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  Joel Kirsten

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In his fifth year with the Cats in 2009, Joel Kirsten, a California native, went 9-5 with a 3.61 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 20 games.  The nine wins were the 4th most in the American Association, and he was 3rd in the league with 127 innings pitched. 

In 2008, Kirsten was named the American Association's Left-Handed Pitcher of the Year for the second straight year. Was 8-3 with a 2.69 ERA in 20 starts. His ERA ranked fifth best in the league. He had two complete games and one shutout. Kirsten struck out 89 and walked 31 in 137 1/3 innings of work, the most innings pitched in the league.

Was the starting and winning pitcher for the South squad in the 2008 All-Star Game in St. Paul. Kirsten went two innings and allowed no runs on two hits.

In 2007, he was named the American Association’s Left-Handed Pitcher of the Year after going 6-5 with a 3.32 ERA in 18 starts for Fort Worth. In 116 2/3 innings, he allowed 109 hits, struck out 68 and walked 21 and had three complete games.

He was 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA in three playoff starts. He was the winning pitcher in Game 5 of the division series against El Paso and started Game 5 of the championship series for the third straight season, allowing just one run in six innings in that start.

Kirsten finished the 2006 campaign with a 7-4 record and a 3.90 ERA in 22 games. On Aug. 21 2006, Kirsten threw the first no-hitter in modern Cats history as he blanked the El Paso Diablos 2-0 at LaGrave Field.

In 2005, Kirsten joined the team on July 2 and made 12 regular-season appearances including three starts. He was 1-2 with a 3.26 ERA in 30 1/3 innings of work. He struck out 28 batters and walked just 10. Kirsten was 2-1 with a 2.91 ERA in four playoff appearances.

He started the 2004 season with Stockton in the California League where he had no record with a 7.36 ERA in five games covering 14 2/3 innings of work. Later he pitched for Clinton in the Midwest League where he was 7-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 37 games including two starts.

Kirsten had a 4-0 record with a 1.44 ERA in 15 games with Spokane in 2003. Was 2-1 with a 4.29 ERA in his rookie year with Pulaski in 2002.

He was originally selected by the Rangers in the 25th round of the 2002 draft. Kirsten resides in Reseda, Calif.