Mike Zagurski

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Mike Zagurski

|image = 20150723 Michael Justin 'Mike' Zagurski pitcher of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, at Yokohama Stadium.jpg

|image_size =

|caption = Zagurski with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|1|27}}

|birth_place = Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = May 25

|debutyear = 2007

|debutteam = Philadelphia Phillies

|debut2league = NPB

|debut2date = March 27

|debut2year = 2015

|debut2team = Hiroshima Toyo Carp

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = July 7

|finalyear = 2018

|finalteam = Milwaukee Brewers

|final2league = NPB

|final2date = August 7

|final2year = 2016

|final2team = Yokohama DeNA BayStars

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 1–1

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 7.78

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 77

|stat2league = NPB

|stat21label = Win–loss record

|stat21value = 3–1

|stat22label = Earned run average

|stat22value = 4.15

|stat23label = Strikeouts

|stat23value = 50

|teams =

Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|2007}}, {{mlby|2010}}–{{mlby|2011}})
Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2012}})
Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2013}})
New York Yankees ({{mlby|2013}})
Hiroshima Toyo Carp ({{npby|2015}})
Yokohama DeNA BayStars ({{npby|2016}})
Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2018}})

}}

Michael Justin Zagurski (born January 27, 1983), is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Yankees. Zagurski also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and Yokohama DeNA BayStars.

Amateur career

Zagurski attended Millard North High School. Zagurski was neither drafted after high school nor recruited by any four-year colleges.{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/7924057.html |title=His own way: Lefthander Zagurski takes an odd path to the majors. |accessdate=2007-06-11 |last=Ford |first=Bob |date=2007-06-10 |work=philly.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929124937/http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/7924057.html |archivedate=2007-09-29 |url-status=dead }} He started his college career at Hutchinson Community College and finished at University of Kansas, where he set the single season record for strikeouts.

Zagurski played for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots of the Alaska Baseball League in 2004.

Professional career

=Philadelphia Phillies=

Zagurski was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 12th round of the 2005 MLB Draft. After two seasons in the low minors, he started the {{Baseball year|2007}} season with the Single-A Clearwater Threshers before being promoted to the Double-A Reading Phillies. On May 25, when Brett Myers was placed on the disabled list, Zagurski was placed on the Phillies major league roster. He made his first appearance that evening.

"The only thing I could say was, 'wow,'" he later told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Almost 60 of the pitcher's friends, former teammates, and family were in attendance at Zagurski's first major league appearance at the Atlanta Braves' Turner Field.{{cite web |url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/jun/11/no_time_wasted/ |title=No time wasted / Zagurski relishes meteoric rise to majors |accessdate=2007-06-11 |last=Wood |first=Ryan |date=2007-06-11 |format= |work=ljworld.com.com |publisher= |quote= }} Legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas remarked on the cheers that greeted Zagurski's entry to the game and added that the 'Phillies might have themselves a left-hander' after Zagurski retired the first three batters he faced.

Zagurski walked New York Mets pinch hitter Julio Franco, who made his major league debut for the Phillies the year before Zagurski was born, and retired San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds less than two weeks after being called up. On the possibility of pitching to the potential future Hall of Famer, Zagurski had said, "Having an opportunity to face [Bonds] would be awesome. I'm sure I would notice him, but he's still trying to hit the ball and I'm still trying to get him out, so I think the star-strucking will stop"{{cite web |url=http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/102-06012007-1356041.html |title=Phils, fans brace for Bonds |accessdate=2007-07-06 |last=Miller |first=Randy |date=2007-07-01 |work=phillyburbs.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930024013/http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/102-06012007-1356041.html |archivedate=2007-09-30 }}

On June 7, Zagurski won his first major league game as the Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the first-place New York Mets at Shea Stadium. Phillies color commentator Gary Matthews said Zagurski believed he had a place in the major leagues and that the young pitcher was "not at all in awe of being here." Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said after the game that Zagurski "has a future in the big leagues, and he definitely has a future with us."

On July 15, Zagurski pitched the entire ninth inning of the Phillies' 10,000th franchise loss. The game, which was carried nationally on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, saw the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Phillies 10–2.

On July 27, Myers was activated from the 15-day disabled list and the Phillies optioned Zagurski to the Triple-A Ottawa Lynx. On August 15, Zagurski was recalled to the majors when starter Adam Eaton was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

On April 3, 2008, Zagurski underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2008 season.

Zagurski started the 2010 season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A Affiliate of the Phillies, and was recalled to the major league club on June 22, 2010. He pitched {{frac|1|1|3}} innings in his return, allowing one walk and one strikeout.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100624&content_id=11532620¬ebook_id=11532862&vkey=notebook_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title=Figueroa promoted from Triple-A Lehigh|last=Schonbrun|first=Zach|date=June 24, 2010|work=Phillies.MLB.com|publisher=Major League Baseball|accessdate=June 25, 2010}}

Zagurski was designated for assignment by the Phillies on September 16, 2011.{{cite web| url = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110916&content_id=24778290¬ebook_id=24800366&vkey=notebook_phi&c_id=phi| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121107085258/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110916&content_id=24778290¬ebook_id=24800366&vkey=notebook_phi&c_id=phi| archive-date = 2012-11-07| title = Brown among several Phillies callups {{!}} phillies.com: News}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

