Rob Zastryzny has been a hard-luck case for the Chicago Cubs Double-A farm club all season. Zastryzny comes into his next start with a respectable 4.58 ERA, but the problem was until last week his still without his first Double-A win with the Tennessee Smokies after coming off the disabled list on June 27.
Finally, against the Birmingham Barons, the southpaw was able to get the run and bullpen support that he needed to pick up his first “W.” A week later he now was two.
“It felt good to get one,” Zastryzny said. “You never want to look at your record and see a zero in the win column. At the same time, I went 2-9 my junior year (at the University of Missouri) so it doesn’t matter to me if I get the ‘W’ as long as we win the game. I’m cool with it either way.”
As a minor league pitcher Zastryzny isn’t being judged solely on his win-loss record and he knows it. But in just his second full season of professional baseball, the Cubs have thrown him into the fire just two steps away from the major league level for a reason. His first win went six and a third innings is the longest he’s gone in a game this season. He gave up seven hits, four runs, two walks and recorded four strikeouts.
“(Pitching coach) Storm (Davis) came in and gave me a fist-bump and said, ‘Welcome to Double-A,’” Zastryzny said. “I’ve been here for months and he’s just telling me that now. I want to build off it, go deeper into games. Going five innings is good, but I want to go deeper and show them I can stick as a starter.”
Today’s starter Rob Zastryzny (@RobZastryzny_8) has been great over last 4 GS. 1-0 record and a 2.82 ERA (7 ER in 22.1 IP) w/15 K’s. #Cubs
— Justin Rocke (@JustinRocke) August 9, 2015
Having Cubs catcher Miguel Montero with the team for a couple of games in rehab work was a boost not only to Zastryzny’s confidence, but his pitch placement. The young pitcher, barley two years out of Mizzou, was reticent to attack right-handed hitters inside. Montero, working with Smokies catcher Willson Contreras, helped Zastryzny work the ball inside and the results showed.
“Location is the key and Montero told Willson to work inside for me because I haven’t been working in to righties,” Zastryzny said. “He did that well (Tuesday). He kept the hitters off balance. As long as I can throw strikes with three of the five pitches I’ve got, I can give us a chance to win.”
Doublel-A ball gave Zastryzny a chance to do something he hasn’t done since high school; hit a baseball. College and all through the minor leagues each team uses a designated hitter. Once a player makes it Double-A, whether or not he picks up a bat is determined by which league, National or American, the parent club is in.
ROSTER MOVES (1/2): LHP Rob Zastryzny (@RobZastryzny_8) has been activated from the DL and will start tonight. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/mgrbkoUzKR
— Smokies on Radio (@SmokiesOnRadio) June 27, 2015
Zastryzny was a pretty good hitter as a prep player, so he was pumped up to get a bat back in his hands. Maybe he shouldn’t have been. Zastryzny was called up to the plate to lay down a bunt for the first time in five years.
“I hopped up to the plate all excited,” Zastryzny said. “And on the first one I dropped the bat. The ball was right down the middle and I dropped the bat. All the guys were laughing at me. I still laid it down, though, so I was pretty excited about that.”
Prospect Watch
Cubs No. 24-ranked prospect Jeimer Candelario has stormed Double-A in his 22 games since being called up from High-A Myrtle Beach. Candelario is batting .300 with three home runs, five doubles, a triple and 39 RBIs. He’s only struck out nine times in 80 at-bats with the Smokies.
P.J. Francescon continues to do good work as a reliever and closer for Tennessee. Francescon is sitting on a 1.37 ERA with a 3-2 record, 18 saves and two holds.
On the offensive side, Willson Contreras continues to make his case to be picked up in this winter’s Rule 5 draft, hitting .335 with 29 doubles, four triples, six home runs and a team-leading 63 RBIs. The Cubs just have no room on the future roster to keep him so don’t be surprised to see the Venezuelan catcher make his major league debut next season with another club.
