Zach Hedges will barely end up with two months of Double-A baseball on his resume in 2016, but the Chicago Cubs’ 23-year old right-hander is going to make the most of it.
Before joining the Tennessee Smokies on June 24 Hedges was at the top of his game at High-A Myrtle Beach, so good he got the notice of the Chicago media, who produced a television feature on him right as he got the call up to Double-A. But the ace of the staff for the Pelicans became the No. 5 starting pitcher for the Smokies and his first appearance back on July 24 didn’t go as well as he’d hoped.
“It’s the biggest jump (High-A to Double-A) for sure,” Hedges said. “Hitters have a better eye for the zone and approach. In my first start I got deeper counts than I normally did. It took me a game to figure that out. I stuck to the film and to the gameplan with my notes. It also helps throwing the fifth game of the series. I can watch the four games and there are some great pitchers here that share what works for them.”
It didn’t take Hedges long to get the hang of things. After a solid no-decision in his second start, the 23-year-old from Glendora, Ga. picked up his first Double-A win on Aug. 4 with a four-hit, one walk shutout performance against the Birmingham Barons.
Hedges’ path to the Smokies is unconventional. Drafted in the 26th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of NCAA Division II Azusa Pacific, Hedges quick journey through the minor leagues might come as a surprise to some, but not to him.
“Every year you want to progress and develop as much as you can,” Hedges said. “I wanted to get stronger and get better with my mechanics. I found out what kind of pitcher I was and it worked really well. Halfway through the year I felt I was ready for the next level.”
Call him up! Smokies' @Zedges12 flattens Biscuits https://t.co/R8yzON0ARV via @MiLB #cubs
— Brian Salgado (@The_El_Salgado) August 10, 2016
When Hedges was called up from High-A on July 24 he was the only pitcher on the Pelicans roster with an ERA. below 3.00, posting a 2.89 E.R.A. in 16 starts. In his four games with the Smokies he’s improved on that. Coming into his next start on Sunday night, Hedges has a .180 ERA. and has only given up five walks in four games.
While playing at a small, DII school may have worked against Hedges, his performance on the field and his natural measurables helped him stand out. He’s 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, the prototype size for a major league starting pitcher and the Chicago Cubs recognized it.
“I’d spoken to the Cubs and they said that they really liked me,” Hedges said. “I had contact with the scout and he told me they hadn’t forgotten about me. I just wanted the opportunity to play at that next level. It came and I was really excited about it. I got a ticket to play pro baseball. It’s a dream I’ve had since I was a kid. I was ready to start that next journey.”
Another great start by Zach Hedges. Final line tonight — 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO on 84 pitches (56 strikes). #Cubs #Smokies
— Justin Rocke (@JustinRocke) August 10, 2016
That ticket has not only come with accolades for his play, but for his cooking. Hedges is a pro in the kitchen as well, garnering plenty of attention for his culinary talents. He’s not letting his first taste of Tennessee southern food go to waste.
“With cooking you can make anything the way you want,” Hedges said. “I love trying new food and being in the south for the first time in my life. It’s some of the best barbecue out there.”
So is a restaurant in Hedges’ future? Perhaps, but presently his focus is only on making it to Chicago.
“I like cooking for fun or friends and family,” Hedges said. “I learned a lot from my mom and my cousin. Anytime someone was cooking I wanted to be in the kitchen seeing what they were doing. It’s more the relationship aspect that I love. For now it’s baseball and cooking on the side. But maybe later it’ll just be cooking.”
Hedges has a while before he has to worry about that. While he’s had success early in Double-A, it probably won’t be enough to help him start higher up the ladder for the Cubs in 2017. But don’t be surprised to see him jump to Triple-A Iowa a month into next season.
