Unleashed for the first time in his pro career, Zach Root looked every bit as dominating as he did with restrictions in place. And opposing hitters were already having a difficult time touching the Dodgers' No. 12 prospect.
Root struck out nine for the a second consecutive start over a career-high seven innings to lead High-A Great Lakes past visiting Lansing, 4-0, on Tuesday night at Dow Diamond.
The 22-year-old left-hander didn't allow any other baserunners after a first-inning single, retiring 17 consecutive batters before an infield error ended that streak in the seventh. Root retired the final two batters, extending a scoreless streak that began April 18 to 19 1/3 innings. And for allowing an earned run, his streak goes back an outing earlier to April 11.
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If that run seems rather modest considering the time frame, there is a reason for it. The 40th overall pick in the 2025 Draft has been kept on a tight leash during the first two months of his career.
After twirling three frames in his organizational debut on April 5, Root did not pitch into the fourth inning until his last outing on May 27, when he completed four frames while piling up a pro-best nine K's.
Hitters have done very little against the southpaw since he was touched up for five runs across his first two outings. Beginning with his April 18 performance -- a 1 1/3-inning stint in which he gave up an unearned run -- Root has surrendered four hits and sports a 31/9 K/BB ratio in 20 1/3 innings across six starts.
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The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder has not given up more than one hit in any of those six outings, lowering batters' average against him to .126 and his WHIP to 0.96. Root's ERA tumbled to 1.50, which would rank among the top 10 in the Minors if he had enough innings to qualify.
His seven-inning performance included 88 pitches (59 strikes) and no walks for the first time in his career.
Surprising? Hardly, at least not to the Dodgers, who thought enough of the hurler to draft him after a standout season at Arkansas.
Root, who spent his first two collegiate years at East Carolina, dominated SEC competition in 2025. The Florida native ranked fifth among all NCAA D1 pitchers with 126 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings, and he posted a 3.62 ERA in 19 starts for the Razorbacks.