Brian Kirby, a former Minor League Baseball player and two-time MLB draft pick, died Wednesday in a tragic accident in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He was 46.
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Kirby was working as an HVAC technician on the roof of a local church when the incident occurred, as relayed by the Christian Post. Authorities say deputies were called to the scene around 11:20 a.m. and found him unresponsive. A drone was used to locate his body near two air conditioning units on the roof.
The exact cause of the accident remains unclear, and the situation is still under review.
Graves Memorial Baptist Church, where Kirby was working at the time, shared the news in a statement, describing him as more than just an employee.
"He was part of our family and our community," the church said, asking for prayers for Kirby's loved ones and those impacted.
Kirby had a background in professional baseball, having been drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1997 and later by the Cleveland Guardians organization in 2001. He reached the Triple-A level during his career, the highest level of the minors, though he did not appear in a Major League game.
Members of the church community and others who knew Kirby shared messages of support for his family as news of his death spread.
For those close to him, the loss goes far beyond baseball.