Zagurski was traded by the Phillies to the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 23, 2011, in exchange for a minor league pitcher. On April 4, 2012, Zagurski was out righted to the minors, removing him from the major league roster.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070204082417/http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=ari#month=4&year=2012&team_id=109 Arizona Diamondbacks transactions, April 2012]

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

Zagurski signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 1, 2012. He was designated for assignment on June 14, 2013, to make room on the Pirates' roster for Brandon Cumpton.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

=New York Yankees=

Zagurski signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees on June 21, 2013. He opted out of his minor league deal on August 16.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

=Oakland Athletics=

Zagurski signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics on August 18, 2013. He was released on September 2, after making 6 appearances for their Triple-A affiliate Sacramento River Cats.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

=New York Yankees (second stint)=

Zagurski re-signed with the New York Yankees on September 10, 2013. He made his Yankee debut on September 15 at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. On October 3, Zagurski was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders; he subsequently rejected the assignment and elected free agency the next day.{{Cite web|title=Minor Moves: Zagurski, Teagarden, Asencio|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/10/minor-moves-teagarden-asencio.html|access-date=February 8, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

=Cleveland Indians=

Zagurski signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians on November 22, 2013. Zagurski was assigned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. He was released on May 24, 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/05/minor-moves-kameron-loe.html|title=Minor Moves: Zagurski, Carson, Rogers, Storey, Loe|date=May 24, 2014 }}

=Toronto Blue Jays=

On May 27, 2014, Zagurski signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/05/blue-jays-to-sign-mike-zagurski.html|title = Blue Jays to Sign Mike Zagurski| date=May 27, 2014 }} He was added to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons roster on May 30.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-77495076 |title=Bisons add LHP Mike Zagurski |date=May 30, 2014 |access-date=May 30, 2014 |work=Buffalo Bisons}} On September 2, Zagurski asked for and was granted his release from the Blue Jays organization.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/status/506835517783437313|title=Chris Cotillo on Twitter|last=Cotillo|first=Chris|work=Twitter|date=September 2, 2014|accessdate=September 2, 2014}} He posted a 4–1 record in 2014, with a 2.08 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 60{{frac|2|3}} innings.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=zagurs001mic|title=Mike Zagurski Minor League Statistics & History|work=Baseball-Reference|accessdate=September 2, 2014}}

=Hiroshima Toyo Carp=

On October 21, 2014, it was announced that Zagurski had signed a contract with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.{{cite web|url=http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/24762312/report-mike-zagurski-joins-hiroshima-carp|title=Report:Mike Zagurski joins Hiroshima Carp|last=White|first=R.J.|work=fantasynews.cbssports.com|date=October 21, 2014|accessdate=October 22, 2014}} Zagurski pitched in 19 games for the Carp in 2015, recording no decisions, with 16 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched and a 2.40 ERA.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=zagurs001mic|title=Mike Zagurski Register Statistics & History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=February 5, 2017}}

=Yokohama DeNA BayStars=

On April 5, 2016, Zagurski signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball. Zagurski appeared in 32 games for the BayStars in 2016. He posted a 3–1 record with a 4.96 ERA. He struck out 34 batters in 32{{frac|2|3}} innings pitched.

=Detroit Tigers=

On February 5, 2017, Zagurski signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/02/minor-mlb-transactions-2517.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 2/5/17|last=Byrne|first=Connor|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=February 5, 2017|accessdate=February 5, 2017}} He was released on June 15.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/mike-zagurski-489448|title=Mike Zagurski Stats, Highlights, Bio {{!}} MiLB.com Stats|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en|access-date=2017-06-16}}

=Milwaukee Brewers=

On December 17, 2017, Zagurski signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/minor-mlb-transactions-121717.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 12/17/17|last=Polishuk|first=Mark|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=December 17, 2017|accessdate=December 18, 2017}}

On June 27, his minor league contract was bought by the Brewers, promoting him to the Majors. Three days later, Zagurski made his first Major League appearance since the 2013 season, earning his first career loss against the Cincinnati Reds. This set the MLB record for the longest time between a pitcher's first career win and loss at 11 years, 23 days.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=380630117|title=RHP Michael Lorenzen's pinch-hit grand slam leads Reds over Brewers 12-3|work=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN News Services|date=June 30, 2018|access-date=July 6, 2018}} Zagurski was designated for assignment on July 8, 2018. He was later optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs. He declared free agency on October 15, 2018.

=Chicago Cubs=

On December 19, 2018, Zagurski signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-transactions-dec-19-2018-jan-10-2019/|title=Minor League Transactions: Dec 19 - Jan 10|work=Baseball America|first=Matt|last=Eddy|date=January 12, 2019|accessdate=January 12, 2019}} He was released on March 24, 2019.

References

External links

{{baseballstats|mlb=489448|espn=28782|br=z/zagurmi01|fangraphs=9683|brm=zagurs001mic|retro=Z/Pzagum001}}

[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=zagurmi01 Mike Zagurski] at Baseball Almanac
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120512185411/http://www.kuathletics.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/zagurski_mike00.html Kansas Jayhawks bio]

Category:1983 births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Japan

Category:Arizona Diamondbacks players

Category:Batavia Muckdogs players

Category:Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players

Category:Clearwater Threshers players

Category:Colorado Springs Sky Sox players

Category:Erie SeaWolves players

Category:Hiroshima Toyo Carp players

Category:Hutchinson Community College alumni