Kirk Saarloos
Encyclopedia
Kirk Craig Saarloos is a former right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He will join the 2011 Cal State Fullerton coaching staff as an undergraduate assistant coach. Saarloos returns to the school that propelled him to a seven-year major league career with Houston (2002–03), Oakland (2004–06, 08) and Cincinnati (2007). He will continue to work towards his bachelor's degree in communications at Cal State Fullerton.
in Cerritos, California
, a three-sport (baseball
, football
and soccer) athlete. He attended California State University, Fullerton
where he established himself as one of the best closers in college baseball
during his sophomore and junior seasons. In , his senior year, he became a starter (the new closer was former Washington Nationals
closer Chad Cordero
) and established himself as the ace
of the staff, winning 15 games with a 2.18 ERA
. He was drafted by the Houston Astros
in the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
in the third round as the 86th overall pick.
and Triple-A
New Orleans
before being called up to the major leagues in his second year as a professional. In he went 6-7 with a 6.01 ERA
with Houston and was sent down to New Orleans for the next season. In he again pitched very well in the minors, but posted a 4.93 ERA
in 36 games for the big club. He also contributed to the Astros' six-pitcher no-hitter
of the New York Yankees
on June 11, throwing the last out of the third inning and all of the fourth. It was around this time he caught the eye of Oakland Athletics assistant general manager Paul DePodesta
. A few weeks into the season, after appearing in only two games for New Orleans, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics
for Chad Harville
. They sent him to Triple-A Sacramento
, where he pitched well enough to receive a call-up and start 5 games for Oakland.
In , with Mark Mulder
and Tim Hudson
traded away, the Athletics had openings in their rotation. Saarloos beat out Keiichi Yabu
and Juan Cruz
to win the last starter spot in the rotation. Saarloos succeeded, going 10-9 with a 4.17 ERA
in 27 starts. He was widely considered to be among the best #5 starters in the American League
, sporting one of the lowest home run rates.
With the signing of veteran starter Esteban Loaiza
before the season, the A's bumped Saarloos to the bullpen. Soon after, Rich Harden
got injured and Saarloos was put in as a fifth starter for a few games. He has also been be used in many varying relief roles, much like Justin Duchscherer
was in 2005, but also as a spot starter. On January 19, , Saarloos signed a one-year $1.2 million deal with the Athletics.
On January 23, 2007, Saarloos was traded to the Cincinnati Reds
for minor league reliever David Shafer. Both teams also received a player to be named later. On May 28, 2007, Saarloos was sent to the minors after failing to retire any of the seven batters he faced in a 14-10 loss to Pittsburgh the night before. On October 12, 2007 the Saarloos was outrighted to the minor leagues. He refused the assignment and became a free agent
.
On January 15, , Saarloos signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training
with the Oakland Athletics. On April 14, he was added to the major league roster, but was designated for assignment on April 23. He was sent outright to Triple-A on April 25. On August 18, Snaarloos was recalled. He free agent at the end of the season, he signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Cleveland Indians in January ; after training camp, he was sent to Minor League
camp on March 24, 2009.
, a curveball
, a slider
, and a changeup
. However, his best pitch by far is his mid-to-high 80's sinker
. For this reason, Saarloos is known predominately as a sinkerball specialist, and as such gets few strikeouts (batters tend to hit groundballs when faced with a sinker). In fact, his 2.99 strikeouts per 9 innings in 2005 ranked third to last in Major League Baseball, and was the lowest mark in Oakland Athletics history for a starting pitcher.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He will join the 2011 Cal State Fullerton coaching staff as an undergraduate assistant coach. Saarloos returns to the school that propelled him to a seven-year major league career with Houston (2002–03), Oakland (2004–06, 08) and Cincinnati (2007). He will continue to work towards his bachelor's degree in communications at Cal State Fullerton.
High school and college
Saarloos graduated from Valley Christian High SchoolValley Christian High School (Cerritos, California)
Valley Christian High School, located in Cerritos, California, is one of the largest protestant schools in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. It was founded in 1935 and is part of a K-12 school system with 3 campuses enrolling more than 1500 students...
in Cerritos, California
Cerritos, California
Cerritos is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of several cities that constitute the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. It was incorporated on April 24, 1956...
, a three-sport (baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and soccer) athlete. He attended California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
where he established himself as one of the best closers in college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
during his sophomore and junior seasons. In , his senior year, he became a starter (the new closer was former Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
closer Chad Cordero
Chad Cordero
Chad Patrick Cordero is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He broke into the big league ranks with the Montreal Expos...
