The Los Angeles Dodgers concluded their 2024 Spring Training slate with a final exhibition Freeway Series matchup on Tuesday, and although they lost on a walk-off hit, the game still provided a special moment for the Karros family.
Eric Karros spent 12 seasons playing for the Dodgers and became the franchise’s all-time home run leader in Los Angeles. He also ranks third in club history, dating back to their time in Brooklyn, with 270 long balls.
Karros has since moved to the broadcast both, working as an analyst and color commentator for SportsNet L.A. He was on the call for the Dodgers final game, which led to him broadcasting his son pitching in a MLB game.
Jared Karros was drafted by the Dodgers in the 16th round of the 2022 MLB draft out of UCLA. With the Dodgers looking to save their MLB arms for their home opener on Thursday, Jared was called on to record some outs.
Jared Karros had an impressive outing with Eric Karros on the call.
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Before entering the game, Jared had some nerves prior to pitching in an MLB stadium for the first time, he told David Vassegh of AM570 L.A. Sports Radio:
“There were a lot of nerves for sure, just sitting out there. Kyle Hurt, he was like, ‘Dude you’ve got to stop shaking your legs, you’ve got to calm down.’ But once I got out there, I felt like I calmed down pretty good, especially after the first batter, I got a little sped up on that one. Once I slowed myself down, things went well.”
Both Eric and Jared arrived at the ballpark together, adding to the special moment for the Karros family:
“No, actually I drove in with him today. We walked in together, so that was fun. But yeah, it was a good experience.”
Jared ended up pitching two scoreless innings while giving up just one bloop hit. He walked one hitter as well, but struck out four.
After picking up a strikeout to end the inning, Eric gave a standing ovation from the broadcast booth, but Jared said he didn’t see that in real time:
“I did not. I didn’t see where he was sitting, but that would have been cool. Hopefully there’s some video on that, but yeah, I missed it.”
Jared Karros spent most of the 2023 season pitching for the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes before he was promoted to the High-A Great Lakes Loons.
With the Quakes, Karros posted a 3.95 ERA across 19 games (16 starts) while tallying 86 strikeouts over 83.2 innings pitched. After the promotion, he appeared in three games for the Loons, pitching to a 0.69 ERA in 13 innings while striking out 11.
He will presumably start his 2024 season with the Loons, and if things go well, he could find himself in Double-A Tulsa fairly quick.
Jared Karros won Minor League honors in 2023
Karros was named the California League Pitcher of the Month last May for his work with the Quakes.
He went 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA in five appearances (four starts) and did not allow an earned run in three of his outings or give up more than three hits in any of his games.
Karros held opponents to a .164 average and his 0.78 WHIP was the lowest among any pitcher with at least 11.1 innings in May.
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