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{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name=Austin Kearns
| image=Austin Kearns coming in from right field.png
| caption=Kearns with the Miami Marlins
| position=[[Right fielder]]
| bats=Right
| birth_date={{Birth date and age|1980|5|20}}
| birth_place=[[Lexington, Kentucky]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
| debutdate=April 17
| debutyear=2002
| debutteam=Cincinnati Reds
|finalleague = MLB
| finaldate=May 3
| finalyear=2013
| finalteam=Miami Marlins
|statleague = MLB
| stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
| stat1value=.253
| stat2label=[[Home run]]s
| stat2value=121
| stat3label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
| stat3value=494
| teams=
*[[Cincinnati Reds]] ({{Baseball year|2002}}–{{Baseball year|2006}})
*[[Washington Nationals]] ({{Baseball year|2006}}–{{Baseball year|2009}})
*[[Cleveland Indians]] ({{Baseball year|2010}})
*[[New York Yankees]] ({{Baseball year|2010}})
*[[Cleveland Indians]] ({{Baseball year|2011}})
*[[Miami Marlins]] ({{Baseball year|2012}}–{{Baseball year|2013}})
}}
'''Austin Ryan Kearns''' (born
==Baseball career==
===Cincinnati Reds===
After playing at [[Lafayette High School (Lexington, Kentucky)|Lafayette Senior High School]], he was offered a [[scholarship]] to play college baseball at the [[University of Florida]]. However, he decided to sign with the [[Cincinnati Reds]] after being selected seventh overall in the [[1998 Major League Baseball Draft]]. After three seasons in the Reds' [[minor league baseball|minor league]] system, he made his Major League debut on April 17, 2002. By July, he was in the running for NL Rookie of the Year, hitting .286 with 8 home runs and 40 RBIs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 30, 2002 |title=Austin Kearns In The Running For NL Rookie Of The Year |url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2002/7/30/24639/Austin-Kearns-In-The-Running-For-NL.aspx |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Chattanoogan.com |language=}}</ref> Kearns ultimately finished three in the voting, behind [[Jason Jennings]] and [[Brad Wilkerson]]. He hit .315 with 13 home runs in 107 games in his rookie season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2002 Awards Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2002.shtml#all_NL_ROY_voting |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Kearns underwent surgery in March 2003 to remove loose bodies from his left elbow.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=March 10, 2003 |title=Nevin to Miss Season With Injury |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/10/sports/plus-baseball-nevin-to-miss-season-with-injury.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |agency=Bloomberg News}}</ref> He played just 82 games that year after suffering a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder following a home plate collision with [[Atlanta Braves]] pitcher [[Ray King (baseball)|Ray King]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balog |first=Tom |title=Healthy Kearns big hit |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2005/03/14/healthy-kearns-big-hit/28836816007/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>
In April 2004, Kearns was hit by a pitch from [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] pitcher Ryan Vogelsong that broke his left forearm.<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=April 26, 2004 |title=Pitch breaks arm of Reds' Kearns |url=https://greensboro.com/pitch-breaks-arm-of-reds-kearns/article_32dd893b-6512-5f4a-948b-ada048ca069c.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Greensboro News and Record |language=en}}</ref> In June, he also required surgery on his right thumb to clear our scar tissue.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |date=June 30, 2004 |title=Kearns sidelined 4-6 weeks after surgery |url=https://www.irontontribune.com/2004/06/30/kearns-sidelined-4-6-weeks-after-surgery/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Ironton Tribune}}</ref>
===Washington Nationals===
[[File:Austinkearns2007.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Kearns, with the Washington Nationals in {{Mlby|2007}}.]]
Kearns was traded to the Nationals on July 13, 2006, along with [[Felipe López (baseball)|Felipe Lopez]] and [[Ryan Wagner]] from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for [[Gary Majewski]], [[Bill Bray]], [[Royce Clayton]], [[Brendan Harris]], and [[Daryl Thompson]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 13, 2006 |title=Reds swap Kearns to Nats for Clayton, pitchers |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2518314 |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>
On September 23, 2006, playing against the [[New York Mets]] at [[Shea Stadium]], Kearns and first baseman [[Nick Johnson (baseball)|Nick Johnson]] collided while making a sliding attempt to catch a fly ball. Kearns originally remained in the game relatively unhurt, but was removed shortly after play resumed by Manager [[Frank Robinson]]. Kearns was replaced by [[Ryan Church]], who played in Kearns' spot for most of the rest of the season. Kearns suffered severe bruising down his left side as well as soreness. Johnson sustained a broken [[femur]] and underwent surgery that night to repair his injuries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 23, 2006 |title=Nats' Johnson breaks leg after collision with Kearns |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2600088 |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Johnson missed all of 2007 recuperating from his injuries. Kearns, however, had career highs in several key areas, including 161 [[games played]] and 74 [[run batted in|RBIs]].
