Detroit Tigers from the vault: Left Fielder Andy Dirks

Take a look at the three-year career of outfielder Andy Dirks during his time with the Detroit Tigers organization in this edition of from the vault.

With the season on hold, take a look at the former Detroit Tigers outfielder Andy Dirks and his three-year career with the organization. He was one of the rotational/platoons from the 2011 season through the 2013 season.

He was not a star outfielder, but the left-handed hitter was a reliable option and addition to the Tigers lineup. He was with the Tigers prom age 25 to 27, now out of baseball at the age of 34; he has transitioned into a role where Dirks speaks to people about the mental side of baseball.

The last time the Tigers made a World Series appearance was in 2012 against the San Francisco Giants. Dirks was never really an impact bat in the postseason, with the 2012 American League Divisional Series (ALDS) against the Oakland Athletics.

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In 2011, Dirks would play in 78 games on the season, hitting .251/.296/.406 with seven home runs and 28 RBI.

In 2012, Dirks would have a great season, hitting .322/.370/.487 throughout eighty-eight games with eight home runs and 35 RBI on the season.

In his third and final season with the Tigers, Dirks would play in 131 games where he hit .256/.323/.363 with nine home runs and 37 RBI on the season. Dirks was on the greatest team that never was in 2012.

The team that should have won overall costs, Dirks was a left fielder, alongside outfielders like Brennan Boesch, Austin Jackson, Don Kelly, Ryan Raburn, and Delmon Young. This was the year he flourished the most in the opportunities he had.

Looking back on his career, 2012 was his highest season for WAR at 2.1, following it up in 2013 with a decrease to 1.0 WAR.  A back injury would hinder him from maintaining his position as the everyday left fielder.

He would ultimately get claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays on waivers but never make it back to the big leagues. His life and experiences in baseball have come to an end on the field, but Dirks found a way to use those experiences after his playing career.

The former Tigers outfielder finds himself in real estate nowadays but also doubling as a life coach. Dirks has spoken at different youth baseball tournaments around the league and appeared on podcasts. He talks about his experiences and how they changed Dirks’ life.

He may be done playing for the Detroit Tigers, but Andy Dirks still finds a way to impact baseball in the Metro-Detroit community with his new way of life.