) and established himself as the ace
Ace (baseball)
In baseball, an ace is the best starting pitcher of any team and nearly always the first pitcher in his starting rotation. Barring injury or exceptional circumstances, an ace usually always starts on Opening Day...
of the staff, winning 15 games with a 2.18 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. He was drafted by the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
in the third round as the 86th overall pick.
Professional career
Saarloos quickly rose in the Astros organization, making brief stops at Double-A Round RockRound Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
and Triple-A
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
New Orleans
New Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
before being called up to the major leagues in his second year as a professional. In he went 6-7 with a 6.01 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
with Houston and was sent down to New Orleans for the next season. In he again pitched very well in the minors, but posted a 4.93 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 36 games for the big club. He also contributed to the Astros' six-pitcher no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
on June 11, throwing the last out of the third inning and all of the fourth. It was around this time he caught the eye of Oakland Athletics assistant general manager Paul DePodesta
Paul DePodesta
Paul DePodesta is the Vice President of player development and scouting for the New York Mets. He was formerly a Front Office assistant for the San Diego Padres...
. A few weeks into the season, after appearing in only two games for New Orleans, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Chad Harville
Chad Harville
Chad Ashley Harville is a free agent relief pitcher who most recently played in the majors for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Harville bats and throws right-handed...
. They sent him to Triple-A Sacramento
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
, where he pitched well enough to receive a call-up and start 5 games for Oakland.
In , with Mark Mulder
Mark Mulder
Mark Alan Mulder is a retired left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Oakland Athletics:...
and Tim Hudson
Tim Hudson
Timothy Adam Hudson is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Atlanta Braves. Hudson began his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and played his last two years of college eligibility at Auburn University...
traded away, the Athletics had openings in their rotation. Saarloos beat out Keiichi Yabu
Keiichi Yabu
is a Japanese baseball pitching coach for the Hanshin Tigers and a former baseball pitcher...
and Juan Cruz
Juan Cruz (baseball)
Juan Carlos Cruz is a Major League Baseball pitcher.-Career:Cruz was signed for the Chicago Cubs by scout Jose Serra. He began his pro career with the Cubs' Rookie Level team, the Mesa Cubs, where he went 2-4 with a 6.10 earned run average and 36 strikeouts in only 41.1 innings pitched...
to win the last starter spot in the rotation. Saarloos succeeded, going 10-9 with a 4.17 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 27 starts. He was widely considered to be among the best #5 starters in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
, sporting one of the lowest home run rates.
With the signing of veteran starter Esteban Loaiza
Esteban Loaiza
Esteban Antonio Loaiza Veyna [lo-EYE-sa] is a former Major League Baseball pitcher...
before the season, the A's bumped Saarloos to the bullpen. Soon after, Rich Harden
Rich Harden
James Richard Harden is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher.-Early years:Harden attended Claremont Secondary School in Victoria, British Columbia. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 38th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft...
got injured and Saarloos was put in as a fifth starter for a few games. He has also been be used in many varying relief roles, much like Justin Duchscherer
Justin Duchscherer
Justin Craig Duchscherer [DUKE-shur] is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Early career:...
was in 2005, but also as a spot starter. On January 19, , Saarloos signed a one-year $1.2 million deal with the Athletics.
On January 23, 2007, Saarloos was traded to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for minor league reliever David Shafer. Both teams also received a player to be named later. On May 28, 2007, Saarloos was sent to the minors after failing to retire any of the seven batters he faced in a 14-10 loss to Pittsburgh the night before. On October 12, 2007 the Saarloos was outrighted to the minor leagues. He refused the assignment and became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
On January 15, , Saarloos signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
with the Oakland Athletics. On April 14, he was added to the major league roster, but was designated for assignment on April 23. He was sent outright to Triple-A on April 25. On August 18, Snaarloos was recalled. He free agent at the end of the season, he signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Cleveland Indians in January ; after training camp, he was sent to Minor League
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
camp on March 24, 2009.
Scouting
Saarloos has a variety of pitches, including a 4-seam fastballFastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, a curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
, a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
, and a changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
. However, his best pitch by far is his mid-to-high 80's sinker
Sinker (baseball)
In baseball, a sinker , is a type of fastball pitch which has significant downward and horizontal movement. The sinker is known for inducing a lot of ground balls...
. For this reason, Saarloos is known predominately as a sinkerball specialist, and as such gets few strikeouts (batters tend to hit groundballs when faced with a sinker). In fact, his 2.99 strikeouts per 9 innings in 2005 ranked third to last in Major League Baseball, and was the lowest mark in Oakland Athletics history for a starting pitcher.