Zach Day

Zach Day
Pitcher
Born: (1978-06-15) June 15, 1978 (age 46) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 15, 2002, for the Montreal Expos
Last MLB appearance
May 22, 2006, for the Washington Nationals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	21–27
Earned run average	4.66
Strikeouts	189
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals (2002–2005) Colorado Rockies (2005–2006) Washington Nationals (2006)

Stephen Zachary Day (born June 15, 1978) is an American former right-handed sinker-ball pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for two teams from 2002 to 2006.

Career history

Day graduated from La Salle High School in Cincinnati in 1996,[1] where he played basketball, baseball and golf and was prep player of the year in Cincinnati in 1995. He went on to attend the University of Cincinnati, studying pre-business. Day was drafted in the fifth round in 1996 by the New York Yankees. He spent four seasons in the organization before being sent to the Cleveland Indians alongside Jake Westbrook in July 2000, to complete a trade for David Justice.[2] In July 2001, Cleveland dealt Day to the Montreal Expos for outfielder Milton Bradley.[3]

2002

Day made his major league debut for the Expos on June 15, 2002, his 24th birthday.[4] He got the win, and was the first pitcher to debut and win on his birthday since at least 1901, possibly ever.[5] He finished 2002 at 4–1 with a 3.62 ERA in 19 games. He also had one save, in which he pitched the final three innings in perfect fashion (0 runs, 0 hits, 5 strikeouts) to nail down a 4–3 win against the Florida Marlins.[6]

2003

Day made 23 starts, going 9–8. He led the majors in wild pitches with 13. He was initially named NL Rookie of the Month in April, but the award was revoked and given to Hee-seop Choi due to Day having reached the rookie limit of service days in 2002.[7]

2004

Day's 2004 season was cut short due to injury. He hit the Disabled List in July with a shoulder injury and then again in August after breaking his middle finger trying to bunt.[8][9][10] He made 19 starts, having a respectable 3.93 ERA despite going 5-10 for the Montreal Expos, who relocated and became the Washington Nationals after the season.

2005

Day pitched in 12 games for the Nationals before being traded to Colorado.[11]

He was 0–1 in 5 games for the Rockies.

2006

Day began the season with the Rockies but was designated for assignment after posting an ERA of 10.80 in 3 starts.[12]

After being claimed off waivers by the Nationals,[13] Day was looking to bounce back to his former self. However, after five appearances, Day was placed on the 60-day DL on May 23 for right shoulder tendinitis and underwent rotator cuff surgery on June 6, ending his 2006 season.[14] The Nationals released Day on October 3, 2006, ending his second stint with the team.[15]

2007

On December 20, 2006, he signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals.[16] He spent the year playing for the Triple-A Omaha Royals, starting nine games and relieving in two more. Day became a free agent at the end of the season.

2008

On January 11, 2008, Day signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins, but was released in early May having made 6 appearances for the Fort Myers Miracle. After his release, he announced his retirement due to continuing shoulder problems.[17]

After retiring, Day went back to school to get his degree. He also joined TrackMan and became a prominent figure in baseball analytics and tracking technology.[18][19][20]

References

1. "Zach Day Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
2. "Yankees complete Justice trade by sending Day, Westbrook to Cleveland". CBC Sports. July 24, 2000.
3. WITHERS, TOM. "Bradley looking for fresh start with Tribe". The Ledger. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
4. "Expos 9-3 Blue Jays (Jun 15, 2002) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
5. "Royals and Cards". 95.3 KDKD Today's Country. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
6. "Florida Marlins at Montreal Expos Box Score, September 26, 2002".
7. "Choi Is NL Rookie of Month After Mix Up". Midland Daily News. May 2, 2003. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
8. "Tuesday roundup: Thome, Sosa, Griffey in derby". ESPN.com. July 6, 2004. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
9. "Diamondbacks' Gonzalez Has Reconstructive Surgery on Elbow". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
10. "Sunday roundup: Expos' Day out 4-6 weeks". ESPN.com. August 1, 2004. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
11. "Nationals acquire OF Wilson from Rockies". July 14, 2005.
12. "Rockies designate Day for assignment, call up Asencio". ESPN.com. April 22, 2006. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
13. "Nationals claim Day off waivers". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
14. Svrluga, Barry (May 23, 2006). "Nats Hurting After Another Painful Loss". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
15. "Nats release six pitchers, including Astacio, Lawrence". ESPN.com. October 3, 2006. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
16. "Royals add Duckworth, Day". March 4, 2016. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
17. "Twins minor league report: Former All-Star works way back up". Star Tribune. May 14, 2008. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
18. "Former Sinkerballer Zach Day Spins Data Instead of Pitches As He Creates Baseball's Ultimate Arm Metrics". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. September 27, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
19. Rosecrans, C. Trent. "Former big leaguer Zach Day joins C Dot Show on Feb. 12". The Enquirer. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
20. "Measuring Pitching with TrackMan: The Secrets of Fastball Spin". Baseball Prospectus. December 5, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2023.

External links

• Career statistics from Baseball Reference