Kirt Ojala

Who is Kirt Ojala?

Kirt Stanley Ojala is a former American major league baseball player who is most noted for being the pitcher who gave up the 400th career home run to Barry Bonds. He was a left-handed thrower who pitched for the Florida Marlins from 1997–99, when he was released from his contract.

A knuckleball specialist, Ojala pitched mostly in long relief, although he made 5 starts for the Marlins in 1997 after being called up from the minor league Charlotte Knights, and 13 the following year. On August 23, 1998, he gave up a solo home run to Bonds in the top of the third inning in Pro Player Stadium, giving Bonds 400 homers for his career.

On September 16, 1998 Ojala became one of only 50 major league pitchers to strike out four batters in a single inning. He spent time in the Cincinnati Reds organization prior to the Marlins. Following his release by Florida, he briefly was a member of the Boston Red Sox. He finished with a career record of 3 wins and 10 losses and a career batting average of .121.

Ojala was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, graduated from Portage Central High School and The University of Michigan.