Ángel David Zerpa (born September 27, 1999) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021.

Ángel Zerpa
Zerpa with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2021
Kansas City Royals – No. 61
Pitcher
Born: (1999-09-27) September 27, 1999 (age 24)
Valle de la Pascua, Venezuela
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
September 30, 2021, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through April 4, 2024)
Win–loss record5–5
Earned run average3.71
Strikeouts45
Teams

Career edit

Zerpa signed with the Kansas City Royals as an international free agent in 2016 for a $100,000 signing bonus.[1] Zerpa made his professional debut in 2017 with the Dominican Summer League Royals, going 3–4 with a 1.84 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 63+23 innings.[2] He spent the 2018 season with the Arizona League Royals, going 3–6 with a 3.88 ERA and 34 strikeouts over 48+23 innings.[2] Zerpa split the 2019 season between the Burlington Royals and the Idaho Falls Chukars, going a combined 6–3 with a 3.40 ERA and 55 strikeouts over 55+13 innings.[3] He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

On November 20, 2020, Zerpa was added to the Royals 40–man roster.[5] Zerpa split the 2021 minor league season between the Quad Cities River Bandits, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, and the Omaha Storm Chasers, going a combined 4–4 with a 4.58 ERA and 108 strikeouts over 88+13 innings.[6]

 
Zerpa pitches for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals

On September 30, 2021, Zerpa was recalled to the active roster to make his MLB debut as the starting pitcher versus the Cleveland Indians.[7]

In 2022, Zerpa made 3 appearances (2 starts) for the Royals, logging a 2-1 record and 1.64 ERA with 3 strikeouts in 11.0 innings pitched. In 19 starts split between Northwest Arkansas and Omaha, Zerpa posted a 2-5 record and 4.02 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 71.2 innings of work. He was placed on the 60-day injured list on August 2 with a small tear in his patellar tendon,[8] and missed the remainder of the year.

On March 15, 2023, Zerpa was placed on the 60-day injured list with left shoulder tendinopathy.[9] He was activated on July 14, and subsequently optioned to Triple–A Omaha.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ Eskew, Alan (November 25, 2020). "Angel Zerpa Is Hard To Ignore". Baseball America. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  2. ^ a b "Angel Zerpa Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  3. ^ Lewis, Alec (February 16, 2021). "Meet Angel Zerpa, the youngest pitcher in the Royals' big-league spring training". The Athletic. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  4. ^ Bauman, Shawn (2020-11-23). "Getting to know KC Royals' lefty pitcher Angel Zerpa". Kings of Kauffman. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  5. ^ "Royals Add Four Players to 40-Man Roster". MLB.com. November 20, 2020. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  6. ^ Rieper, Max (2021-09-29). "Royals to start Angel Zerpa on Thursday". Royals Review. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  7. ^ Worthy, Lynn (September 29, 2021). "Kansas City Royals place Brady Singer on IL, rookie set to make first start Thursday". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  8. ^ "Royals' Angel Zerpa: Transferred to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  9. ^ "Royals' Angel Zerpa: Hits 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  10. ^ "Royals' Angel Zerpa: Activated and optioned". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.

External links edit