DICKINSON, ND – The Badlands Big Sticks have announced today that they have signed right-handed pitcher JD Kirchner for the 2024 season.

Kirchner is currently in his senior season at Dakota State University (Madison, SD) where he recently became the Trojans all-time strikeout leader. His career strikeout total now stands at 192 surpassing the previous record of 190, which stood for 19 years. In 2023, Kirchner was dominant coming out of the bullpen as he posted a 2.45 ERA (66 IP, 18 ER) while picking up 6 saves and a 7-3 record. In conference play, he led the North Star (NSAA) with a 0.62 ERA while also going 6-0 in those 11 games. The season performance was enough to earn JD a spot on the NAIA All-American team as an honorable mention.

JD Kirchner is no stranger to the Big Sticks; he faced off against in 2022 while he was a member of the Spearfish Sasquatch. In July of that season, he shoved his way to a 2.61 ERA (20.2 IP, 6 ER) with his most impressive outing being an 8-inning shutout where he only allowed two hits.

Kirchner is currently finishing out his degree in Finance & Management at Dakota State. The six-foot-five, 185 pound pitcher previously attended Mount Marty University (Yankton, SD) and is a native of Lennox, SD.

Kirchner is the 6th pitcher signed for the 2024 season and is the 11th player overall.