Zach Eflin Bio
Zachary Adams Eflin (born April 8, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, and Baltimore Orioles. The San Diego Padres selected Eflin in the first round, with the 33rd overall pick, of the 2012 MLB draft. Since making his MLB debut in 2016, he has established himself as a reliable pitcher who relies on command and groundball outs, though he has also battled knee and back injuries throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Zachary Adams Eflin was born in Orlando, Florida, on April 8, 1994. He grew up in a close family that faced several tragedies during his childhood. His older sister, Ashley, died of leukemia at the age of seven, an experience that shaped Eflin’s outlook on life. Another sister, Candace, has had special needs since birth due to oxygen deprivation, and Eflin has publicly described her as his greatest inspiration. His eldest sister, Brittany, later became a registered nurse. Eflin leaned heavily on his Christian faith while growing up, and his paternal grandfather has served as a pastor for more than six decades.
Eflin attended Paul J. Hagerty High School in Oviedo, Florida, where he played baseball. During his junior year, he briefly considered quitting the baseball team to join the golf team, but he ultimately stayed with baseball. A growth spurt of seven inches transformed him into a dominant starting pitcher, drawing attention from college programs and professional scouts. In his senior year, he posted a 0.51 earned run average (ERA) with 59 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched. Although he signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Central Florida on a college baseball scholarship, he chose to sign with the San Diego Padres after being drafted in 2012.
Path to Baseball
After being selected 33rd overall in the 2012 MLB draft, Eflin began his professional career in the Arizona League, where he went 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in seven innings before being sidelined by mononucleosis. He spent three seasons moving through the Padres’ minor league system, pitching for the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Single-A Midwest League in 2013, where he went 7-6 with a league-leading 2.73 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 118 2/3 innings. The following year, he advanced to the Lake Elsinore Storm of the High-A California League and posted a 10-7 record with a 3.80 ERA, earning recognition as the number five prospect in the Padres’ system.
On December 18, 2014, Eflin was traded twice in the span of 24 hours. He was first sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of the package that brought Matt Kemp to San Diego, and then moved to the Philadelphia Phillies as part of the deal that sent Jimmy Rollins to Los Angeles. The trade marked the beginning of what Phillies general manager Rubén Amaro Jr. described as an arduous rebuilding process. The Phillies had targeted Eflin on the recommendation of scout Gorman Heimueller, who believed Eflin had a lead-pipe sinker and the potential to pitch at the top of a rotation.
Zach Eflin Career
Early Career (2012-2015)
Eflin’s professional career began with the AZL Padres in 2012, followed by stints with the Fort Wayne TinCaps and the Lake Elsinore Storm. After joining the Phillies organization in December 2014, he was assigned to the Class AA Reading Fightin Phils for the 2015 season. Pitching in the Eastern League alongside top prospects Aaron Nola, Jesse Biddle, Ben Lively, and Tom Windle, Eflin went 8-6 with a 3.69 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 131 2/3 innings. He was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week on April 12 and was selected as a mid-season Eastern League All-Star.
Following the 2015 season, Eflin pitched for Team USA in the 2015 Pan American Games, helping the squad win a silver medal. That year also marked the beginning of a long working relationship with catcher Andrew Knapp, with whom he developed a strong rapport that continued once both reached the major leagues. Eflin has often credited Knapp for his ability to call games and manage pitching staffs, describing him as a catcher pitchers trust.
Philadelphia Phillies Breakthrough (2016-2022)
Eflin made his MLB debut on June 14, 2016, at 22 years of age, against the Toronto Blue Jays. He struggled in that first outing, allowing eight earned runs in 2 2/3 innings in what became the worst debut in Phillies franchise history. He rebounded quickly, however, throwing two complete games in July, including a Maddux shutout of the Atlanta Braves. Knee issues cut his rookie season short, and he finished 3-5 with a 5.54 ERA. He opened 2017 on the disabled list, returned to throw 29 consecutive scoreless innings across four starts, but struggled late in the year and finished 1-5 with a 6.16 ERA in the majors.
In 2018, Eflin adopted a more power-oriented approach, recording career-high strikeout totals while going 11-8 with a 4.36 ERA in 128 innings. He remained in the major leagues from 2019 onward, finishing that season 10-13 with a 4.13 ERA and leading the National League with two complete games. After experimenting again with being a power pitcher in 2019, Eflin returned to his sinker-based approach in 2020, posting a 3.97 ERA and a career-best 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings. In 2021, he went 4-7 with a 4.17 ERA before undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a tear in his right patellar tendon.
