Out of My League: A Rookie's Survival in the Bigs

"Not many pitchers have replaced future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. Only one has written a delightful book about it. This isn't the story of any old Triple-A veteran trying to finally reach the majors. This is the story of Dirk Hayhurst finally reaching the majors. Which makes the story worth reading."
--Rob Neyer, Sports Nation
 
"Hayhurst has done it again... Turns out he's a starter and a closer."
--Tim Kurkjian, ESPN
 
 "A stirring, revealing tale of humanity."
--Ken Rosenthal, Fox Sports
 
"Gripping, revealing--and not at all what you'd expect."
--Tyler Kepner, The New York Times

"With razor-sharp wit and keen observational powers, Dirk Hayhurst delivers a rare gem of a baseball book. Out of My League captures both the joy and the toll of becoming a big leaguer unlike anything else before it."

--Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated

  -
"Hilarious, illuminating and poignant...This is more than a baseball book. It's the story of a man learning that it's possible to grip a baseball without it gripping him."
--Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports.com
 
"Hayhurst has done it again...If only I could pitch as well as he can write, I might have more Cy Youngs than Greg Maddux."
--Jayson Stark, ESPN.com
 
"Memorable... Hayhurst delivers an entertaining story for more than just sports fans. This is about life, relationships and the sacrifices made to pursue a dream"
--Jordan Bastian, MLB.com
 
"Funny, earthy, touching. Dirk finally makes it to a big-league mound, but as a writer, he's been throwing strikes in the Show for a while now, and "Out of My League" is another quality start."
--King Kaufman, Bleacher Report
 
"The most candid portrayal of life as a professional athlete I've ever seen."
--Michael Dolan, Editor-in-Chief, Athletes Quarterly
 
"It's never too inside baseball, even though it is literally from inside baseball."
--John Manuel, Editor, Baseball America
 
"Dirk is a good friend who has never been afraid to tell it like it is. He has a genuine gift for telling the stories of his life in such a way that they reveal profound truths. I find his writing both entertaining and thought provoking... unlike his fastball."
--Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays All-Star
 
"Baseball is a game governed by countless rules, none bigger than this one: Don't over think it. Dirk Hayhurst takes us down the rabbit hole that is his mind, to a place where that rule is constantly violated, every decision, every move, every breath over thought. In the process, he provides a brutally honest take on life in the majors--the oversized ballparks, hotel rooms, and personalities, but also the self-doubt, loneliness, and despair. I laughed, I cried, I even learned how to doctor a baseball."
--Jonah Keri, author of The Extra 2%
  
"Compulsively readable and enjoyable...Apparently, it's not enough for Hayhurst to be a major league pitcher; he has to be a fantastic writer, too."
--Matt Fraction, Marvel Comics