On May 12, 2007, in a game at home against the [[Florida Marlins]], Kearns hit a bases-empty inside-the-park [[home run]], the first ever for a Nationals player. The ball bounced off the glove of [[Florida Marlins]] player [[Reggie Abercrombie]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nationals 7-3 Marlins (13 May, 2007) Game Recap - ESPN (UK) |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/recap/_/gameId/270512120 |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=ESPN |language=en}}</ref> Down the stretch, he tallied 4 [[hit (baseball)|hits]] in 11 [[at bat]]s (with 2 home runs) in a late-season Nats' series sweep over the division leading New York Mets that kept the Mets out of the playoffs.
In 2008, the Nationals placed Kearns on the 15-day [[disabled list]] on May 22 because of loose bodies in his right elbow and on August 25 with a [[stress fracture]] in his left foot.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2008 |title=Zimmerman spurs Nats |url=https://richmond.com/sports/zimmerman-spurs-nats/article_cafbeb3a-f636-5d20-b088-46c36a82e30b.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Richmond Times-Dispatch |language=en}}</ref>
Kearns was placed on the disabled list on August 5, 2009, with a right thumb injury. His move to the list was retroactive to August 4.<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=August 5, 2009 |title=Nationals' Kearns on DL |url=https://fredericksburg.com/wfls_sports/nationals-kearns-on-dl/article_652bd0a2-cdcd-58d1-baaf-3cb73af45ab1.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Fredericksburg.com |language=en}}</ref> He did not return to the majors in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Austin Kearns 2009 Batting Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=kearnau01&t=b&year=2009 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> On November 6, the Nationals declined Kearns' 2010 option, making him a [[Free agency (Major League Baseball)|free agent]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2009 |title=Nationals decline $10 million option on Kearns |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4631212 |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>[[File:Austin Kearns postgame interview.jpg|180px|thumb|left|Kearns in an interview while with Cleveland]]
=== Cleveland Indians ===
On January 5, 2010, Kearns signed a minor league contract with the [[Cleveland Indians]] with an invite to spring training.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=January 5, 2010 |title=Cleveland Indians sign power-hitting Austin Kearns to minor-league contract |url=https://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/2010/01/cleveland_indians_sign_austin.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Cleveland.com}}</ref> He was added to the major league roster on April 3. On July 5, 2010, Kearns was hit by a pitch three times by [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] pitchers. This tied the franchise and MLB record for most hits by pitches in a game. The last player hit three times was [[Manny Ramirez]] on the same day in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLB Hit by a Pitch Records |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_hbp2.shtml |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Baseball Almanac}}</ref>
[[File:Austin Kearns 2010.jpg|180px|thumb|Kearns batting for the New York Yankees in {{Mlby|2010}}.]]
=== New York Yankees ===
On July 30, 2010, Kearns was traded to the [[New York Yankees]] for a [[player to be named later]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Sherman |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Sherman (sportswriter) |date=July 30, 2010 |title=Yankees acquire Indians OF Kearns |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/yankees_acquire_indians_of_kearns_RYwVK5kKSmblmPHdJFUffM?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME= |access-date=August 20, 2010 |work=New York Post}}</ref> later identified as pitcher [[Zach McAllister]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Donnie |last=Collins |url=http://blogs.thetimes-tribune.com/yankees/?p=6958 |title=Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees Blog » Zach McAllister dealt to Cleveland |publisher=Blogs.thetimes-tribune.com |access-date=August 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823061851/http://blogs.thetimes-tribune.com/yankees/?p=6958 |archive-date=August 23, 2010 }}</ref> Kearns was part of the Yankees 2010 postseason roster until the team lost to the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] in the [[2010 American League Championship Series|2010 ALCS]].
