Where Are They Now? Jason Kuhn

Jason Kuhn is not your typical college baseball pitcher. And it has nothing to do with the fact he is a left-hander who is majoring in history.

The Brooke Point High School graduate, now a redshirt senior with the Dukes at James Madison University, has studied Chinese and Japanese while in college and studied German and Latin while in high school.

“I have interest in the Asian culture,” said Kuhn, who would like to one day visit that part of the world.

He speaks some Chinese but knew even more a few years ago after taking classes at the Harrisonburg school.

“At one point I was pretty fair at it,” said Kuhn, from Stafford.

Kuhn is on track to graduate in May. He plans to apply to graduate school and would like to coach baseball one day, but for now he is winding down his playing career for JMU under head coach Spanky McFarland in the Colonial Athletic Association.

He entered this season with 35 career appearances at JMU, all out of the bullpen. He picked up his only decision, a victory, during the 2008 season when the Dukes won the CAA title.

Kuhn made the first start of his college career March 12 at North Florida in a 19-12 loss. He threw two innings and allowed six earned runs. Then at home March 16 he got the start against Liberty was got the win as he went seven innings and allowed just one earned run, five hits and one walk with eight strikeouts in a 13-2 victory against the Flames.

“That was really cool. Coach McFarland put me out there and let me go. I didn’t expect to go that long by any means,” Kuhn said. “I was hitting my spots and changing speeds and keeping hitters off balance.”

Kuhn made his third start at home March 23 against Maryland and was not involved in the decision in a 6-2 victory. In that game he pitched 4 and two-thirds innings and allowed two earned runs against the Terps. JMU reliever Kevin Munson, who is expected to be a high draft pick in June, got the win out of the bullpen in that contest.

“When I got the start against Maryland the next week I wanted to keep the same thing going,” Kuhn said. “I feel pretty good. Our team has been coming together. For the past four years I knew I had to be ready every day (out of the bullpen) that I can. My arm was definitely not used to that. I am getting more used to" being a starting pitcher.

But now he is being used as a starter and out of the pen. Kuhn then pitched 2 and two-thirds innings out of the bullpen in a 11-6 loss March 27 at George Mason. He allowed one hit and one run. JMU was 12-11 overall and 4-2 in the CAA in games through March 30.

In his first seven outings this year Kuhn had made three starts and was 1-1 with an ERA of 5.21. In 19 innings he had allowed 21 hits and just two walk with 12 strikeouts. In 49.1 innings prior to this season he was 1-0 with an ERA of 7.66 at JMU with 30 strikeouts and 20 walks. Last year he made a career-high 17 appearances and was 0-0 with an ERA of 7.62 in 28.1 innings. He allowed 31 hits and 12 walks with 19 strikeouts.

Notes: JMU is slated to begin a series at home April 9 against CAA foe William and Mary ...Redshirt sophomore outfielder Beau Banglesodorf, a Mountain View High graduate, has played for JMU this season after transferring from Towson. He was hitless in his first five at bats for the Dukes and also pitched on inning March 12 in a lopsided loss at North Florida.

David Driver is a contributing writer for the Stafford County Sun. He can be reached at info@staffordcountsun.com.