister, Marisa Kirby, as well as a close extended circle of family and friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are things of this world that I will just never understand. It truly breaks my heart to its core. But I do know the promise of eternity on the other side. And for that, I can only rejoice through the sadness, knowing Brian is there celebrating until we meet again soon,\u201d Guerin said.<\/p>\n

Kirby, who married his wife on Valentine\u2019s Day in 2008, was described as a \u201cdevoted husband and father.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the time of his death, he was working alongside his family at Kirby\u2019s Heating & Air and \u201cwas known for his strong work ethic, kindness, and generosity,\u201d his obituary said.<\/p>\n

Contact: leonardo.blair@christianpost.com<\/a> Follow Leonardo Blair on Twitter: @leoblair<\/a> Follow Leonardo Blair on Facebook: LeoBlairChristianPost<\/a><\/p>\n