Kyle Funkhouser

BIOGRAPHY

Kyle Funkhouser was born March 16, 1994, in Palos Heights, Illinois. He is a pitcher in the MLB.

As a freshman at the University of Louisville in 2013, Funkhouser appeared in 22 games for the Louisville Cardinals baseball team, with six starts. He finished the year 5–1 with a 2.14 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 54 2⁄3 innings. For his play he was named a freshman All-American by Louisville Slugger. After the 2013 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League. As a sophomore in 2014, Funkhouser started 18 games, finishing with a school record and NCAA Division I tying 13 wins. He also had a 1.94 ERA and 122 strikeouts. After the season, he was named a first team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). During the summer he played for the United States collegiate national team.

After posting a 9–3 record with a 3.86 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 93 1⁄3 innings as a senior, Funkhouser was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft. He was selected in the fourth round, the 115th overall selection.

Funkhouser began the 2017 season with the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Class A Midwest League, winning his first game on April 7. The Tigers promoted him to the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League in May. In 12 games started between both teams, he posted a 5-2 record and 2.44 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 62.2 total innings. Funkhouser began the 2018 season with the Erie SeaWolves of the Class AA Eastern League, and earned a midseason promotion to the Toledo Mud Hens of the Class AAA International League.

Funkhouser was added to the Tigers 40–man roster following the 2019 season.

On July 27, 2020, Funkhouser made his MLB debut. He earned his first major league win on September 6, 2020 against the Minnesota Twins.

In 2021, Funkhouser appeared most of the season in middle relief for the Tigers. He earned his first career save on September 19 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Overall in 2021, Funkhouser made 57 appearances (55 in relief), posting a 7–4 record and 3.42 ERA, while striking out 63 batters in 68+1⁄3 innings.