Former MLB prospect Brian Kirby “tragically lost his life” in an accident last Wednesday while working as an HVAC technician at Graves Memorial Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Ark., the church said in a Facebook post.
He was 46.
“This morning [on April 15], a tragic accident occurred at our church building involving an employee of Kirby Heating and Air,” the church’s post read. “He was more than an employee — he was part of our family and our community. Tragically, he lost his life. He was a highly skilled and experienced HVAC technician, and his loss is deeply felt.”
The church, which canceled its services for that day, said the incident was a “heartbreaking situation” and asked for prayers for Kirby’s family and his business, Kirby Heating and Air team.
A cause of death was not given.
Kirby is survived by his parents, Curtis and Cindy, his wife, Jennifer, and the couple’s two daughters.
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called to the church at about 11:20 a.m. and found Kirby unresponsive on the roof, according to a police report obtained by The Christian Post.
Authorities used a drone to locate Kirby’s body “near two air conditioning units.”
Kirby’s family members shared a celebration of life flyer, scheduled for Wednesday, in Facebook posts.
“My big brother,” his sister, Marisa Kirby wrote with a broken heart emoji.
His cousin, Allison Avra Guerin, remembered Kirby as “one of the good ones.”
Kirby was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1997, and the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) in 2001, but he never played in the majors.
He played for minor league and independent league teams from 2001-05.
Kirby would have turned 47 this August.
