Jeff Karstens
Born: 9/24/1982 in San Diego, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 2006-08-22 | Final Game: 2012-10-01
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Jeffrey Wayne Karstens
Biography
Jeff Karstens was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 2006 to 2012. Born in 1982, Karstens made his Major League Baseball debut with the New York Yankees, showcasing his skills in a league that was defined by a mix of emerging young talent and established superstars. Over his career, he played for several teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he became known for his ability to keep games competitive despite his modest win-loss record of 26-40.
Karstens finished his career with a 4.44 earned run average (ERA) and recorded 330 strikeouts. Although he did not achieve any saves during his time in the majors, he was recognized for his durability and ability to pitch deep into games, often relying on finesse rather than overpowering speed. His playing style was emblematic of a transitional era in baseball, where traditional pitching strategies were being complemented by advanced analytics and an emphasis on strikeout rates. After his retirement, Karstens left a mark as a reliable arm in a competitive landscape, contributing to the teams he played for with his consistent performance on the mound.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 40 | 138 | 91 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 592.3 | 636 | 292 | 80 | 153 | 330 | 4.44 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | NYY | AL | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42.7 | 40 | 18 | 11 | 16 | 3.80 | - |
| 2007 | NYY | AL | 1 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14.7 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 5 | 11.05 | - |
| 2008 | PIT | NL | 2 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 51.3 | 56 | 23 | 13 | 23 | 4.03 | -576.6 |
| 2009 | PIT | NL | 4 | 6 | 39 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108.0 | 115 | 65 | 45 | 52 | 5.42 | -1552.1 |
| 2010 | PIT | NL | 3 | 10 | 26 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 122.7 | 146 | 67 | 27 | 72 | 4.92 | -2313.0 |
| 2011 | PIT | NL | 9 | 9 | 30 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 162.3 | 163 | 61 | 33 | 96 | 3.38 | -1450.2 |
| 2012 | PIT | NL | 5 | 4 | 19 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 90.7 | 89 | 40 | 15 | 66 | 3.97 | 1614.7 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 138 | 145 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 79 | 0.090 | 0.143 | 0.097 | 0.239 | -486.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | NYY | AL | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2007 | NYY | AL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2008 | PIT | NL | 9 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0.143 | 0.0 |
| 2009 | PIT | NL | 39 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 0.045 | 0.0 |
| 2010 | PIT | NL | 26 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 0.061 | 0.0 |
| 2011 | PIT | NL | 30 | 48 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 28 | 0.104 | -486.7 |
| 2012 | PIT | NL | 19 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0.107 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 138 | 91 | 42 | 67 | 6 | 5 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | NYA | P | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 | NYA | P | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | PIT | P | 9 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| 2009 | PIT | P | 39 | 13 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | PIT | P | 26 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| 2011 | PIT | P | 30 | 26 | 15 | 19 | 2 | 2 |
| 2012 | PIT | P | 19 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 138 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Player of the Week | Week of 2011-07-17 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | PIT | NL | $3,100,000 |
| 2011 | PIT | NL | $1,100,000 |
| 2009 | PIT | NL | $401,500 |
| 2008 | NYA | AL | $393,300 |
| 2007 | NYA | AL | $389,495 |
| Total Career Earnings | $5,384,295 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grossmont College | El Cajon | CA | 2001, 2002 |
| Texas Tech University | Lubbock | TX | 2003 |