Karstens attended Mount Miguel High School in Spring Valley, California. In his senior season, he was the team\'s Most Valuable Player, a First-Team All-Conference Honors selection, and a Second-Team All-San Diego selection. In his senior year, he posted an 8–2 record with a 2.99 ERA. After high school, Karstens attended Grossmont College and Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where he played for the Red Raiders.\n', '

Karstens was drafted in the 19th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Yankees. He played the 2005 season with the Yankees\' Double-A affiliate, the Trenton Thunder, posting a 12–11 record with a 4.15 ERA and 147 strikeouts. He led his team in wins with 12 (3rd most in the league), in Games started with 27 (2nd in the league), and in innings pitched with 169 (4th in the league).\n', '

Karstens started the 2006 season with the Yankees Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers. He struggled, posting an 0–5 record with a 9.85 ERA. This resulted in his demotion to Double-A Trenton. At Trenton, he went 6–0 with a 2.31 ERA. His success was rewarded with a trip back to Columbus, where he compiled a 5–0 record with a 1.85 ERA. Karstens was called up from Triple-A Columbus on August 19, 2006. Three days later, he made his Major League debut for the Yankees on August 22, against the Seattle Mariners. He went 5⅔ innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits and two walks for a no-decision in a 6–5 loss. He struck out two and gave up two home runs. On August 27, 2006, he went 6.0 innings giving up 6 hits and 3 earned runs in an 11–8 win against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In that outing, Karstens walked 2, struck out 1, and earned his first career Major League victory.\n', '

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