During the 2022 regular season, Eflin went 3-5 with a 4.04 ERA over 75 2/3 innings in 20 games, including 13 starts. After a right knee contusion placed him on the 60-day injured list, he was moved to the bullpen upon his return in September. He posted a 3.38 ERA across 10 2/3 playoff innings in 10 games and earned a save in the Phillies’ series-clinching win over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series. Two days after Philadelphia lost the 2022 World Series, Eflin declined his end of a mutual option and became a free agent for the first time in his career.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2023-2024)
On December 13, 2022, the Tampa Bay Rays signed Eflin to a three-year, $40 million contract, the largest free agent deal in franchise history. He reportedly turned down an identical offer from the Boston Red Sox, citing his Orlando roots and the opportunity to work with Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder. In his first season with Tampa Bay, Eflin made 31 starts and went 16-8 with a 3.50 ERA and 186 strikeouts across 177 2/3 innings, leading the American League in wins. He began the 2024 campaign in the Rays’ rotation, going 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 19 starts before being traded midseason.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2024-Present)
On July 26, 2024, the Rays traded Eflin and cash considerations to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Matthew Etzel, Jackson Baumeister, and Mac Horvath. Three days later, he won his Orioles debut in an 11-5 home victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, completing six innings with seven strikeouts and no walks. He was later placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation on August 20, but returned on September 1 and joined Jack Harshman as the second Orioles pitcher to win each of his first five appearances with the club.
Eflin was named the Orioles’ Opening Day starting pitcher on March 14, 2025. He made 14 starts during the 2025 campaign, going 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA and 50 strikeouts across 71 1/3 innings. On August 12, 2025, manager Tony Mansolino announced that Eflin would miss the remainder of the season to undergo a lumbar microdiscectomy procedure. He was formally transferred to the 60-day injured list on August 17.
Driving Style and Strengths
Eflin is known for relying on a sinker that sits around 93 miles per hour and a slider near 88 miles per hour, both of which he uses to generate groundball outs. He has long emphasized command and pitching to contact, though he experimented briefly with being a power pitcher in 2018 and 2019 before returning to his roots. Beginning in 2020, he incorporated a curveball near 79 miles per hour into his repertoire, reducing his reliance on a changeup. His career has been marked by strong control, issuing few walks, though his durability has been a recurring concern due to multiple knee injuries.
Notable Events and Milestones
Eflin led the American League in wins during the 2023 season with 16 and led the National League with two complete games in 2019. He was named Team USA’s pitcher at the 2015 Pan American Games, where the squad won a silver medal, and he earned Eastern League All-Star honors in 2015. His playoff highlight came during the 2022 National League Wild Card Series, when he recorded a save in the Phillies’ series-clinching win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Zach Eflin Career Wins
Across his MLB career, Eflin has accumulated 49 regular-season wins between the Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, and Baltimore Orioles. He has also posted multiple complete games, shutouts, and a save, establishing himself as a dependable innings-eater when healthy.
Tampa Bay Rays Highlights
Eflin enjoyed his most productive season with the Rays in 2023, going 16-8 with a 3.50 ERA and 186 strikeouts in 177 2/3 innings. His 16 wins led the American League and marked a career high. He returned to the Rays’ rotation in 2024 and went 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 19 starts before being traded to the Orioles in July.
Other Wins and Performances
During his time in the Phillies’ minor league system, Eflin posted standout seasons with the Fort Wayne TinCaps in 2013 and the Lake Elsinore Storm in 2014, winning a combined 17 games. He also threw two complete games and led the National League with two complete games in 2019, while his 10 wins that season matched a career high at the time.
Zach Eflin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Zachary Adams Eflin was raised in a close family in Orlando, Florida. His older sister, Ashley, died of leukemia at age seven, and another sister, Candace, has had special needs since birth due to oxygen deprivation. His eldest sister, Brittany, became a registered nurse. Eflin’s paternal grandfather has been a pastor for more than 60 years, and Eflin has credited his Christian faith with helping him navigate a challenging upbringing.
Personal Life
Eflin married his longtime girlfriend, Lauren Dennen, in December 2020. The couple has four children together, including a daughter born on October 9, 2021, twin girls born in March 2023, and a son born in February 2025. During his time in Philadelphia, Eflin supported pediatric patients through hospital visits, including appearances at sleepovers held in the Phillies’ clubhouse.
2025 Season Performance
Eflin opened the 2025 season as the Orioles’ Opening Day starting pitcher on March 14, 2025, a significant milestone in his first full year with the organization. He made 14 starts for Baltimore, compiling a 6-5 record and 5.93 ERA with 50 strikeouts across 71 1/3 innings pitched. His role within the rotation was viewed as a stabilizing veteran presence, though his overall numbers were below his career norms.
On August 12, 2025, Orioles manager Tony Mansolino announced that Eflin would miss the remainder of the season to undergo a lumbar microdiscectomy procedure. Eflin was formally transferred to the 60-day injured list on August 17, ending his campaign earlier than expected. The procedure marked yet another major injury setback for a pitcher whose career has been shaped by both knee and back issues.
Despite the abbreviated season, Eflin’s contributions to Baltimore’s rotation early in the year provided the club with reliable innings. With his contract running through the 2026 season, Eflin is expected to return as a key member of the Orioles’ starting staff once he recovers from surgery. His combination of groundball-inducing stuff, command, and veteran poise remains a central part of Baltimore’s long-term pitching plans heading into 2026.