Birtsas earned All-County and All-League honors pitching for Clarkston High School in Independence Township, Michigan. He also played varsity basketball, but it was baseball that earned him a scholarship to Michigan State University. Under legendary coach Danny Litwhiler, he was a second-team All Big Ten Baseball Team selection in 1982 and received the Steve Garvey Sportsmanship Award. He also majored in Recreation and Youth Leadership with an emphasis on children with special needs at MSU.\n', '

The New York Yankees did not have a first round selection in the 1982 Major League Baseball draft. With the 36th overall pick, in the second round, they selected Birtsas.\n', '

After going 12-8 with a 2.36 earned run average with the Fort Lauderdale Yankees in 1983, Birtsas\' 1984 season was delayed by a leg injury in spring training. Once activated, he went 5-1 with a 3.59 ERA in ten starts to help his team win the Florida State League championship. After the season, he was packaged with Jay Howell, Stan Javier, José Rijo and Eric Plunk in a trade to Oakland for Rickey Henderson.\n', '

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