Kevin Gunderson

Kevin Chase Gunderson

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 165 lb.
• School Oregon State University
• High School Central Catholic High School (Portland, OR)

• Born' September 16, 1984 in Portland, OR USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Kevin Gunderson was one of the big stars of the 2006 College World Series. He reached AA in 2007. He is the nephew of former major leaguer Eric Gunderson.

Amateur career

Gunderson was 11-1 with a 0.98 ERA as a high school junior and was third-team All-State. As a senior, he went 12-0 with 3 saves and a 0.71 ERA, striking out 156 and walking 8 in 79 innings while allowing 25 hits. He was named All-State.

Kevin went on to OSU. In 2004, he was 6-2 with 2 saves and a 2.72 ERA, allowing 32 hits and 16 walks in 49 2/3 IP. He led the Pacific-10 Conference in ERA, beating out top prospect Ian Kennedy and a good distance ahead of Tim Lincecum. Despite having a better ERA, Gunderson was not a Freshman All-American according to Baseball America, which picked both Kennedy and Lincecum. Collegiate Baseball did name him as a Freshman All-American.

Gunderson became Oregon State's closer in 2005, going 6-4 with 14 saves and a 2.76 ERA. He tied Paul Koss for the Pac-10 lead in saves and was an All-Conference pick. He tied for 7th in NCAA Division I in games saved.

In 2006, the left-hander was 3-2 with 20 saves and a 2.36 ERA, allowing 38 hits and 17 walks in 53 innings. He led all of NCAA Division I in saves and tied for 6th in games pitched (37). He was again a Pac-10 All-Conference selection. In the second game of the 2006 College World Series, team co-captain Gunderson worked 5 1/3 innings of relief for a win. In the final game, he came out of the bullpen with two on and one out in the 9th to protect a 3-2 lead. He retired the final two batters to save the victory over the University of North Carolina. Gunderson was 1-0 with 3 saves and a 2.45 ERA in the 2006 College World Series. He was named to the All-Tournament Team for his efforts.

Professional Career

Short by MLB pitcher standards, the 5' 10" Gunderson fell to the 5th round of the 2006 amateur draft, when the Atlanta Braves picked him. He debuted with the Danville Braves, pitching one scoreless inning. He was promoted to the Rome Braves and was 4-0 with 3 saves and a 1.13 ERA and 0.80 WHIP.

In 2007, Gunderson pitched for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, going 4-5 with 7 saves and a 3.08 ERA in 44 outings; his WHIP rose significantly to 1.56. He was promoted late in the year to the Mississippi Braves, allowing one run but 8 hits and 2 walks in four innings.

Sources

• 2008 Braves Media Guide
• OSU bio
• 2005-2008 Baseball Almanacs