Mike Kinnunen – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Mike Kinnunen’s baseball journey is a bit of an odd one—full of grit in the minors and a quirky spot in Major League Baseball’s history books. Born in Seattle, Washington in 1958, this lefty pitcher spent parts of three seasons in the majors between 1980 and 1987, pitching for the Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles.

Kinnunen actually holds the major league record for most pitching appearances without ever getting a decision—48 games, no wins, no losses, no saves. That’s a wild stat and makes him a pretty unique footnote in baseball lore. It really shows the kind of middle reliever he was, especially back in an era when pitchers didn’t always get decisions the way they do now.

He went from Washington State University to the big leagues, bouncing around different organizations and grinding in the minors for years. That path says a lot about the challenges faced by guys trying to stick in the majors. From his fast call-up in 1980 to his last pitch in 1987, Kinnunen’s story gives a peek at baseball life outside the world of superstars.

Early Life and Collegiate Baseball

Michael John Kinnunen was born on April 1, 1958, in Seattle, Washington.

He went to Lincoln High School in Seattle, then played college ball at Washington State University from 1977 to 1979.

Birthplace and Childhood

Kinnunen grew up in Seattle, soaking up the strong baseball culture of the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle’s mild weather meant he could play and practice baseball pretty much all year. That’s a big deal for a young athlete.

Those early years helped him develop as an athlete. The city’s youth baseball programs gave him plenty of chances to sharpen his pitching skills.

People in the local baseball scene noticed his talent right away. His childhood in Washington really set the stage for what came next.

High School Achievements

At Lincoln High School in Seattle, Kinnunen played in a strong baseball program that pushed him to improve.

He stood out as a pitcher, and college scouts definitely noticed.

Lincoln’s competitive environment helped him grow as a player. Coaches there taught him the basics that he’d use for years.

His high school success caught the eye of college recruiters. They saw his potential and wanted him on their teams.

Washington State University Career

Kinnunen pitched for the Washington State Cougars from 1977 to 1979. Those three years really set him up for a shot at pro baseball.

At WSU, he kept developing as a pitcher. The Cougars’ program gave him tough competition and good coaching.

Scouts started to pay attention to what he was doing at WSU. The school had a solid reputation for turning out talented players.

He worked on his pitching techniques during college. His performance there made MLB scouts take notice.

The Minnesota Twins picked him in the tenth round of the 1979 MLB Draft. That came right after his successful run with the Cougars.

Path to Major League Baseball

Kinnunen’s path from Seattle high school baseball to the majors happened pretty fast. The Minnesota Twins drafted him in 1979, and he moved up their minor league ranks in just a year.

Draft Selection and Signing

The Twins took Michael John Kinnunen in the tenth round of the 1979 MLB Draft. He’d just wrapped up his senior year at Lincoln High School, where he’d really honed his pitching.

At 21, he was a little older than some high school prospects. Born April 1, 1958, he brought a bit more maturity to the table.

The Twins saw something in this right-handed pitcher from the Northwest. Signing that contract kicked off his pro baseball adventure.

Minor League Progression

Kinnunen didn’t waste time in the minors. After signing in 1979, he spent his first pro season learning the ropes in the lower levels.

By 1980, the Twins had already moved him up to Triple-A. That’s not common for someone with just one year of pro experience.

Triple-A is as close as you can get to the big leagues without actually being there. Kinnunen was right on the doorstep.

His work in Triple-A got the Twins’ coaches interested. They figured he was ready for a shot in the majors.

MLB Debut with the Minnesota Twins

Kinnunen made his Major League Baseball debut on June 12, 1980, with the Twins. He was just 22 when he got that first chance.

The Twins used him as a relief pitcher during his rookie year. He pitched in 21 games, threw 24.2 innings, and finished with a 5.11 ERA.

They mostly put him in low-pressure spots. He came in when games were already decided or when the main relievers needed a break.

