Rob Zastryzny Bio
Robert John Zastryzny is a Canadian-American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-hander who has bounced between several organizations, Zastryzny earned a World Series ring as a member of the 2016 Chicago Cubs during his first major league stint. He has also appeared in the majors for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Known for his resilience and willingness to work through the minor leagues, Zastryzny has built a career as a dependable depth arm. His journey from a homeschooled teenager in South Texas to a big-league pitcher reflects years of steady development across the Cubs, Marlins, Orioles, Dodgers, and Brewers systems.
Early Life and Background
Robert John Zastryzny was born on March 26, 1992, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. When he was one year old, his family relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas, the city he has continued to call home. He holds dual Canadian-American citizenship, a nod to his northern birth and southern upbringing.
Zastryzny was homeschooled during his formative years, which allowed him the flexibility to train year-round. He attended Calallen High School in Corpus Christi, where he played both pitcher and first baseman before transitioning to a full-time pitching role by his junior year. As a senior, he went 17-1 with a 0.20 earned run average and 198 strikeouts, capping a high school career that included a perfect game during his junior season.
Following high school, Zastryzny enrolled at the University of Missouri to play college baseball for the Missouri Tigers. Across three seasons in the SEC, he posted a 9-19 record with a 3.79 ERA and 228 strikeouts, the eighth-highest total in program history. His performance in Columbia helped position him as one of the top college left-handers available in the 2013 draft class.
Path to Baseball
Zastryzny’s path to professional baseball began with the Chicago Cubs selecting him in the second round, 41st overall, of the 2013 MLB Draft. He signed quickly and was assigned to the Boise Hawks of the Low-A Northwest League for his first professional season, where he showed enough promise to be promoted to the Kane County Cougars of the Single-A Midwest League.
In 2014, he moved up to the High-A Florida State League with the Daytona Cubs, and the following year he advanced to the Double-A Southern League with the Tennessee Smokies. After the 2015 regular season, the Cubs sent him to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League, an assignment typically reserved for a club’s top emerging prospects.
Rob Zastryzny Career
Early Career (2013-2015)
Zastryzny spent his first three professional seasons climbing the Cubs’ minor league ladder. He pitched for Boise, Kane County, Daytona, and Tennessee, refining his command and developing the offspeed repertoire that would eventually earn him a major league look. His final pre-big-league assignment came in the Arizona Fall League, where he faced some of the most advanced hitters in the minors.
That offseason work paid off during spring training, and Zastryzny opened 2016 back at Tennessee before earning a mid-season promotion to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. The strong start in the Pacific Coast League put him on the radar of the big-league staff in Chicago, setting the stage for a memorable August call-up.
Chicago Cubs Era (2016-2019)
On August 19, 2016, the Cubs promoted Zastryzny to the major leagues, and he made an immediate impact. In 11 relief appearances down the stretch, he went 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA, helping the bullpen navigate the final weeks of the regular season. Although he was not active for the Fall Classic, he was part of the Cubs’ roster during the National League Championship Series and earned a World Series ring when Chicago broke its 108-year championship drought.
Zastryzny remained in the Cubs organization through 2018, spending time at Triple-A Iowa while making occasional big-league appearances. The club designated him for assignment in September 2018 and outrighted him back to Iowa before releasing him in March 2019.
Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles (2019-2020)
One day after his release, Zastryzny signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Splitting 2019 between the Double-A Tulsa Drillers and Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, he went 4-8 with a 5.58 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 113 innings. That offseason he was selected to represent Canada at the 2019 WBSC Premier12 tournament before electing free agency.
He signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles in November 2019, but the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic kept him off the field. Zastryzny spent the year at the Orioles’ alternate training site before being released in September 2020.
Miami Marlins and Independent Ball (2021)
Looking for a fresh start, Zastryzny signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in March 2021. Before the independent season began, the Miami Marlins purchased his contract in May 2021 and assigned him to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. In 24 games at Jacksonville, he posted a 3.68 ERA with 41 strikeouts and two saves in 29 and a third innings, re-establishing himself as a viable big-league option.
New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels, and Pittsburgh Pirates (2022-2023)
Zastryzny signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets in November 2021, and the club selected his contract in August 2022. He appeared briefly in the majors before being designated for assignment just two days later. The Los Angeles Angels claimed him off waivers in late August 2022, and he was designated for assignment again that November before becoming a free agent.
