CLU Sports

Come Saturday at 4:05 PST former California Lutheran pitcher Jason Hirsh will take the mound at Houston’s Minute Maid Park for the first time as a Major Leaguer as the Astros host the San Diego Padres.

The 6-foot-8 right-hander was 13-2 with a 2.10ERA in 23 starts for the Round Rock Express this season. Hirsh was leading the Pacific Coast League in wins and ERA while his 118 strike outs ranked him fourth.

After his Monday start was pushed back to Tuesday, Hirsh took the mound for the Express in what would prove to be a 25-pitch (19 strikes, 6 balls) tune-up for the big leagues. After two innings of hitless ball, Hirsh took the mound for the third, but quickly exited the field after his manager, Jackie Moore delivered the news that he had been called to Houston.

Prior to the 2006 season, Hirsh was named the top prospect of the Houston Astros organization by Baseball America.

After a rocky start, Hirsh found his game and proved himself during his four months pitching for Round Rock. "He didn't impress me in Spring Training," manager Phil Garner said. "But that’s part of the philosophy. It proves that you can't do yourself any harm as long as you work hard and put forth a good effort. I think his back bothered him in spring and he never was right. We didn't really see the true pitcher that he's been now.

"It will be interesting to see how he throws. He's been pitching very, very well. He impressed everybody down there and everybody in our system. So we'll give him a shot up here."

Hirsh was the 59th overall selection in the 2003 draft after playing three years of collegiate baseball at California Lutheran University. “Jason Hirsh was one of the most receptive and easiest players to coach here at CLU,” head coach Marty Slimak said. “He was always willing to try something new and never questioned the reasoning behind the change. That is the main reason he has been able to develop so fast at in the Minor Leagues, where the instruction is elevated to the next level.”

At Cal Lu, Hirsh was a three year starter. He compiled a 26-6 record with a 2.96 ERA as a Kingsmen. During those three seasons he struck out 238 batters over 258.1 innings. Hirsh’s name is in the CLU record books as he is tied for first in career wins and holds the lead for the most strike outs in a game (18 versus Occidental in 2003). Twice in his collegiate career he was named to the First Team All SCIAC and in 2003 he was also an ABCA All-West Region First Team selection.

Information and quotes came from foxsports.com and the houston.astros.mlb.com.