Even though he appeared in 21 games, Kinnunen didn’t get a win, loss, save, blown save, or hold with Minnesota. That odd stat would end up defining his MLB story.

Major League Career and Teams

Mike Kinnunen pitched in the big leagues across three seasons between 1980 and 1987. He appeared in 48 games for the Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles, working out of the bullpen for 51.2 innings and setting that weird record for most appearances with zero decisions.

Pitching Appearances Over Three Seasons

He debuted for the Twins on June 12, 1980, at age 22. That rookie year, he pitched in 21 games, logging 24.2 innings and a 5.11 ERA.

Six years later, he made it back to the majors with the Orioles in 1986. That year, he pitched just 9 times, throwing 7.0 innings and posting a 6.43 ERA.

In 1987, he got more work—18 appearances for Baltimore, 20.0 innings, and a 4.95 ERA.

Career Totals:

• 48 games (all as a reliever)
• 51.2 innings pitched
• 5.23 ERA
• 23 strikeouts
• 30 walks

He set the major league record for most pitching appearances without a decision—never got a win, loss, or save in any of his 48 games.

Role and Position Analysis

Kinnunen spent his entire MLB career as a relief pitcher. He never started a game, but he did finish 18 games across his three seasons.

Teams used him mainly as a middle reliever. The Twins and Orioles put him into situations where decisions just didn’t happen often.

He had some issues with control. Over his career, he walked 30 batters and struck out just 23. With a 0.77 strikeout-to-walk ratio, command was definitely a struggle.

Performance Highlights:

• WHIP: 1.819 (walks plus hits per inning)
• Opponent batting average: Pretty high—allowed 64 hits in 51.2 innings
• Home runs allowed: 5 total

On the bright side, Kinnunen fielded his position perfectly. He handled 14 chances without an error, ending up with a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Transitions Between Teams

Kinnunen’s pro journey started when the Twins drafted him in the 10th round in 1979. He was the 245th pick, coming out of Washington State University.

The Twins moved him up the ladder quickly. Within a year, he reached the majors in 1980.

After his first stint with Minnesota, he spent several years back in the minors. The Orioles picked him up before the 1986 season.

He pitched for Baltimore for two seasons, 1986 and 1987. In that time, he appeared in 27 games and threw 27.0 innings, finishing with a 5.33 ERA.

Teams Played For:

• Minnesota Twins (1980): 21 games, 24.2 innings
• Baltimore Orioles (1986-1987): 27 games, 27.0 innings

By 1987, Kinnunen’s major league days were over. He was 29 when he played his last game with the Orioles.

Major League Record and Career Highlights

Kinnunen’s spot in baseball history is all about that odd record—48 pitching appearances, not a single decision. All of this happened in just three seasons with the Twins and Orioles from 1980 to 1987.

Most Pitching Appearances Without a Decision

His biggest claim to fame is those 48 games with no win, loss, or save. That’s 51⅔ innings in the majors. He pitched in 21 games for Minnesota in 1980, then 9 for Baltimore in 1986, and 18 for Baltimore in 1987.

His career stats show a 5.23 ERA across those games. He struck out 23 batters and walked 30. His best season came in 1980 with Minnesota—5.11 ERA in 24⅔ innings.

Kinnunen worked only as a reliever and never got a start. He finished 18 games across his three years in the bigs.

Significance of the Record

This record really shows how weird baseball stats can get. A reliever might pitch a ton and never get a win or loss if he’s always coming in when the game’s out of reach, or if things change after he leaves.

It’s a reminder that baseball can be unpredictable. Relief pitchers, especially in the middle innings, often don’t get decisions. They might pitch when the game’s already decided or get pulled before the outcome’s clear.

Kinnunen’s record has lasted over 30 years since he retired in 1987. It’s a quirky achievement that took just the right (or wrong?) set of circumstances.