He caught on with the Pittsburgh Pirates in December 2022 and made the Opening Day roster in 2023. In 18 appearances for Pittsburgh, he logged a 5.29 ERA with 13 strikeouts across 17 innings. A brief injured list stint for left forearm inflammation led to a designation for assignment in July, though he was recalled in August before electing free agency in September.
Milwaukee Brewers Era (2024-Present)
Zastryzny signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers in December 2023 and opened 2024 at Triple-A Nashville, where he posted a 3.18 ERA with 38 strikeouts and two saves in 28 and a third innings. The Brewers selected his contract in late June, and he rewarded them with a 1.17 ERA in nine relief appearances. A left elbow tendinitis issue landed him on the injured list in late July, and he was transferred to the 60-day injured list in September, ending his season.
After a brief detour through the Cubs, Yankees, and back to the minors in early 2025, Zastryzny was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in May 2025 in exchange for cash considerations. The Brewers immediately added him to the active roster, giving him an opportunity to contribute to a contending clubhouse.
Driving Style and Strengths
Zastryzny operates primarily as a left-handed relief pitcher who relies on command rather than overpowering velocity. He works effectively against same-handed hitters, using a sweeping breaking ball to neutralize lefty bats while mixing in a changeup against right-handers. His ability to generate soft contact and limit hard contact has made him a trusted situational arm late in close games.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Zastryzny’s career came in 2016, when he was part of the Chicago Cubs roster that ended a 108-year championship drought. He earned his first World Series ring despite not appearing in the Fall Classic. Other milestones include his first major league victory in 2016, his selection to Team Canada for the 2019 WBSC Premier12 tournament, and his late-season renaissance with the Brewers in 2024.
Rob Zastryzny Career Wins
Rob Zastryzny’s career win total is modest, reflecting his long relief role, but his impact on winning teams has been consistent. His only documented big-league victory came in 2016 with the Chicago Cubs, a season that ended with a parade down Michigan Avenue. Most of his career wins have come in the minor leagues, where he has served as a steady contributor across the Cubs, Marlins, Dodgers, and Brewers organizations.
Major League Highlights
Zastryzny’s lone major league win came on September 25, 2016, as a member of the Chicago Cubs. That same year, he was part of the team’s National League Championship Series roster and was present for the World Series championship run. Since then, he has appeared in games for the Mets, Angels, Pirates, and Brewers, though he has notched a decision as a winning pitcher in those stops.
Minor League and Independent Performances
Across the Cubs’ minor league affiliates, Zastryzny posted double-digit win totals during his time in the lower levels, and he continued to take the ball regularly for Triple-A Iowa. In 2019, he went 4-8 in 23 appearances for the Dodgers’ system, and in 2021 he earned two saves for the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate in Jacksonville. His most recent minor league work came in 2024 and 2025 with the Nashville Sounds and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Rob Zastryzny Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Zastryzny was raised in a household that moved from Canada to Texas when he was a toddler, settling in Corpus Christi. He was homeschooled during his childhood, a setup that allowed him to develop his baseball skills away from the traditional high school circuit. Limited public information is available about his parents or siblings, and he has kept those relationships largely private.
Marriage and Residence
Zastryzny married Natalie Sanchez in 2018, and the couple continues to make their home in Corpus Christi, Texas. He has been open about his appreciation for the South Texas community that supported him throughout his amateur career. No public information is available regarding children.
2025 Season Performance
Zastryzny’s 2025 season began with a minor league deal in the New York Yankees organization, where he made 13 appearances for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, logging a 4.50 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 12 innings. The Cubs claimed him off waivers in November 2024, then designated him for assignment in February 2025, leading to a brief stint in free agency before he signed with the Yankees.
On May 16, 2025, the Milwaukee Brewers acquired Zastryzny in a cash trade, and the club immediately selected his contract to the active roster. He rejoined the Brewers after spending the back half of 2024 in their organization, providing veteran left-handed relief depth for a contending club.
Looking ahead, Zastryzny appears firmly in the mix for a left-handed relief role in Milwaukee’s bullpen. With a familiar organization and a fresh start after a turbulent winter, he has an opportunity to contribute meaningful innings down the stretch of the 2025 campaign.