Trey Kirchoff keeps showing why he’s an elite pitcher
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Trey Kirchoff has conducted a master pitching class all summer. Last Monday afternoon against Tennessee, the Seattle, Washington pitcher continued showing what makes him an elite pitcher,
But this wasn't about his talent. This was all about his toughness.
And Kirchoff taught quite a class.
Kirchoff fought all afternoon despite being hit hard at times, left five runners on base over the first two innings and earned the win as Seattle defeated Tennessee, 6-2. Kirchoff held Tennessee scoreless over the first two innings despite facing a bases loaded, no-out situation and a second and third with no outs scenario an inning later. Doing so helped Seattle reach Wednesday night's winner's bracket final against California and guarantee it the state's highest Series finish since 2010.
"I knew it was going to be a long game for me and they were going to constantly hit my stuff because I didn't feel my greatest on the mound," Kirchoff said. "I just had to battle through it and I did."
Indeed.
Kirchoff quieted a potent offense which had scored eight runs in its Series opener against Rhode Island, allowing two runs in his 3 2/3 innings, while staying eligible to pitch Thursday, if necessary. He also won his fifth straight start going back to the Northwest Regional where he shut down three consecutive opponents.
From a pure pitching perspective, this hardly was a masterpiece. But considering the team, the situation and the ramifications, Kirchoff showed exactly what makes him so good. Even on one of his worst days, he could still help his team win and still create something special.
"There's no question that from pitch No. 1, Trey didn't have his A+ stuff today and we were worried after the they jumped out with those first two hits," Seattle manager Christian Shewey said. "When you look back at how well Trey did over the course of his 50 pitches, to survive against such a good hitting team and to keep them at bay without his best stuff is just a testament to his character. That's just the kind of kid Trey is."
Tennessee reached the 2022 U.S. Final and greeted Kirchoff with consecutive singles before the next batter was hit by a pitch. Three days after scoring three runs in the top of the first against Rhode Island, Tennessee seemed poised to inflict possibly even more damage this time.
Just when it seemed like Seattle was in trouble, Kirchoff started complementing his pitches with some resolve. He struck out the next batter on three pitches before inducing grounders to the next two, needing just seven pitches to put out the fire.
An inning later, Tennessee threatened again. Kale McCarty belted a lead-off double and Stella Weaver followed with a single before stealing second and putting runners at second and third with no outs in a scoreless game. When the pressure may have been too much for many, Kirchoff again was able to refocus, bounce back and own a big moment.
This time, the 12-year-old sandwiched a fielder's choice between two strikeouts. He needed 13 pitches to put down three consecutive hitters, meaning that when it felt like chaos was surrounding him, Kirchoff shut down two Tennessee rallies by retiring six hitters on 20 pitches.
Seattle scored five runs in the bottom of the second, Kirchoff was pulled after 50 pitches and Larson Eng closed out the victory as Washington took another step toward the ultimate goal.
"That kid is good. Every game they've won in the postseason, he's pitched. Hat's off to him," Tennessee manager Randy Huth said. "Trey's a good pitcher. He did a good job."
It was amazing. Everything goes through your mind at that moment. How's this game going to go? Can they put a five-spot up?" Shewey said. "You probably recognize that one or two runs isn't a horrible way to get out of it. To get out of it with no runs is just incredible relief after your basically thinking are we going to potentially lose this game in the first inning."
Kirchoff has helped his teammates, coaches and fans breathe easy throughout this memorable run, helping Seattle become the first team from its city to reach the Series. He showed Monday that he can rely on guile and savvy when not at his best.
When Kirchoff is at his best? Good luck beating him.
Kirchoff is not the classic hard-throwing, overpowering pitcher that often dominates at this age group. He has quality velocity in the 67-69 range, but relies more on his off-speed pitches and location. He is a true pitcher's pitcher.
Kirchoff was untouchable at regionals when Seattle overwhelmed three straight opponents by a 33-1 margin. In those games, the right-hander surrendered just one run and struck out 21. He then used his curveball and slider with devastating effectiveness in Seattle's Series opener against Maine, throwing a complete game one-hitter with eight strikeouts as his team handed Maine its first loss this year.
"Their pitcher kept us off-balance all game. I don't think we've seen a pitcher that throws that many curveballs consecutively for strikes," Maine manager Brad Shelley said. "Our guys battled, but his hook got us a bunch of times. He did a great job of keeping that ball low and he got a lot of our good hitters out with it."
Shelley knows how to pitch and needs not simply crank up the heat to take over a game. It's about using his speed when necessary and a 67-mile per hour fastball sure looks faster when he has set up hitters with effectively place off-speed pitches.
And when the fastball is working and he drops in the curveball or the slider exactly where he wants it, Kirchoff can be as good as anyone in the country at this level. That's a bold declaration but his what he has done this summer against the team's he has faced has made it indisputable.
"Trey is a stud pitcher," Shewey said.
He also is quite a hitter. Kirchoff, who also excels as a catcher and center fielder, hit .750 at regionals, going 6 for 8 with a triple, double, four RBIs and three runs.
It has been a similar story throughout the summer. Pitching in San Bernardino, California at regionals, Kirchoff showed that kind of dual threat ability that Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani so often does nearby. At one point, Kirchoff's older brother even said Kirchoff was emulating Ohtani.
Ultimately, Kirchoff is his own player. Monday, he showed why he will be the one Northeast Seattle Little Leaguers try their best emulating.
"When Trey has his stuff, he can sometimes be unhittable," Shewey said. "When he doesn't have his best stuff, he will battle and keep us in games, which is all you can ask for from a starting pitcher."