Graduated from Wapahani High School in Selma, Ind., the same high school as former Cardinals outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker...Posted a 23-2 record with an 0.98 ERA (185.2 IP), going undefeated during his sophomore (13-0) and junior (6-0) seasons...Named Indiana All-State three consecutive years from his sophomore to senior seasons...Originally selected by Tampa Bay in the 11th round of the 2019 June, First-Year Player Draft but did not sign to attend the University of Kentucky...Pitched three seasons for the Wildcats (2017-19), going 6-5 with a 3.20 ERA (196.2 IP) and 268 strikeouts...Was one of four players named "Zach" or "Zack" on the Kentucky roster in 2017...All four made it on a Major League roster (Zach Logue-OAK/DET; Zach Pop, MIA/TOR; Zach Reks-LAD/TEX)...Was 6-1 with a 2.40 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 90.0 innings his junior season...Ranked 5th in NCAA Division I in strikeouts and 11th in strikeouts/9 IP (11.00)...His 130 strikeouts during his junior season were the most by a left-handed pitcher in school history, breaking James Paxton’s mark...Pitched for Brewster in the 2018 Cape Cod League...Was teammates with Michael Massey (KC), Reid Detmers (LAA), Bobby Miller (LAD), Chris Murphy (BOS) and Dominic Canzone (SEA)...Pitched for the 2018 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team that went 12-3 overall in three series against Chinese Taipei, Japan and Cuba...2019 Dick Howser Trophy Semi-Finalist, Golden Spikes Award Semi-Finalist, second Team All-Southeastern Conference, third Team All-American by Baseball America and Rawlings/ABCA...In 2019, became the fourth-highest draft pick and the sixth first-round pick in Kentucky baseball history, joining Evan White (2017), Alex Meyer (2011), Joe Blanton (2002), Chad Green (1996) and Everett Murray (1975)...Married his wife Gabby in Oct. 2023 with a honeymoon in Italy...Gabby was a two-time First-Team SEC volleyball libero at the University of Kentucky and member of the 2020 National Champion squad...She is the daughter of former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Buddy Curry...Resides in Jupiter, Fla.
2023
Opened the 2023 season on the Cardinals Opening Day roster and made 11 relief appearances in the opening month, tied for the most among Cardinals left-handed relievers...Started nine of his last 10 games of the season from Aug. 6 and was 3-4 with a 4.38 ERA with 51 strikeouts over 49.1 innings pitched...Began the season with eight consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run, tied with Giovanny Gallegos for the longest streak by a Cardinal to start the 2023 season and longest by a Cardinal who started the season on the Opening Day roster since Alex Reyes with 15 in 2021...Ranked fifth among National League left-handed pitchers in strikeouts (51) from 8/6 to the end of the season trailing only Blake Snell (70), Justin Steele (70), David Peterson (59) and Jesús Luzardo (53)...Led the Cardinals in strikeouts (51) and WHIP (1.30) after his return to the starting rotation on Aug. 6 and was second on the staff in wins behind Dakota Hudson (4)...Allowed only two extra-base hits all season to left-handed batters (80 batters faced)...Posted a career-high 7.0 innings pitched vs. PIT (9/3)...Threw his most pitches a start later at CIN (9/9) with 98 in a 5.0-inning win...Struck out a career-high eight batters over 4.0 innings vs. COL (8/6) in a 1-0 loss...The eight strikeouts were tied for third-most among Cardinals left-handed pitchers making their second career start (Marshall Bridges nine, 7/3/1959 & Luis Arroyo nine, 5/10/1955)...Posted a team-best 3.13 ERA in the month of August among St. Louis starting pitchers...Between Memphis (AAA) and St. Louis, combined for a career-high 101 innings pitched, six wins and 113 strikeouts.
2022
Began the season in Memphis (AAA) making 10 starts before being selected to the Major League roster on June 3. ..Appeared in 22 MLB games for the Cardinals, making one start vs. PIT (6/13). ..Made his Major League debut at Wrigley Field (6/3) earning a 4.0-inning save to close out a 14-5 win. ..Became the 8th pitcher in MLB history to qualify for a 4.0-inning save in his MLB debut and first since Bob Stanley (4.0 IP) for Boston 4/16/77. The last Cardinal was Billy Muffett (4.0 IP) vs. Philadelphia on 8/3/1957. ..Ran off a career-best scoreless inning streak of 11.0 IP from 7/1-9/9. ..Had a streak of 17.2 innings over 14 app., without allowing an earned run over 3 months (6/13-9/13). ..Opposing batters hit .164 (20-122), ranked 8th among National League pitchers and 12th overall in MLB in opponent BA (min. 130 total batters faced). ..Held left-handed batters to a .146 BA (7-48) with no extra-base hits and one RBI. Walked one LH batter among his final 31 batters faced over 16 appearances. ..Dominated on the road, posting an 0.40 ERA over 15 road relief appearances. Led all National League pitchers with 15 or more appearances and trailed only Paul Sewald (SEA, 0.30 ERA, 30 app). ..Allowed only three homers all season, all to the Pirates (6/13 Michael Chavis & Diego Castillo; 10/2 Bryan Reynolds)...Appeared in 19 games at Memphis with 10 starts. Upon his first option was moved to the bullpen and made nine relief appearances. Was 2-2 with a 4.67 ERA as a starter over 44.1 innings with 56 strikeouts; and 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA in nine relief appearances over 9.0 innings with 11 strikeouts.
2021
Entered the season as the No. 5 prospect in the Cardinals organization by both Baseball America and MLB.com... Attended Major League Spring Training as a non-roster player... Ranked among Cardinals minor leaguers in losses (10, T-1st), starts (19, T-6th), innings pitched (93.0, 9th), earned runs (73, 2nd), and strikeouts (82, 5th)... Pitched 6.0 innings or longer in three starts (all quality)... Appeared in 22 games while making 19 starts. Was 2-10 with a 6.91 ERA as a starter, and recorded a 8.18 ERA as a reliever... Earned two saves (both being 3.0+ innings), and followed Kwang Hyun Kim's rehab start in his third outing... Opposing Triple-A hitters batted .302/.400/.516 (114-378)... His best months came in July and August, where he went 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA (44.2 IP) and 31 strikeouts in nine games (eight starts)... Following the season, pitched for the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League. Went 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA (17.1IP), one save, and 22 strikeouts in nine games... Ranked among AFL leaders in wins (T-2nd), ERA (3rd), strikeouts (7th), walks (15, T-4th)... Named to pitch in the annual Fall Stars Game, allowing one run with one strikeout in one inning.
2020
Participated in early workouts and seminars as part of the Cardinals two-week Instructional Camp in January 2020...Was invited to Major League Spring Training and made three perfect one-inning relief appearances for St. Louis, striking out three batters total and throwing 80% strikes (20/25)...Entered the 2020 season ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the Cardinals organization by Baseball America...Was rated as having the “Best Curveball” in the organization in 2020 by Baseball America’s “Best Tools” survey before Matthew Liberatore was acquired in January 2020...Did not play during the season, but reported to the Alternate Training Site in Springfield, Mo. Was not brought up to St. Louis or traveled on the Taxi Squad.
