Hirsch enters his first season with the Ducks and fifth in professional baseball. He spent the first four years of his career in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, reaching as high as Double-A in 2016. He pitched for Advanced-A Bradenton for the majority of 2016, compiling a 6-3 record with a 3.75 ERA, one save and 54 strikeouts in 38 games. The 24-year-old’s efforts earned him a promotion to Double-A Altoona where he threw one scoreless inning during his only appearance. In 2015 with Bradenton, he posted a 2.89 ERA in a career-high 47 games, striking out 85 batters in 87 and one-third innings while walking 27. The Hartsdale, N.Y. resident played three seasons of collegiate baseball at the University of New Haven and totaled a 5-5 record with a 3.40 ERA and 91 strikeouts over 35 games (eight starts). Hirsch was originally drafted by the Pirates in the 22nd round of the 2013 amateur draft.