Zach Pop
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 56
Pitcher
Born: (1996-09-20) September 20, 1996 (age 27)
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 3, 2021, for the Miami Marlins
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record6–1
Earned run average3.94
Strikeouts90
Teams

Zachery Michael Pop (born September 20, 1996)[1] is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021 with the Miami Marlins.

Career

Amateur

Pop attended Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario.[2] He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 23rd round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign and played college baseball at the University of Kentucky. In 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3]

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pop was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB Draft.[4] He signed and made his professional debut with the AZL Dodgers, pitching five scoreless innings. In 2018, he began the year with the Great Lakes Loons before being promoted to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

Baltimore Orioles

On July 18, 2018, Pop was traded to the Baltimore Orioles along with Breyvic Valera, Dean Kremer, Yusniel Diaz, and Rylan Bannon in exchange for Manny Machado.[5] He was assigned to the Bowie Baysox and finished the season there. In 44 relief appearances between Great Lakes, Rancho Cucamonga, and Bowie, he compiled a 2–3 record with a 1.53 ERA.[6] He returned to Bowie to begin 2019,[7] and went 1–0 with a 0.84 ERA in 10.2 innings. On May 14, he underwent Tommy John surgery, and missed the rest of the 2019 season.[8] Pop did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]

Miami Marlins

Pop was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft.[10] Shortly after, Pop was traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Tyler Jones.[11][12] Pop made the Marlins' Opening Day roster.[13] On April 3, 2021, Pop made his MLB debut, pitching a scoreless inning of relief against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Marlins traded Pop, Anthony Bass, and a player to be named later (named Edward Duran on August 31)[14] to the Toronto Blue Jays for prospect Jordan Groshans on August 2, 2022.[15]

Pop made the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster in 2023.[16] In 15 games for Toronto, he struggled to a 6.59 ERA with 14 strikeouts across 13+2⁄3 innings pitched.

Pop was optioned to the Triple–A Buffalo Bisons to begin the 2024 season.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ "2022 Miami Marlins Media Guide" (PDF). Major League Baseball. p. 97.
  2. ^ Nicholson-Smith, Ben (June 3, 2014). "Pop emerges as Canada's top draft-eligible arm". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  3. ^ "#40 Zachary Pop - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  4. ^ Juzenas, Frank (June 14, 2017). "Brampton's Zach Pop drafted by LA Dodgers". BramptonGuardian.com. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  5. ^ Gurnick, Ken (July 18, 2018). "Dodgers complete Machado trade with Orioles". MLB.com. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  6. ^ "Zach Pop Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  7. ^ "Orioles' Zach Pop: Starting season in Double-A". CBSSports.com. March 30, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "Orioles' Zach Pop: Slated for Tommy John". CBSSports.com. May 13, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  9. ^ Todd, Jeff (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  10. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (December 10, 2020). "2020 Rule 5 Draft results". MLB.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  11. ^ Zencka, TC (December 10, 2020). "Marlins Acquire Zach Pop From Diamondbacks". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  12. ^ Franco, Anthony (June 4, 2021). "Minor MLB Transactions: 6/3/21". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  13. ^ De Nicola, Christina (March 30, 2021). "Paul Campbell, Zach Pop make Marlins' Opening Day roster". MLB.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  14. ^ "Blue Jays acquire catcher Edward Duran to complete Bass trade with Marlins". Sportsnet.ca. August 21, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  15. ^ Matheson, Keegan (August 2, 2022). "Blue Jays fortify bullpen with Bass, Pop from Marlins". MLB.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  16. ^ "Nathan Lukes, Zach Pop make Blue Jays' Opening Day roster". TSN.ca. March 28, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  17. ^ "Blue Jays' Zach Pop: Bound for Triple-A". cbssports.com. March 28, 2024.

External links

Toronto Blue Jays current roster
Categories