| Austin Kitchen | |
| Team: | Miami Marlins |
| Number: | 91 |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 11 February 1997 |
| Birth Place: | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Left |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | July 30 |
| Debutyear: | 2024 |
| Debutteam: | Miami Marlins |
| Statyear: | July 30, 2024 |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 0–0 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 13.50 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 2 |
| Teams: |
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Austin Kitchen (born February 11, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.
Kitchen attended Mt. Lebanon High School in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and played for the school's baseball team.[1] He enrolled at Coastal Carolina University, where he played college baseball for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Kitchen was a member of the 2016 College World Series champions.[2] In 2017, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3] [4] He missed the entire 2018 season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament.[5]
Kitchen was not selected in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft, and spent the summer with the Steel City Slammin' Sammies of the Washington League. In nine games, he recorded a 1.50 earned run average (ERA) with 11 strikeouts across 12 innings pitched.[6] On February 9, 2021, Kitchen signed with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League.[7]
On April 20, 2021, Kitchen signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies organization.[8] He finished the year with the Single–A Fresno Grizzlies, compiling a 4.97 ERA with 38 strikeouts across innings.[9] Kitchen split the 2022 campaign between the High–A Spokane Indians and Double–A Hartford Yard Goats. In 36 total games, he posted a cumulative 5–2 record and 3.32 ERA with 71 strikeouts across innings pitched.[10]
Kitchen spent the 2023 season back with Hartford, also making two appearances for the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes. In 43 games out of the bullpen for Hartford, he recorded a 3.62 ERA with 54 strikeouts and 3 saves across innings of work.[11] He began 2024 with Hartford and was promoted to Albuquerque after 5 games. In 18 games for the Isotopes, Kitchen registered a 3.65 ERA with 18 strikeouts.[12]
On June 22, 2024, Kitchen was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[13] He did not make an appearance for Colorado before he was designated for assignment the following day to make way for Kyle Freeland, becoming a phantom ballplayer.[14]
On June 25, 2024, Kitchen was claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins.[15] He was promoted to the major leagues on July 26.[16] Kitchen was optioned to the Triple–A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp the following day, without having pitched for Miami.[17] He was promoted once more on July 30.[18]