Biscuits All-Star: Chris Kirsch
Each day leading up to the 2016 Southern League All-Star Game on Tuesday, June 21 at Trustmark Park in Pearl, MS we will highlight one of the seven Biscuits that made the game's roster. Today's Biscuit All-Star highlight is left-handed pitcher Chris Kirsch.
Chris Kirsch was originally drafted by the Pirates in 2010 and Cardinals in 2011, but did not sign either time. In 2012, the Rays took the left hander in the 14th round where he signed and reported to the Princeton Rays of the Appalachian League. In his first full season of Minor League Ball, Kirsch went a combined 6-3 with a 3.01 ERA in 2013 between Hudson Valley and Charlotte. That season, he led the NY-Penn League in starts and ranked second in innings pitched. Kirsch played the entire 2014 season in Single-A Bowling Green, where he went 9-8 with a 2.83 ERA. After beginning 2015 5-4 with a 2.98 ERA, Chris was promoted to Montgomery on July 7th of last year, where he would be inserted into the rotation and finish the season 3-4 with a 5.69 ERA with the Biscuits.
Kirsch earned his All-Star selection with another year of solid starts in 2016. Through his first 12 starts, Kirsch ranks 5th in Southern League's North Division in ERA (3.36) and has compiled a record of 4-2. 7 of Chris' 12 starts have been in the form of a quality start, and he's allowed 5 or fewer hits in 6 of his outings. Kirsch has never been a prolific strikeout pitcher in his career, but over his past 5 starts has struck out 28 opposing batters in 31 innings pitched. An under-the-radar type of guy, Kirsch has never put up the eye-popping numbers typically associated with top prospects, but it's Kirsch's ability to eat innings effectively from the left handed side of the mound that makes him valuable to the Biscuits rotation. His 2016 All-Star selection is the first of his professional career.