Comparisons to Other Pitchers

Most relievers pick up at least one decision in their careers, so what Kinnunen did is pretty rare. Even guys with short MLB runs usually get a win, loss, or save at some point.

It’s wild when you think about modern relievers—closers rack up saves, setup guys often get wins or losses just by being in the right (or wrong) spot in the game.

Kinnunen’s 48 appearances with zero decisions stands out as a real statistical oddity.

Statistical Analysis and Playing Style

Kinnunen’s short time in the majors produced some strange stats, especially that record for most appearances without a win, loss, or save. It says a lot about the kind of role he played as a reliever in the 1980s.

Era and Performance Metrics

His career ERA was 5.23—definitely on the high side. He didn’t have an easy go of it in his three seasons from 1980 to 1987.

His best numbers came in 1980 with the Twins. That year, he put up a 5.11 ERA in 21 appearances. The Twins mostly used him as a middle reliever, and he managed a walk rate of 3.3 per nine innings.

Baltimore was rougher:

• 1986: 6.43 ERA in 9 games
• 1987: 4.95 ERA in 18 games
• Combined WHIP of 2.074 for those two years

He had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 0.77 for his whole career. That means he struck out 23 batters and walked 30—not a great balance, and it definitely hurt him in tight spots.

His FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) was 4.97, so his numbers matched up pretty closely with his ERA. Defense didn’t really change his outcomes much.

Retrosheet and Notable Game Data

Kinnunen made 48 career appearances without a decision, which stands out as a quirky achievement in baseball history. Game logs track this odd record and really highlight just how specialized his relief role was.

He usually pitched in low-leverage situations. Most of the time, he threw fewer than two innings, and teams brought him in when games were out of reach or just needed a middle-relief arm.

Fielding statistics showed he handled himself well defensively:

• Perfect 1.000 fielding percentage
• 14 total chances, no errors
• He threw out 4 runners on stolen base attempts

Managers clearly saw him as a situational pitcher, not a closer or even a setup guy. He finished 18 games, which was just 37.5% of his total appearances, way below what you’d expect from a closer.

Game data shows he almost never pitched on back-to-back days. Teams seemed to use him when it made sense, not as a regular bullpen fixture. That approach pretty much guaranteed he wouldn’t rack up the innings for traditional pitching decisions.

Post-Retirement Life and Legacy

After his MLB career ended in 1987, Michael John Kinnunen moved to Puerto Rico and started working at Roberto Clemente Stadium. He found a way to stay close to baseball while building a new career in operations.

Career After Baseball

Kinnunen jumped into stadium operations after hanging up his glove. He landed a job at Roberto Clemente Stadium in Carolina, Puerto Rico, and got involved with the day-to-day nuts and bolts of running the place.

That job kept him close to the game he’d played for years. His time as a big leaguer gave him a perspective that’s honestly pretty valuable for baseball operations work.

A lot of retired players find stadium work a natural fit. Kinnunen’s background meant he understood what players and teams needed from a facility.

Life in Puerto Rico

By 2008, Kinnunen had settled in Carolina, Puerto Rico, and called the island home after his playing days. Living there let him stay involved with pro baseball and enjoy a different pace of life.

Puerto Rico’s baseball culture and lively winter league scene made it a good fit for someone like Kinnunen who wanted to keep a foot in the game.

Living in Carolina put him right near Roberto Clemente Stadium, his workplace. The stadium is a big deal in Puerto Rican baseball and hosts all kinds of pro games and events.

Influence on Baseball Community

Kinnunen has this odd little spot in baseball history—he made 48 pitching appearances but never picked up a win, loss, or save. Honestly, that stat alone gets trivia lovers and baseball number-crunchers talking.

He often came in as a relief pitcher and faced batters in tense moments, just doing his job to get outs. That’s really the whole story.

This record shows how baseball stats can capture some weird career paths. No one else in Major League Baseball has matched Kinnunen’s 48 appearances without a decision, so he’s got a strange but permanent place in the record books.