Nate Karns, Pitcher


Date of Birth: 11/25/1987
Birthplace: Franklin, Pennsylvania
College: Texas Tech University

Nate Karns, pitcher, was first drafted in 2006 by the Houston Astros but he opted instead to play for Texas Tech University. When the Washington Nationals drafted him in 2009, he signed with them. He stayed with the Nationals until February, 2014, when they traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Karns had shoulder surgery in 2010 and he didn't start playing in the minor leagues until 2011. In 87 games in the minors from 2011 through 2014, he pitched 449.1 innings and he had a 33-21 win-loss record, a 3.45 ERA, and 515 strikeouts to 190 walks.

Karns pitched in three games with the Nationals in 2013 and in two games with the Rays in 2014. In 2015, his first full season in the major leagues, he pitched 147.0 innings in 27 games. He finished the season with a 7-5 record, 145 strikeouts to 56 walks, and a 3.67 ERA. On July 21st, he hit his first major league home run. It was the only run in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Karns was traded to the Seattle Mariners on November 5, 2015. He finished the 2016 season with a 5.15 ERA, 6 wins to 2 losses, and 101 strikeouts to 45 walks in 94.1 innings in 15 games as a starter and 7 games as a reliever.

Karns was traded to the Kansas City Royals on January 6, 2017. He spent much of the 2017 season on the DL, pitching in just 9 games with the Royals. He finished the season with 2 wins and 2 losses, 51 strikeouts to 13 walks, and a 4.17 ERA in 45.1 innings.

Karns spent the entire 2018 season on the DL. He became a free agent on October 31, 2018. He signed with the Baltimore Orioles on February 7, 2019. He spent time on the DL in 2019 with a right forearm strain. The Orioles released him on August 4th. He pitched just 5.1 innings in 4 games with them.

Karns hasn't played professional baseball since 2019.

Career pitching statistics for Karns through 2019 include:

  • 67 games played
  • 316.0 innings pitched
  • 16-12 win-loss record
  • 326 strikeouts to 127 walks
  • 4.30 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Nate Karns
ESPN - Nate Karns
Baseball Reference - Nate Karns