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Mariners Player Profile: Nathan Karns

By Ben Renner

Apr 21, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Nathan Karns (13) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Nathan Karns (13) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Today’s starter Nathan Karns was acquired by Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto this offseason in a trade involving Brad Miller and Logan Morrison. What can he bring the Mariners in 2016?

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Nathan Karns pitched his first full season in the big leagues last year. Across 26 starts, (27 total appearances) he went 7-5 with a 3.67 ERA, 1.279 WHIP, and 4.09 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), striking out 145 batters across 147 innings. He’s a bit of a late bloomer at age 28, having spent time in the Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals’ organizations. Why did Dipoto target him in trade talks last November?

Jerry Dipoto traded starting shortstop Brad Miller, reliever Danny Farquhar, and first baseman Logan Morrison for Karns and outfielder Boog Powell last offseason as part of his semi-makeover of the Mariners. Dipoto was likely intrigued by Karns’ strikeout stuff. He has averaged an even nine strikeouts per nine innings in his young major league career, and he just doesn’t have that many innings in his major league career. With a fastball that touches 95 MPH and strikeout numbers like the ones he posted in his career, he has shown indications that he can blow hitters away at times and at least work as an effective starter late in the rotation.

I suspect that Dipoto traded Morrison, Miller, and Farquhar to jettison the up-and-down Miller and the awful Morrison and pick up a promising young outfielder (Powell) in the process. But Karns has potential for the Mariners rotation. His ability to strike people out is no fluke. Fangraphs ranked his changeup one of the best in the majors and he can throw enough pitches to make it deep into games, at least in theory.

After pitching well enough in Spring Training to make the rotation over James Paxton, Karns has had an up-and-down start to 2016. He allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out six in five innings against the Oakland A’s his first start, taking the loss. He picked up his first win of the season in Yankee Stadium in his second start where allowed one run in five innings, striking out seven. Karns’ most recent start, of course, was this morning in Cleveland. He went five and a third innings today, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits with five strikeouts and four walks in a no-decision.

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According to Fangraphs, Nathan Karns had one of the best changeups in baseball last season. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

His lack of control to start the year is a bit concerning, but he hasn’t forgotten how to strike people out with 18 strikeouts in 15.1 innings. Another area of concern is his inability to make it past the sixth inning. He’ll have to calm the walks down to get further into games, or we could see Paxton replacing him this year. Strikeouts are valuable, and Dipoto was banking on a breakout year from Karns. It’s too early to tell if Dipoto’s move for the late-blooming starter will pay off.

Next: Sehawks Draft Preview: Trade Down?

Interesting tidbit I picked up during today’s telecast: Morrison is hitting .050/.116/.050 for the Tampa Bay Rays. Miller: .116/.191/.233. Yikes.

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