Dean Kiekhefer

Kiekhefer was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 37th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft out of Oldham County High School in Buckner, Kentucky. He did not sign with the Indians and played college baseball at the University of Louisville. In 2009, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[1] He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 36th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft and signed.

After signing, Kiekhefer was assigned to the Johnson City Cardinals, and after one game, was promoted to the Quad Cities River Bandits where he finished the season with a 5.14 ERA in 28 innings pitched out of the bullpen. In 2011, he returned to Quad Cities where he pitched to a 4-1 record and 1.26 ERA in 57 relief innings, and in 2012 he played for the Palm Beach Cardinals where he was 2-2 with a 2.24 ERA in 46 relief appearances. He spent 2013 with Palm Beach and the Springfield Cardinals where he was a combined 4-5 with a 3.43 ERA in 36 games between both teams, 2014 with Springfield and the Memphis Redbirds where he posted a combined 2-5 record and 2.90 ERA in 55 relief appearances, and 2015 with Memphis where he was 2-1 with a 2.41 ERA in 50 games.

The Cardinals added him to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season.[2] He began 2016 with Memphis.

The Cardinals called Kiekhefer up to the major league roster on May 13, 2016.[3] The following day, he made his major league debut in Los Angeles in the sixth inning against the Dodgers, allowing no walks and striking out four in ​1 ²⁄₃ innings. The only hit and run charged to him—both firsts of his career—was a home run to Corey Seager.[4] He was optioned to Memphis and recalled to St. Louis multiple times during the season before being recalled for the remainder of the season on August 29. In 29 appearances for Memphis he was 6-1 with a 2.08 ERA, and in 22 innings pitched for St. Louis he compiled a 5.32 ERA.

Kiekhefer was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners on November 4, 2016.[5] He spent all of 2017 with the Tacoma Rainers where he pitched to a 3-3 record with a 4.47 ERA in 49 games.[6] He elected free agency on November 6, 2017.

On February 17, 2018, Kiekhefer signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds.[7] He began the season with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. On April 30, he was released.

On May 2, 2018, Kiekhefer signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics.[8] He began the season with the Midland RockHounds before being promoted to the Nashville Sounds. He was promoted to the major leagues on September 1, 2018. Kiekhefer elected free agency on October 15, 2018. He resigned a minor league deal on October 18, 2018. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.[9]