MINNEAPOLIS -- Rangers reliever Michael Kirkman sure has had a great debut in the majors so far.

He's appeared in six games and has thrown eight scoreless innings with four hits allowed to go along with two walks and eight strikeouts. He's dealt with various situations, including pitching in close games and with inherited runners and he's done the job. On top of that, he was named the Pacific Coast League's pitcher of the year.

"The key for me is just going out there and pitching and not overthinking," Kirkman said. "I've installed the confidence in my mind that I can get guys out with whatever stuff I have that night."

He said in his last outing, just one-third of an inning against the Royals on Wednesday, he didn't have his best stuff. He allowed a hit and then gave up the fly ball to right from Gregor Blanco that David Murphy made such a great catch on.

"I wasn't at my best and told myself to keep the ball down," Kirkman said. "We had him shaded just right and David made a great play and it worked out. I've just been trusting myself and trusting my teammates."

Kirkman has a fastball, slider, changeup and curve in his repertoire, but he hasn't thrown the curve and changeup very much since he arrived in the majors. Kirkman said the first changeup he threw was Tuesday night in Kansas City and he was pleased with it.

"It's helped that I've been able to go out and get guys out," Kirkman said. "I've learned that these guys are good hitters, but it's the same game. They have to put the ball in play and execute just like I do. They're human and you have to have the confidence you can get them out. You can't give them too much credit."

I really like Kirkman's maturity and the fact that he's confident, but not to the point of arrogance. He knows he has a lot to learn, but that he also has the ability to get hitters out at this level. He's making the most of that chance and if he continues to progress, it sure seems like he'll crack that postseason roster, doesn't it?