Kenn Kasparek

Kenn Anthony Kasparek (born (1985-09-23)September 23, 1985 in Houston, Texas) is a professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.

Amateur career

High school

Kasparek attended Weimar High School. As a freshman he complied a 4-0 record with a 1.56 ERA and 45 strikeouts over 27 innings pitched and was named the league's Newcomer of the Year. Kasparek was named the district MVP his sophomore year after posting a 12-5 record with a 1.54 ERA and 151 strikeouts over 104²⁄₃ innings pitched. In his junior season he posted a 9-0 record with a 0.32 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 65²⁄₃ innings and was named All-District and All-State from the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association and the Texas Sports Writers Association. In his senior season, 2004, he posted a 0.89 ERA and struck out 146 over 71 innings and was again named district MVP. He was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 41st round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft, however, he chose to attend the University of Texas.

College

Kasparek attended the University of Texas where in his freshman season, 2005, he compiled an 8-0 record and an 2.10 ERA, making 15 appearances including 12 starts. His ERA ranked second on the team and was 20th in the nation. He held opponents to a .214 batting average against while striking out 46 and walking only 31 in 73 innings pitched. In postseason play, he went 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA in four starts and one relief appearance. At season's end he was named Second-Team Freshman All-American by Baseball America In 2006, his sophomore season, he went 5-2 with three saves and a 3.80 ERA, which ranked 16th among Big 12 pitchers. He was tied for second on the team in appearances with 23. He also had 39 strikeouts and limited opponents to a .263 average over 64 innings pitched. He played for the McKinney Marshals of the Texas Collegiate League after the season and had a 2.70 ERA and nine strikeouts in 10 innings pitched. He sat out the entire 2007 season due to an injury he suffered with the McKinney Marshals after his sophomore season. It was an elbow injury that forced him to have Tommy John surgery. The Washington Nationals selected Kasparek in the 34th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft despite the injury, but Kasparek did not sign. In his first game back in 2008 Kasparek threw a five-inning shutout against Virginia Commonwealth University giving up just two hits as he struck out five batters.^[1] Kasparek went on to throw a no-hitter against Texas State University making him the 20th player from the University of Texas to do so.^[2]

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

Kasparek was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 12th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft after being previously drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2004 and the Washington Nationals in 2007. He signed with the Mariners on June 12, 2008.^[3] He split his first season in '08 with the Rookie-Level Pulaski Mariners and the Short-Season Everett AquaSox. He started the season with Pulaski going 3-1 with a 3.10 ERA and 25 strikeouts in five games, four starts. He was promoted to Everett on July 9.^[4] With the AquaSox he would go 2-3 with a 4.55 ERA in 10 games, nine starts giving him a combined record of 5-4 with a 3.98 ERA in 52 innings pitched between Everett and Pulaski. In 2009 Kasparek had a very good season statistically with the Class-A Clinton LumberKings. On August 1, Kasparek pitched a complete-game shutout against the Burlington Bees making it the first complete game by a LumberKings player since 2005.^[5] He finished the season with a 10-6 record with a 2.41 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 141²⁄₃ innings. His ERA was the lowest in the Midwest League.^[6] Kasparek was selected by MLB.com as the Mariners Organization Player of the Year.^[7] Kasparek pitched for the High Desert Mavericks in 2010. In 2011, Kasparek mostly pitched for the Double-A Jackson Generals, while also pitching for High Desert and the Arizona League Mariners.

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

Kasparek started the 2012 season with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.^[8] Kasparek signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in May 2012.^[9] Kasparek made just two starts for Fargo-Moorhead before joining the Pirates organization. "Kenn did a very good job for us and this is a great opportunity for him," said RedHawks Manager Doug Simunic in May 2012. "The Pirates are getting a good pitcher and I wish him the best of luck as he continues his career."^[10]

Pittsburgh Pirates

Kasparek signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in May 2012.^[9]

Scouting Report

Kasparek doesn’t throw with a lot of velocity, throwing in the upper 80s with two decent breaking balls (upper 70s slider, lower 70s curve) and a changeup. He’s got good command, but none of his pitches really stand out.^[9]

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)