===Second stint with Cleveland===
On December 20, 2010, Kearns signed a one-year deal with Cleveland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoynes |first=Paul |date=December 21, 2010 |title=Cleveland Indians sign Austin Kearns to one-year $1.3 million deal |url=https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2010/12/cleveland_indians_sign_austin.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=cleveland |language=en}}</ref> Kearns was arrested on February 12 in [[Lexington, Kentucky]] for a [[Driving under the influence|DUI]]. He later entered a conditional guilty plea.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2011 |title=Austin Kearns was arrested for a DUI in Kentucky last month |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/austin-kearns-was-arrested-for-a-dui-in-kentucky-last-month |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kocher |first=Greg |date=August 19, 2011 |title=Major leaguer Austin Kearns pleads guilty to DUI in Jessamine |url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/mlb/article44115474.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Lexington Herald Leader}}</ref> He was designated for assignment on August 12, 2011, as [[Shin-Soo Choo]] returned from the disabled list. Kearns was released on August 17.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indians release veteran outfielder Kearns |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/indians-kearns-0/?sn-amp |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Sportsnet.ca}}</ref>
===Miami Marlins===
Kearns signed a minor league contract with the [[Miami Marlins]] on January 25, 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 25, 2012 |title=Marlins Sign Austin Kearns |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/01/marlins-sign-austin-kearns-2.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}</ref> He also received an invitation to spring training and would later make the Opening Day roster.
On May 23, the Marlins placed Kearns on a 15-day disabled list after he strained his right hamstring. He returned on June 7. In 2012, he hit .245 with 6 doubles, 4 home runs, 16 RBI, 22 walks, and 2 stolen bases in 147 at bats.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-03-29/sports/fl-miami-marlins-0330-20120329_1_bryan-petersen-logan-morrison-giants | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925163003/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-03-29/sports/fl-miami-marlins-0330-20120329_1_bryan-petersen-logan-morrison-giants | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 25, 2013 | title=Rowand, Petersen out; Kearns, Coghlan in}}</ref>
Kearns re-signed with Miami for the 2013 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 14, 2013 |title=Marlins expected to re-sign Austin Kearns to minors deal |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/marlins-expected-to-re-sign-austin-kearns-to-minors-deal |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> He was batting .185 through 19 games before he was placed on the [[bereavement list]] by the Marlins on May 5.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2013 |title=Marlins place OF Kearns on bereavement list |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/9244900/miami-marlins-place-austin-kearns-bereavement-list |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> His mother suffered a heart attack.<ref name=":0" /> Kearns did not return to the team after seven games, so the Marlins transferred him to the restricted list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Juan C. |date=July 12, 2013 |title=Miami Marlins: Austin Kearns likely to miss rest of season and other tidbits |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2013/07/12/miami-marlins-austin-kearns-likely-to-miss-rest-of-season-and-other-tidbits/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 12, 2013 |title=Miami moves Kearns to restricted list |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/miami-moves-kearns-to-restricted-list/c-47358636 |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Post-playing career and personal life ==
Kearns did not officially announce his retirement from baseball. In 2015, following his mother's heart attack, he remained in Lexington to work with his sons' youth league teams and serve as a volunteer coach with [[Lexington Christian Academy (Kentucky)|Lexington Christian Academy]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Josh |date=June 24, 2015 |title=Former Cincinnati Red Austin Kearns to volunteer as Lexington Christian coach |url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/high-school/article44606850.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Kentucky.com}}</ref> He also has hosted an annual golf tournament fundraiser with former [[Kentucky Wildcats baseball]] coach [[Keith Madison]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fundraisers |url=https://coachkeithmadison.com/fundraisers/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Coach Keith Madison}}</ref>
Kearns and his wife Abby have three children.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Austin Kearns Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/austin-kearns-400290 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kikLl95UgnY |title=Throwback Thursday: Former Red Austin Kearns |date=2025-01-16 |last=The Mayor’s Office with Sean Casey |type=Podcast |time=53:50 |access-date=2025-02-25 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Austin Kearns}}
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
{{Baseballstats |mlb=400290 |espn=5012 |br=k/kearnau01 |fangraphs=332 |brm=kearns001aus |retro=K/Pkeara001}}
{{1998 MLB Draft}}
{{Cincinnati Reds first-round draft picks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kearns, Austin}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Reds players]]
[[Category:Washington Nationals players]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Cleveland Indians players]]
[[Category:New York Yankees players]]
[[Category:Miami Marlins players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Lexington, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball right fielders]]
[[Category:Billings Mustangs players]]
[[Category:Rockford Reds players]]
[[Category:Dayton Dragons players]]
[[Category:Gulf Coast Reds players]]
[[Category:Chattanooga Lookouts players]]
[[Category:Louisville Bats players]]
[[Category:Hagerstown Suns players]]
[[Category:Columbus Clippers players]]
[[Category:Jupiter Hammerheads players]]
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