Episode 66: Kirk Saarloos - Part 1

1544 Miles to Omaha

Today's guest is current Head Baseball Coach of the TCU Horned Frogs, Kirk Saarloos.
For Titan Baseball fans that may not be as well versed on Titan Baseball and history, Saarloos pitched four years while at Cal State Fullerton from 1998 through 2001. His name is littered throughout the Titan Baseball Media Guide, appearing 40 times, with over half of those mentions within the top 10 in either season long or career pitching statistics.
A strikeout pitcher if there ever was one, Saarloos racked up 358 Ks in four years in 127 appearances which he still ranks No. 1 pulling duty as a starter and a reliever where he racked up 22 saves. He still ranks No. 2 in career wins with 33 and averaged 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
We can not fail to mention in his senior campaign in 2001, Saarloos threw the third no-hitter in Titan Baseball history, pitching a 28-0 shutout over the University of Pacific. 2001 was a terrific year for Saarloos taking the pitching triple cown for the Titans in ERA at 2.18, wins (15) and strikeouts with 135.
An All-American and a member of Team USA, Saarloos was selected in the third round by the Houston Astros and would make his MLB debut nearly a year later with Houston on June 18, 2022 becoming the 36th Titans to play in a Major League Baseball game. Saarloos spent seven years in the major leagues, playing for the Houston Astros (2002-03), Oakland A's (2004-06, 08) and Cincinnati Reds (2007). Saarloos made history on June 11, 2003 as he was one of a major league record six Astro pitchers to combine for a no-hitter against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
Many remember Saarloos returning to Cal State Fullerton as an assistant coach. He spent his first season on staff as an undergraduate assistant for Dave Serrano. Saarloos moved into the role of pitching coach when Rick Vanderhook took over the head coaching duties in the summer of 2011. He remained on the Titan staff for two seasons before becoming an assistant at TCU in 2013. It should be noted that following Saarloos in the Pitching Coach role for Titans Baseball was current Head Baseball coach Jason Dietrich, guiding the Titans arms from 2013 through the 2016 seasons. Saarloos started his head coaching career this past season and was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year while guiding the Frogs to the Big 12 Regular season title.
And finally, the Saarloos Family is a major part of the Titan Baseball Family with an outfield wall sign that reads, "The Saarloos Family says good Luck Titans. Only 1,544 Miles to Omaha".
As you might imagine, that sign was the inspiration to name this podcast the 1544 Miles to Omaha Podcast.
Highlights include:
🎙️ Growing up in the 80's and 90's (4:40)
🎙️ Gravitating to baseball (6:37)
🎙️ Frosh year at Cal State Fullerton (10:52)
🎙️ How the Saarloos Family Sign came to be (14:46)
🎙️ Sophomore year & Super Regionals (18:35)
🎙️ Going to Omaha in 1999 (23:06)
🎙️ Finally hosting a Regional at home (24:57)
🎙️ Playing for Team USA summer 2000 (25:30)
🎙️ Senior season 2001 & the No-Hitter (28:00)
🎙️ Hosting the 2001 Super Regional (34:27)
🎙️ Getting Drafted by the Astros (35:30)
🎙️ CWS Game 1 vs. Nebraska in Omaha (38:05)
🎙️ Enormous strike zone in Game 1 (40:24)
🎙️ Pitching vs. Stanford in Omaha (42:26)
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