SAUGET, Ill. — Grizzlies starting pitcher Alec Kisena, who earned the start on opening night this season and leads the Frontier League with 44 strikeouts in only 28 innings, signed with the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization Monday.
Kisena is already the second Grizzlie to sign with an MLB organization this year; he marks the 45th player to sign an affiliated contract in Gateway’s 18-year history.
In five starts so far this year, Kisena posted a 3-2 record with a 4.17 ERA — although that number was sure to drop rapidly, as indicated by his miniscule 0.89 WHIP. Not only had he fanned a league-leading 44 batters, but he had walked only seven. In his final start with the Grizzlies on Sunday evening, Kisena set a single-game career high with 11 strikeouts over six innings of work.
The Seattle, Washington, native debuted with Gateway on June 14, 2017, against the Schaumburg Boomers and was a fixture in the rotation for the remainder of the season.
Kisena joins fellow 2018 Grizzlie Matt Hearn back in the affiliated ranks. Hearn signed with the Colorado Rockies last week.
