By STEVE KRAH
Ryan Birr was undersized and underwhelming during his prep baseball career.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound third baseman just completed two seasons at Kaskaskia College in Centralia, Ill., and is headed to NCAA Division I/Missouri Valley Conference school Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.
Last November, Birr committed to the Lance Rhodes-coached Salukis for 2023-24 with two years of remaining eligibility.
When Birr entered Brownsburg (Ind.) High School at 5-foot-5 in the fall of 2016 and even after a growth spirt was still a “very skinny kid.”
“I was very lanky and very weak,” says Birr. “Growing up, I was always overmatched.”
Birr played Brownsburg junior varsity ball for Zach Foley then hit .111 as a junior for the Dan Roman-coached varsity Bulldogs in the spring of 2019. The senior season was missed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since leaving school, Birr has been impressed how Roman has kept up with his former players.
Along the way, Birr received a direct message through Twitter from Adam Akin, an Evansville, Ind., who played baseball at Evansville (Ind.) North High School and the University of Indianapolis, and now connected to Combine Academy in Lincolnton, N.C.
“I thought it was a scam,” says Birr. “I ignored it completely for the first two days.”
Birr learned the Combine Academy provided athletes with the opportunity to take a post-graduate year after high school.
After doing his research, Birr decided to take that option and got to know Combine Academy President of Baseball & Golf Akin, recruiting director Jeff Birkhofer, Goats head baseball coach Tommy Goodale (now a Georgia Gwinnett College assistant), assistant Jake Sheley (now in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization), Carlos Texidor (who played at Kaskaskia and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and now helping players in the New York Mets system) and Ian Walsh (who now works in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization).
“I really liked it,” says Birr, who took the maximum two classes through Indiana University in the fall and spring semesters and — with the help of the MyFitnessPal app — bulked up from 170 pounds in August 2021 to 195 in March 2022.
In 2023, he played in 52 games (51 starts at third base) for the Kaskaska Blue Devils (where Purdue University graduate Mitch Koester is head coach and Chris Willsey hitting coach/recruiting coordinator). Righty swinger Birr hit .365 (69-of-189) with one home run, one triple, 13 doubles, 44 runs batted in, 44 runs scored and 19 stolen bases.
As a freshman in 2022, he split time between third base, first base and designated hitter.
“I’m really aggressive,” says Birr of his offensive approach. “I like to hit the fastball first pitch.”
He gives himself a positive self talk, saying things like “You’re the best in the world!”
“This sport is filled with failure,” says Birr. “I try not to think about anything negative. I clear my mind and visualize success.”
Birr says the time to work on mechanics is during practice — not during the game.
New to third base, Birr is learning quick reaction time is key.
“It’s called the hot corner for a reason,” says Birr.
While he is a Chicago Cubs fan, Birr appreciates St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado.
“I really admire his game,” says Birr. “I also like Nelson Cruz for his swing and approach. Everybody says this, but I was a really big fan of Derek Jeter growing up.”
Born and raised in Brownsburg, Birr played at Brownsburg Little League before travel ball seasons with the Indiana Prospects, Indiana Aces and during his sophomore and junior years of high school the Matt Bowles-coached Indiana Nitro.
“He was a really big mentor for me,” says Birr of Bowles. “He’s one of the favorite coaches I’ve ever had.”
The two remain connected to this day.
Throughout high school, Birr’s personal hitting coach was Ed Woolwine.
“He transferred my swing,” says Birr of Woolwine, who started the Fishers (Ind). Sports Academy.
Birr, who turns 21 in July, played in the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., for the back-to-back champion Bag Bandits (managed by Caleb Fenimore).
After a brief stint with the Northwoods League’s 2023 Wausau (Wis.) Woodchucks, Birr is back home working at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis and lifting, throwing and hitting at Pro-X Athlete in Westfield. His usual workout partner is Purdue University outfielder Camden Melvin (Avon High School Class of 2020).
Birr earned an associate degree at Kaskaskia and plans to be a Business major at Southern Illinois.
Ryan is the youngest of Martin and Lori Birr’s three sons.
Jamie Birr works in customer service at an insurance agency and Tyler Birr (Brownsburg Class of 2018) at a gym.
Martin Birr is an accountant and teaches the subject at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Lori Birr is a Brownsburg teacher’s aide.
www.IndianaRBI.com 