Glew: Zastryzny recalled by Pirates, starts against Cubs

Left-hander Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) was called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday to start against the Chicago Cubs.

August 25, 2023

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Left-hander Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) was called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday to start against the Chicago Cubs.

The veteran southpaw allowed one run in one inning before turning the game over to the bullpen in the Cubs’ 5-4 win at PNC Park.

The start was just the second of Zastryzny’s major league career, and the first since September 29, 2016 when he permitted one run in 3 2/3 innings for the Chicago Cubs against the Pirates.

It’s been a challenging year for Zastryzny. He posted a 5.29 ERA in 18 relief appearances for the Pirates earlier this season, but he also had two tenures on the club’s injured list. The first due to left ulnar neuritis and his latest due to forearm inflammation.

After he was activated from the 15-day injured list on July 7, he was designated for assignment. He went unclaimed by another club and reported to the Pirates’ triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis.

The 31-year-old lefty posted a 4.41 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings in triple-A before being recalled on Thursday.

The 6-foot-3 Canuck was a second-round pick of the Cubs in 2013. He recorded a 4.41 ERA in 18 relief appearances with the Cubs from 2016 to 2018 and earned a World Series ring in 2016.

From 2019 to 2022, Zastryzny pitched in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins, New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels organizations.

In December, he signed a minor league deal with the Pirates. He also pitched for Canada in this year’s World Baseball Classic.