Rob Zastryzny

Zastryzny played for the Calallen High School baseball team as a pitcher and first baseman, but he began to focus on pitching by his junior year.[4] He compiled a 26–4 win–loss record and a 0.71 earned run average (ERA) and 299 strikeouts, including a 17–1 record and a 0.20 ERA and 198 strikeouts in his senior year.[2] He pitched a perfect game during his junior year.[5]

After graduating from Calallen, Zastryzny then enrolled at the University of Missouri, where he played college baseball for the Missouri Tigers.[6] In three years at Missouri, Zastryzny had a 9–19 win–loss record and a 3.79 ERA with 228 strikeouts, the eighth-most in Tigers history.[7]

The Chicago Cubs selected Zastryzny in the second round, with the 41st overall selection, of the 2013 MLB draft.[2][8] He began his professional career with the Boise Hawks of the Low–A Northwest League, and was promoted to the Kane County Cougars of the Single–A Midwest League.[9] He pitched for the Daytona Cubs of the High–A Florida State League in 2014.[10] In 2015, he pitched for the Tennessee Smokies of the Double–A Southern League.[11] After the 2015 regular season, the Cubs assigned Zastryzny to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League.[12]

Zastryzny began the 2016 season with Tennessee, and received a mid-season promotion to the Iowa Cubs of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League. On August 19, the Cubs promoted him to the major leagues.[13] Zastryzny made 11 appearances for the Cubs to finish 2016, and finished 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA. The Cubs would eventually win the 2016 World Series, ending their 108-year drought. Zastryzny won his first World Series title.[14] Zastryzny was added to the roster for the 2016 National League Championship Series, replacing Tommy La Stella who had been on the roster for the 2016 National League Division Series.[15] Although eligible to play, he did not appear in any NLCS games. Zastryzny was replaced by Kyle Schwarber on the roster for the 2016 World Series.[16] He was designated for assignment on September 1, 2018. He was outrighted to Iowa on September 3.[17] Zastryzny was released by the Cubs organization on March 25, 2019.

On March 26, 2019, Zastryzny signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After the season, on October 8, 2019, he was selected for the Canada national baseball team at the 2019 WBSC Premier12.[18]

On November 26, 2019, Zastryzny signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles organization.[19] Zastryzny did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[20] He spent most of the major league season on the team's 60-man alternate training site pool, but was released by the Orioles organization on September 18.[21]

On March 26, 2021, Zastryzny signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[22] On May 4, prior to the 2021 ALPB season, Zastryzny's contract was purchased by the Miami Marlins.[23] Zastryzny was assigned to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.[24] In 24 games for Jacksonville, he registered a 3.68 ERA with 41 strikeouts and 2 saves in 29+1⁄3 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 7.[25]

On November 29, 2021, Zastryzny signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets.[26] On August 20, 2022, Zastryzny's contract was selected from Triple-A and was promoted to the major league roster. On August 21, Zastryzyny was optioned to the Triple–A Syracuse Mets. On August 22, Zastryzyny was designated for assignment.[27]

On August 25, 2022, Zastryzny was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels.[28] On November 15, Zastryzny was designated for assignment by the Angels after they protected multiple prospects from the Rule 5 draft.[29] On November 18, Zastryzny was non–tendered and became a free agent.

On December 22, 2022, Zastryzny signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.[30] He had his contract selected on March 30, 2023. [31] In 18 appearances for Pittsburgh, he posted a 5.29 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 17.0 innings. After a brief stint on the injured list with left forearm inflammation, he was activated and promptly designated for assignment on July 7.[32] Zastryzny cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians on July 10.[33] On August 24, Zastryzny was selected back to the major league roster.[34] He was designated for assignment again on September 4.[35] On September 8, he cleared waivers and elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment.[36]