Zach Muckenhirn

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Zach Muckenhirn

|image =

|team = Sultanes de Monterrey

|number = 71

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|2|27}}

|birth_place = Delano, Minnesota, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = May 3

|debutyear = 2023

|debutteam = New York Mets

|statyear = 2023 season

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 0–0

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 6.00

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 3

|teams =

New York Mets ({{mlby|2023}})

}}

Zachary Edward Muckenhirn (born February 27, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets.

Career

=Amateur career=

Muckenhirn graduated from Delano High School in Delano, Minnesota, in 2013.{{Cite web|title=Muckenhirn wanted by top baseball programs in the country|url=http://www.hjblogs.com/muckenhirn-wanted-by-some-of-the-top-baseball-programs-in-the-country/|access-date=May 1, 2023|website=hjblogs.com|language=en}} He attended the University of North Dakota (UND) and played college baseball for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

=Baltimore Orioles=

The Baltimore Orioles selected Muckenhirn in the 11th round, with the 331st overall selection, of the 2016 MLB draft. With the selection, he become the highest drafted player in UND history.{{Cite web|title=UND BASEBALL: Muckenhirn becomes UND's highest MLB draft pick|url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-baseball-muckenhirn-becomes-unds-highest-mlb-draft-pick|access-date=May 1, 2023|website=grandforksherald.com|date=June 11, 2016 |language=en}} He made his professional debut with the Low-A Aberdeen IronBirds, appearing in 12 games and registering a 5–2 record and 2.43 ERA with 34 strikeouts.

In 2017, Muckenhirn made 27 appearances (21 starts) split between Aberdeen and the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. Pitching {{frac|124|2|3}} innings, he posted a 5–10 record and 5.13 ERA with 103 strikeouts. The following year, Muckenhirn made 44 relief appearances split between Delmarva, the High-A Frederick Keys, and the Double-A Bowie Baysox, recording a cumulative 3.64 ERA with 79 strikeouts and eight saves in {{frac|64|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Baltimore Orioles 2019 Top 50 Prospects|url=https://www.prospects1500.com/top-50-lists/baltimore-orioles-2019-top-50-prospects/|access-date=May 1, 2023|website=prospects1500.com|date=January 2019 |language=en}}

Muckenhirn began the 2019 season with Double-A Bowie, receiving a promotion to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides later in the year.{{Cite web|title=Baltimore Orioles: Bowie Baysox Feature Several Top Prospects|url=https://birdswatcher.com/2019/03/30/baltimore-orioles-bowie-baysox-roster/amp/|access-date=May 1, 2023|website=birdswatcher.com|date=March 30, 2019 |language=en}} In 41 appearances split between the two affiliates, he logged a 3–6 record and 4.11 ERA with 73 strikeouts and five saves in 57 innings pitched. Muckenhirn did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=March 18, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} On April 30, 2021, Muckenhirn was released by the Orioles organization.{{Cite web|title=Zach Muckenhirn Stats, Fantasy & News|url=https://www.milb.com/player/zach-muckenhirn-669105|access-date=May 1, 2023|website=milb.com|language=en}}

=Chicago White Sox=

On May 1, 2021, Muckenhirn signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox organization.{{Cite web|title=Zach Muckenhirn Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/9889/zach-muckenhirn/|access-date=May 1, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}} He spent the year with the Double-A Birmingham Barons, appearing in 30 games and posting a 3–1 record and 1.77 ERA with 42 strikeouts in {{frac|40|2|3}} innings pitched.

