Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Retired

Date of Birth: 8/7/1987
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California
College: Azusa Pacific University

Kirk Nieuwenhuis, retired outfielder, was drafted by the New York Mets in 2008. He played in the Mets' minor league system from 2008 through most of 2010. He first joined the Mets for 53 games in 2011. His playing time that year was shortened due to a shoulder injury.

In 2012, Nieuwenhuis had a foot injury that limited his playing time with the Mets to 91 games. That season he batted .252 with 71 hits. He spent part of the 2013 and 2014 seasons in the minor leagues, playing with the Mets in 47 games in 2013 and 61 games in 2014.

After 64 games with the Mets in 2015, Nieuwenhuis was traded to the Los Angeles Angels on May 27th. Less than a month later, on June 10th, he was designated for assignment and three days later, he returned to the Mets when they claimed him off waivers. He finished the 2015 season with 25 hits, 11 doubles, and a .195 batting average in 64 games with the Mets and 10 games with the Angels. Defensively, he played 34 games in left field, 16 games in center field, and 7 games in right field.

Nieuwenhuis was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers on December 23, 2015. He finished the 2016 season with 70 hits, 18 doubles, 13 home runs, 44 RBIs, and a .209 batting average in 125 games. Defensively, as a center fielder in 83 games, he made 157 putouts and no errors.

Nieuwenhuis spent most of the 2017 season in the minors, playing in just 16 games with the Brewers.

Nieuwenhuis signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners on January 16, 2018. After 80 games in the minors in 2018, he was released on August 2nd.

Nieuwenhuis retired on July 12, 2019.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Kirk Nieuwenhuis
ESPN - Kirk Nieuwenhuis