Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Brandon Kintzler was born August 1, 1984, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a pitcher in the MLB.

Kintzler is considered by baseball journalists to be the most successful 40th-round draft pick in MLB history. His signature pitch is a sinker that he developed after shoulder surgery limited the speed of his four-seam fastball.

2013 was a breakout season for Kintzler, who served as the primary setup man for closer Jim Henderson. He posted a 2.69 ERA in 71 relief appearances that season, retired 52 of the first batters he faced, and stranded 16 out of 21 inherited runners.

On February 10, 2021, Kintzler signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, a deal that included an invitation to spring training. On March 26, Kintzler and outfielder Matt Joyce were added to the Phillies' Opening Day roster. Kintzler debuted with the Phillies on April 5, 2021, taking over for starting pitcher Matt Moore in the fourth inning of an eventual 5–3 rout over the New York Mets.