Kyle Bartsch

Kyle Michael Bartsch (born March 10, 1991) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

Amateur career Bartsch attended L. D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas, and played for the school's baseball team. He began his college career at West Texas A&M University, where he played college baseball for the West Texas A&M Buffaloes. He transferred to Howard College, and played for the Howard Hawks, In 2013, he had a 3–0 record with a 3.12 ERA and 12 saves, tying Michael Nakamura for the most in a single season and setting the new school record with 22. He was named second-team All-Sun Belt Conference. The American Baseball Coaches Association named Bartsch to their second-team South Central All-Region squad.

Professional career Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals drafted Bartsch in the seventh round, with the 204th overall selection, of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut for the rookie-level Idaho Falls Chukars, where he had a 2–1 record and 2.45 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 21 appearances. Bartsch pitched for the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2014, where he had a 5–5 record and 2.29 ERA with 52 strikeouts over 41 appearances.

San Diego Padres On November 20, 2014, the Royals traded Bartsch to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Reymond Fuentes.

Bartsch spent 2015 with the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm, where he was 1-3 with a 4.60 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 52 appearances. He began the 2016 campaign with the Double-A San Antonio Missions, where he struggled to an 8.31 ERA in 10 games. Bartsch was released by the Padres organization on May 18, 2016.

Kansas City Royals (second stint) On May 20, 2016, Bartsch signed a minor league contract to return to the Kansas City Royals organization, and was assigned to the Doyble-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals. In 15 appearances for Northwest Arkansas, he compiled a 2-1 record and 0.94 ERA with 23 strikeouts and one save across innings pitched.