- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- MiLB.com player profile
| Zach Putnam | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: July 3, 1987 Rochester, Michigan, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 13, 2011, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| April 22, 2017, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 10–7 |
| Earned run average | 3.20 |
| Strikeouts | 162 |
| Teams | |
Steven Zachary McGuire Putnam[1] (born July 3, 1987) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.
Born in Rochester, Michigan, Putnam attended Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. At Pioneer, Putnam was the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Baseball in 2005, and also led the team to a state title in 2004. Putnam then attended the University of Michigan, where he played for the Michigan Wolverines baseball team as a pitcher and outfielder, and was a two-time All-American.[2] In 2007, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3][4] As a hitter, Putnam hit .307 with 19 home runs and had an overall ERA of 3.36 over three seasons for the Wolverines.[5]
Putnam was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the fifth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. He spent the next four seasons in the Indians' minor league system: 2008 with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 2009 with the Kinston Indians and Akron Aeros, 2010 with the Aeros and Columbus Clippers, and 2011 with the Clippers. In 2011, Putnam had a 6–3 record and a 3.65 ERA in 44 games.
Putnam was a September call-up, and made his major league debut on September 13, 2011. In 2011 for the Indians, Putnam went 1–1 with a 6.41 ERA in eight games.
Putnam was traded to the Colorado Rockies on January 20, 2012, in exchange for Kevin Slowey. Putnam spent most of 2012 with Triple-A Colorado Springs, but did pitch in two games with the Rockies.
The Chicago Cubs claimed Putnam off waivers from the Rockies on November 2, 2012.[6] He was outrighted off the roster on October 9, 2013, after appearing in five games for the team; he instead spent most of the season with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.
Putnam signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox in November 2013. On April 17, 2014, Putnam's contract was purchased, and he was placed on Chicago's 25-man roster; he spent most of the season with the White Sox. Putnam ended establishing career bests in all pitching categories, finishing with a 1.98 ERA in 54+2⁄3 innings, while also going 6-for-7 in save opportunities. The following season, Putnam doubled his ERA from 2014, finishing with a 4.07 ERA in 49 games. In 48+2⁄3 innings, he struck out 64 batters. The next two seasons, he wound up spending most of the time on the disabled list, appearing in only 32 games over the 2016 and 2017 season.
Putnam underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2017,[7] and elected free agency in December 2017.[8] He missed the 2018 season while recovering from his surgery.[9]
On December 18, 2018, Putnam signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox.[9] He suffered a hamstring injury in early March 2019,[10] and spent the season on the roster of the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox on the injured list.[8]
On March 3, 2020, Putnam signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox. Putnam was released by the White Sox organization on June 26, 2020.