Chris's bio: (Knoxville Yarddogs) (Blue-Gray, Young Guns at Furman & Diamond Warrior Invitee) (2001 Doyle Showcase) (MVP Cocoa Beach invitee) (2003 PG World Underclassmen Showcase - Big strong catcher with a big hose and some quickness. Good defensive catcher who can receive, block and especially throw. Also pitched in the mid 80s with a hard biting breaking ball. Quiet hitting approach and big time line drive power potential to all fields, 1.92 pop) (2002 1.98 pop at Tusculum College showcase) {(#5)BA-top 10} {BA-PPlus #118/400} (3.9 GPA, 26 ACT) (2003 Yard Showcase 1.95 pop) (2003 Perfect Game National Showcase where he had the fastest pop time of 1.78 and 2nd best catcher velocity of 83 mph, also the #20 rated player at the National) (Selected for the AFLAC All-American Baseball Game)

(2003 Southeast Top Prospect Showcase- Chapel Hill NC where he was named the #1 prospect, Kirkland had the strongest arm at the event, both off the mound and in the field. The aspect of his game that has really grown this summer, though, is his ability to drive the ball deep into the alley’s. Continued work on his hitting and shifting ability behind the plate will place Kirkland among the elite catchers in the country.) (AFLAC All-Star Game -- on Chris:: Kirkland was a highly regarded prospect as a sophomore before flying below the radar for much of the last year. A hand problem affected him at the plate and losing 40 pounds (He is now an athletic 6-3, 190) “took all my strength away” in his own words. Kirkland reemerged at the start of the summer, playing well in a couple of national events and being named Top Prospect” at the Perfect Game Southeast Top Prospect Showcase. He has well above average arm strength that is capable of touching 92 mph off the mound and handles all the rest of the catching chores well. The key in Kirkland’s rise up the prospect charts has been his improved power and bat speed at the plate.

High School Stats: .406, 1, 25 as sophomore. Hampered by a broken hand as junior. Comparable Major League Player: Mike Matheny (StL). Arm and intelligence can control a game, regardless of bat.) (WWBA Jupiter, FL) (Rated #6 on TeamOne Top 50 2004 Catchers and rates 4/4)