Zastryzny signs with Pirates

Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) has signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

January 2, 2023

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Left-hander Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) has signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Canuck southpaw’s name was on a list of non-roster spring training invitees that was announced by the Pirates on December 22.

Zastryzny posted a combined 6.75 ERA in six big league appearances with the New York Mets (one appearance) and Los Angeles Angels (five appearances) in 2022. He also registered a 3.42 ERA in 34 triple-A relief outings in the Mets and Angels organizations.

In total, Zastryzny has spent parts of four seasons in the majors, including three with the Chicago Cubs from 2016 to 2018 in which he recorded a 4.41 ERA in 18 relief outings. He earned a World Series ring with the Cubs in 2016.

Selected in the second round of the 2013 MLB draft by the Cubs, Zastryzny has pitched in parts of nine minor league campaigns and recorded a 4.61 ERA in 205 appearances.

He also toed the rubber for Canada at the WSBC Premier12 tournament in November 2019.

Zastryzny was born in Edmonton, Alta., but he attended Calallen High School in Corpus Christi, Tex. and later pitched at the University of Missouri Columbia.