Andy Dirks

Born in Hutchinson, Andy Dirks graduated from Haven High School in 2004 after lettering four years each in football, basketball and baseball.  He was all-state in baseball three times and was named the Male Athlete of the Year by the Hutchinson News in 2004.

Dirks went on to play at Hutchinson Community College for two seasons, then Wichita State.  At WSU, he hit .354 over two seasons and twice received the team’s Charlie Hustle Award.  In his senior season, Dirks hit .388 with a thirty-game hitting streak.  His on base percentage was .498 and he slugged .697.  Dirks was named the Shockers’ Most Valuable Player and Most Inspirational Player, in addition to being named third team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Selected in the eighth round of the 2008 MLB draft by Detroit, Dirks made his major league debut with the Tigers in May of 2011.  He appeared in 78 games for the American League Central champions, hitting .251 with seven home runs as a rookie.

In 2013, Dirks was the Tigers’ regular leftfielder, hitting .256 with nine home runs and was a finalist for a Gold Glove award.  He missed the entire 2014 season after back surgery.  A second back surgery in 2015 ended his playing career.  

Dirks and his family live in the Detroit area where he is a real estate broker and part-time member of the Tigers broadcast team.