Fox Chapel's Jack Kartsonas evolves as pitcher at WVU

Jack Kartsonas has undergone a significant transformation since arriving in Morgantown to pitch for West Virginia’s baseball team.

The technology the Mountaineers have available helped him better understand what pitches his body is best capable of throwing.

And thanks to a lack of peer pressure, his mustache is thicker and runs down to his chin on both sides of his mouth.

“I had a normal mustache at Kent State,” said Kartsonas, who grew up in Fox Chapel. “My girlfriend, who was with me at Kent State, works in Cleveland now, so she isn’t here to make me shave it. I’ve had some good luck with it.”

Kartsonas developed into a solid rotation piece for the Mountaineers, who open the NCAA Division I Tournament in the Clemson regional Friday. He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors while pitching out of the bullpen early in the season and later as a starter.

Kartsonas, a graduate student, is second on the team in wins, compiling a 6-3 record with a 2.90 ERA. Kartsonas has struck out 69 in 59 innings and also has recorded a save in 18 appearances, including seven starts.

Kartsonas, who attended Vincentian and graduated from University Prep, said his pitching arsenal has improved. He can throw a sinker, four-seam fastball, sweeper and changeup.

“As I get older, the velocity is up every year,” Kartsonas said. “We have resources at West Virginia that we didn’t have at Kent State. I’m able to fine-tune my pitches. It’s a big part of what has allowed me to improve, learning about my body and throwing pitches that come naturally to me.”

West Virginia (41-14) threw Kartsonas against Arizona in the Big 12 semifinals. Kartsonas struck out six over four innings, but he took the loss after surrendering five runs in a 12-1 defeat.

Kartsonas is happy to be pitching again after battling injuries throughout his career. He started playing baseball at Division III John Carroll before transferring to Kent State in 2021.

With the Golden Flashes last season, Kartsonas was hampered by a series of injuries. Before the season started, Kartsonas hurt his forearm while he was doing a dry needling treatment. The needle went through his ulnar nerve.

When Kartonas attempted to pitch through the pain, he ended up injuring his elbow and had to have surgery in July.

“I’m at where I thought I would be,” Kartsonas said. “I didn’t start throwing until mid-October. I didn’t throw off the mound until Thanksgiving. I didn’t get to throw to hitters until mid-January. The coaches and trainers built me up as the season went on.”

Kartsonas said he chose West Virginia because he wanted to find a way to pitch at the College World Series in Omaha. He’s hoping to help the Mountaineers find a way there.

“We’re as good as anyone in the country,” Karstsona said. “I’m super confident in this team.”