In 2022, Muckenhirn made 47 appearances for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, registering a 3–1 record and 3.11 ERA with 56 strikeouts and two saves in 55 innings. He elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.{{Cite web|title=2022–23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=May 1, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=New York Mets=

On November 23, 2022, Muckenhirn signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets organization.{{Cite web|title=Mets sign pitchers Zach Muckenhirn and Denyi Reyes to minor league deals|url=https://flipboard.com/topic/baseball/mets-sign-pitchers-zach-muckenhirn-and-denyi-reyes-to-minor-league-deals/a-e3LrRC2JSHKKLe2Jb08ZFw%3Aa%3A2538389110-d64f445878%2Fsny.tv?format=amp|access-date=May 1, 2023|website=flipboard.com|language=en}} He competed for a bullpen spot in Spring Training,{{Cite web|title=Mets' Zach Muckenhirn: Could win bullpen spot|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-zach-muckenhirn-could-win-bullpen-spot/amp/|access-date=May 1, 2023|website=flipboard.com|language=en}} but did not win the job and was assigned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets to begin the 2023 season.{{cite web|title=Mets' Zach Muckenhirn: Reassigned to MiLB camp|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-zach-muckenhirn-reassigned-to-milb-camp/|access-date=May 1, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In six appearances to start the year, he posted a 0.77 ERA with four strikeouts and one save in {{frac|11|2|3}} innings. On May 1, 2023, the Mets selected Muckenhirn to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time in advance of the team's doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves.{{Cite web|title=Mets To Select Zach Muckenhirn|url=https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/amp/mets_to_select_zach_muckenhirn/s1_13237_38765481|access-date=May 1, 2023|website=yardbarker.com|date=May 2023 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Seven years after cutting baseball, UND has its first Major League player in Muckenhirn|url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/college/seven-years-after-cutting-baseball-und-has-its-first-major-league-player-in-muckenhirn|access-date=2023-05-01|website=grandforksherald.com|date=May 2023 |language=en}} He debuted on May 3, tossing {{frac|1|2|3}} innings of one-hit, no-run ball against the Detroit Tigers.{{Cite web|title=Zach Muckenhirn makes MLB debut, becomes first UND player to reach majors|url=https://fightinghawks.com/news/2023/5/4/general-zach-muckenhirn-makes-mlb-debut-becomes-first-und-player-to-reach-majors.aspx|access-date=2023-05-05|website=fightinghawks.com|language=en}} He made 3 appearances for the Mets, surrendering four runs on 11 hits and two walks with three strikeouts in six innings pitched. On July 3, Muckenhirn was designated for assignment after Elieser Hernández was activated from the injured list.{{Cite web|title=Mets’ Zach Muckenhirn: Designated for assignment|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-zach-muckenhirn-designated-for-assignment/amp/|access-date=July 3, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

=Seattle Mariners=

On July 3, 2023, the Mets traded Muckenhirn to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Chris Flexen and Trevor Gott.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/chris-flexen-trevor-gott-traded-to-mets|title=Mets acquire Gott in trade with Mariners|publisher=New York Mets|date=July 3, 2023|accessdate=July 3, 2023}} In 7 appearances for the Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers, he struggled to a 9.35 ERA with 5 strikeouts in {{fraction|8|2|3}} innings pitched. On August 9, he was designated for assignment following the promotion of Emerson Hancock.{{Cite web|title=Mariners' Zach Muckenhirn: Loses 40-man spot|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mariners-zach-muckenhirn-loses-40-man-spot/amp/|access-date=August 10, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Tacoma on August 11.{{Cite web|title=Mariners' Zach Muckenhirn: Outrighted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mariners-zach-muckenhirn-outrighted-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=August 11, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Muckenhirn elected free agency following the season on November 6.{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=April 10, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=High Point Rockers=

On April 10, 2024, Muckenhirn signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=High Point Rockers Announce 3 Player Signings Including 2 Returning Starters|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/high-point-rockers-announce-3-player-signings-including-2-returning-starters/n-6077815|access-date=April 10, 2024|website=oursportscentral.com|language=en}} In 25 appearances for High Point, Muckenhirn logged a 4.24 ERA with 38 strikeouts across 34 innings pitched.

=Sultanes de Monterrey=

On July 5, 2024, Muckenhirn signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 5 de julio de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-5-de-julio-de-2024|access-date=July 6, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}} In 9 games for Monterrey, he recorded a 1.04 ERA with 6 strikeouts across {{fraction|8|2|3}} innings pitched.