TUCSON, Ariz. — After putting together the best season of his MLB career, former Arizona Baseball standout, Kevin Ginkel, is heading to the 2023 World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Ginkel becomes the 10th Wildcat all-time to advance to the World Series, and the first since J.T. Snow represented the San Francisco Giants in the 2002 World Series.
Ginkel was a crucial piece to the Diamondbacks success in 2023, posting a 9-1 record with four saves, a 2.48 ERA, and 70 strikeouts across 60 relief appearances. He logged career-best marks in games played, wins, games finished, innings pitched, and strikeouts in his fifth season with Arizona.
Following a dominant regular season Ginkel has posted a nearly flawless postseason record. Across eight appearances to date, the right-hander has gone 1-0 with five holds, a 0.00 ERA, and 13 strikeouts spanning 9.0 innings of work. As the Diamondbacks setup man to closer Paul Sewald, all eight games in which he has appeared this postseason have been Arizona victories.
The San Diego native logged one season with the Wildcats in 2016, going 5-1 with a 2.80 ERA and 45 strikeouts over 64.1 innings of work. His most impressive work came during the 2016 postseason as Arizona advanced all the way to the College World Series finals — during that run Ginkel made six appearances with two starts and went 2-0 with one save and a 1.89 ERA.
Ginkel and the Diamondbacks will face the Texas Rangers in the World Series, with game one scheduled for Friday, Oct. 27 in Arlington, Texas.
Wildcats in the World Series
| Year |
Player (Pos.) |
Team |
Opponent |
Result |
| 1936 |
Hank Leiber (OF) |
New York Giants |
New York Yankees |
Loss, 2-4 |
| 1937 |
Hank Leiber (OF) |
New York Giants |
New York Yankees |
Loss, 1-4 |
| 1984 |
Craig Lefferts (P) |
San Diego Padres |
Detroit Tigers |
Loss, 1-4 |
| 1987 |
Joe Magrane (P) |
St. Louis Cardinals |
Minnesota Twins |
Loss, 3-4 |
| 1988 |
Ron Hassey (C) |
Oakland Athletics |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
Loss, 1-4 |
| 1989 |
Craig Lefferts (P) |
San Francisco Giants |
Oakland Athletics |
Loss, 0-4 |
| 1989 |
Ron Hassey (C) |
Oakland Athletics |
San Francisco Giants |
Won, 4-0 |
| 1990 |
Ron Hassey (C) |
Oakland Athletics |
Cincinnati Reds |
Loss, 0-4 |
| 1991 |
Scott Erickson (P) |
Minnesota Twins |
Atlanta Braves |
Won, 4-3 |
| 1997 |
Ed Vosberg (P) |
Florida Marlins |
Cleveland Indians |
Won, 4-3 |
| 1998 |
Trevor Hoffman (P) |
San Diego Padres |
New York Yankees |
Loss, 0-4 |
| 1998 |
George Arias (3B) |
San Diego Padres |
New York Yankees |
Loss, 0-4 |
| 2002 |
J.T. Snow (1B) |
San Francisco Giants |
Anaheim Angels |
Loss, 3-4 |
| 2023 |
Kevin Ginkel (P) |
Arizona Diamondbacks |
Texas Rangers |
TBD |
