Keizer’s longtime baseballer ponders hanging it up
Former Big Leaguer Austin Bibens-Dirkx says family time is next up
In May of 2017, Keizer resident Austin Bibens-Dirkx realized a childhood dream. It was then that the former McNary High School and Chemeketa Community College/University of Portland pitcher made his major league debut—allowing one run, striking out one, and holding the lead as the Texas Rangers beat Philadelphia 9-3 on May 17th.
Mixed in with two magical seasons in the big leagues are fifteen years, hundreds of games, and thousands of miles of travel, mostly by bus, to small, cramped ball parks or similarly described hotels. And the locales for these games varied widely—from the barrios of Mexico, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic, to the endless fields of corn of the Midwest, to Vancouver Island in Canada, and the island nation of Taiwan. More than twenty teams in all—a dizzying list that Austin himself laughs about.
“I have been all over the place,” he chuckled.
It is quite the set of passport stamps for a 16th round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2006.
At present, Austin, his son Aiden, and wife of ten years, Leah, are living in Boise, Idaho. Austin is rehabbing a shoulder that doesn’t feel quite right, while also assessing his options for the future. A future that may or may not include more action as a baseball pitcher.
“Aiden turns three next week,” says Bibens-Dirkx, “and so I am putting off consideration of playing offers until after that.”
“With my kid getting to be a certain age, it is getting a lot harder to keep playing. My best opportunities are not in the states, but overseas.”
And while Austin would love to play in places as varied as Japan, Korea or Italy, he also is seriously considering quitting as a player all together.
“I just finished up my (bachelor’s) degree in social sciences (from Boise State University),” says Austin proudly.
“I haven’t ruled out playing again, but am heavily leaning towards hanging it up. I have made some connections in some pretty high places over the years and that should open lots of doors for coaching at the college level or I could also become a scout.”
That said, Bibens-Dirkx is not acting like a man ready to retire. He is rehabbing a shoulder he complains is “barking” at him, and continuing to conduct workouts with the goal of pitching full time again, which should be soon.
Bibens-Dirkx says his wife Leah has been a saint in dealing with his vagabond existence in baseball, urging him not to regret giving it up too soon. For perspective, Austin was with AAA Oklahoma City last year, and was within one day of being called up by the Dodgers. So, he still has his stuff, but the big leagues may not be in his future anymore. Thus, his pondering a season or two in Europe or Asia. Still, he has no hesitation about choosing coaching or scouting if it comes to that.
“I think I really would enjoy coaching. During the last few years of pro ball, I have been mentoring some younger players, talking about the mental aspects of the game and things like the sequencing of pitches. I like to share that sort of stuff.”
Even as he faces the twilight of his baseball career, Bibens-Dirkx is philosophical about how he stubbornly stuck with the game even when the circumstances were difficult.
“I have perseverance—baseball was something I was determined to do and so I put in the extra workouts, and built myself up, to give myself every shot I can. I still fight for myself and my playing identity. People then know the competitor you are and are more willing to put their name behind someone that competes like that.”
So while Austin has enjoyed getting paid for playing a kid’s game, he knows those days are rapidly coming to a close. And he is ok with that.
Because Leah and Aiden are worth it.