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| Zach Penrod | |
|---|---|
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:June 16, 1997 Nampa, Idaho, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 14, 2024, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 0–0 |
| Earned run average | 2.25 |
| Strikeouts | 3 |
| Teams | |
Zach Penrod (born June 16,1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox.
Penrod attended Columbia High School in Nampa,Idaho. He was a first-team all-conference baseball player his junior and senior seasons. He then attended Corban University. In 2016,he did not pitch,only playing as an outfielder. In 2017,he returned to the mound,with a 2.03 ERA in 9 relief appearances. [1] Penrod then transferred to Northwest Nazarene University. In 2018,he had a 1.89 ERA in 19 innings pitched for the Nighthawks. As a batter,he hit .369 with 5 home runs in 46 games. [2] He was named to the second-team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference as an outfielder. [3]
On August 2,2018,Penrod signed with the Texas Rangers as an undrafted free agent,after he was not selected in the 2018 MLB draft. [2] He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Rangers,recording a 6.17 ERA with 11 strikeouts over four games. [4] On April 1,2019,he underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the whole 2019 season while recovering. [5]
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season, [6] and Penrod was released by the Rangers organization on June 1,2020. [7]
On May 27,2021,Penrod signed with the Boise Hawks of the independent Pioneer League. [8] In his first competitive baseball since 2018,he started 14 games for Boise,with a 3–4 record,5.66 ERA,and 85 strikeouts across 68+1⁄3 innings of work. [9]
On August 23, 2022, Penrod, Byron Smith, and Juan Teixiera were traded to the Billings Mustangs. [10] He pitched in 13 games (four starts) in 2022, with a 1–3 record and 7.40 ERA with 20 strikeouts and across 20+2⁄3 innings. [11] On December 12, 2022, Penrod signed with the Missoula PaddleHeads. [12] He made 13 appearances (10 starts) for Missoula in 2023, posting a 4–1 record and 2.98 ERA with 65 strikeouts over 54+1⁄3 innings pitched. [13]
On August 16, 2023, Penrod signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. [14] He made four starts for the High-A Greenville Drive down the stretch, posting a 2–1 record and 2.18 ERA with 20 strikeouts over 20+2⁄3 innings. [15] He began the 2024 campaign with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs before being promoted to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox in late May. [16] In 22 games (12 starts) between the two affiliates, he had an 8–2 record and 4.16 ERA with 93 strikeouts across 62+2⁄3 innings pitched. [17]
On September 14, Penrod was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. [18] He made his MLB debut the same day, pitching in relief at Yankee Stadium and striking out the first two batters he faced (Austin Wells and Jazz Chisholm Jr.). [19] In seven games with Boston, he had no decisions but earned two holds, with a 2.25 ERA, three strikeouts and four walks in four innings. [20]
On March 27, 2025, Penrod was placed on the 60-day injured list a left elbow sprain. [21] He was activated on May 27, and optioned to Triple-A Worcester. [22] In five appearances (two starts) for Worcester, he recorded a 3.38 ERA with six strikeouts across 5+1⁄3 innings pitched. [4] On June 15, Penrod was designated for assignment by Boston. [23]
On June 20, 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Penrod from the Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations. [24] Penrod was designated for assignment on August 2. [25] The next day, after clearing waivers, he was sent outright back to the minors. [26] [27] He pitched in 19 games for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, allowing 25 earned runs in 26 innings on 33 hits and 30 walks while striking out 23. [4] He elected free agency on November 6. [28]
Penrod has three brothers, Skyler, Trevor, and JT. Their parents are Jon and Tracy Penrod. [1]
