He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2002 through 2013 for the Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, and Miami Marlins.

[2] He played just 82 games that year after suffering a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder following a home plate collision with Atlanta Braves pitcher Ray King.

[3] In April 2004, Kearns was hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ryan Vogelsong that broke his left forearm.

[5] Kearns was traded to the Nationals on July 13, 2006, along with Felipe Lopez and Ryan Wagner from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Gary Majewski, Bill Bray, Royce Clayton, Brendan Harris, and Daryl Thompson.

[6] On September 23, 2006, playing against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium, Kearns and first baseman Nick Johnson collided while making a sliding attempt to catch a fly ball.

Kearns originally remained in the game relatively unhurt, but was removed shortly after play resumed by Manager Frank Robinson.

In 2008, the Nationals placed Kearns on the 15-day disabled list on May 22 because of loose bodies in his right elbow and on August 25 with a stress fracture in his left foot.

[10] The Nationals called up outfielder Jorge Padilla from the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs to replace the ailing Kearns.

[17][18] He was designated for assignment on August 12, 2011, to make room on the active roster for the return of Shin-Soo Choo from the disabled list.

[26] He also hosts the annual Austin Kearns Celebrity Golf Classic fundraising event in association with former Kentucky Wildcats baseball coach and evangelical Christian missions organizer Keith Madison.