By: Achilles Carmenate
MIAMI (July 6, 2023) – FIU baseball head coach
Rich Witten announced the hiring of
Karsten Whitson as the program's newest assistant coach and pitching coach on Thursday.
"I'm very excited to announce Coach Whitson as our new pitching coach," said Witten. "He has dynamic experience at the collegiate and professional levels."
Whitson joins the Panthers after four seasons as an assistant coach at the University of South Florida.
His pitching staff in 2021 helped lead the Bulls to the program's first-ever NCAA Super Regional. In American Athletic Conference play, his staff posted a team ERA of 3.23. In the 2021 Gainesville Regional the Bulls struck out 34 batters in 36 innings of action, against Florida, Miami and South Alabama.
In his first season with the Bulls, Whitson led the USF pitchers to 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings that ranked first in the American Athletic Conference and 11th in the nation.
"Our pitchers will love their development under his tutelage and mentorship," added Witten. "I want to welcome him, his wife McKenna and son Kash to the FIU Family."
Before USF, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Pensacola State College and a season as the pitching coach for the USA Baseball U-18 National Development Program.
In 2017, he was the pitching coach for the Bismarck Larks of the Northwoods League where he was an Assistant Coach of the Year nominee.
Whitson, a Chipley Florida native, had a stellar college career at the University of Florida. In his time with the Gators, he helped the program win two SEC Championships and reach the College World Series twice. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team, the Perfect Game Freshman Pitcher of the Year and a two-time All-American.
He was selected in the 11th round of the MLB Draft by the 2014 Boston Red Sox and played in their organization for two seasons.
Whitson also played for the USA National U-18 team in 2009 and served as an associate scout for the Minnesota Twins.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (
@FIU.Baseball), Twitter
(@FIUBaseball), and Facebook (
Facebook.com/FIUBaseball) for all the latest Baseball news.
General athletic news can also be found at
@FIUSports on Facebook and
@FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
