Zach Pop Bio
Zachery Michael Pop (born September 20, 1996) is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed reliever, he has spent time at the major league level with the Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, and now the Phillies, building his career through a mix of trades, minor league deals, and waiver claims. He has also been part of organizations that include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Chicago Cubs at various points in his professional journey.
Pop first reached the majors in 2021 after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft, and he has remained a serviceable bullpen arm in the years since, contributing in middle relief and low-leverage situations for several clubs.
Early Life and Background
Zachery Michael Pop grew up in the Brampton, Ontario area and attended Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School. Canadian baseball players often face a smaller domestic pipeline than their American counterparts, so Pop made an early decision to pursue the sport at the collegiate level in the United States to raise his profile with major league scouts.
Coming out of high school, Pop was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 23rd round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft. He opted not to sign, choosing instead to develop further through college baseball at the University of Kentucky, a program with a strong track record of producing professional arms. While at Kentucky, he sharpened his mechanics and added velocity, which helped position him as a more attractive prospect by the time he became draft-eligible again.
Path to Professional Baseball
During his college years, Pop also sharpened his game in competitive summer leagues. In 2015, he played collegiate summer baseball for the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League, a respected wooden-bat circuit that has produced a long list of major leaguers. The following summer, he returned to the diamond for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, widely regarded as the premier amateur summer league in North America.
Those summer experiences, combined with his growth at Kentucky, prepared Pop for his next career step. In the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft, the Los Angeles Dodgers selected him in the seventh round with the 220th overall pick, and he signed to begin his professional career.
Zach Pop Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
After signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017, Pop made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers, where he pitched five scoreless innings in his first outings. He opened 2018 with the Single-A Great Lakes Loons before earning a midseason promotion to the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
On July 18, 2018, Pop was traded to the Baltimore Orioles as part of the package that sent Manny Machado to the Dodgers, joining Breyvic Valera, Dean Kremer, Yusniel Diaz, and Rylan Bannon in the deal. Assigned to the Double-A Bowie Baysox to finish the year, he put together a 2–3 record with a 1.53 ERA and 64 strikeouts across 44 relief appearances spread between Great Lakes, Rancho Cucamonga, and Bowie. He returned to Bowie to begin 2019 and posted a 0.84 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 10⅔ innings, but a torn UCL led to Tommy John surgery on May 14, 2019, ending his season. The cancellation of the 2020 minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic kept Pop off the mound for the entire year.
Miami Marlins (2021–2022)
On December 10, 2020, Pop was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Rule 5 Draft, then immediately traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Tyler Jones. The move paid off quickly, as Pop made the Marlins’ Opening Day roster out of spring training. On April 3, 2021, he made his MLB debut by pitching a scoreless inning of relief against the Tampa Bay Rays, officially announcing his arrival as a major leaguer.
During his rookie campaign, Pop became a steady presence in Miami’s bullpen, making 50 appearances with a 1-0 record, a 4.12 ERA, and 51 strikeouts over 54⅔ innings. In 2022, he appeared in 18 games for the Marlins, going 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 20 innings before being dealt in early August.
Toronto Blue Jays Era (2022–2025)
On August 2, 2022, the Marlins traded Pop, Anthony Bass, and a player to be named later (Edward Duran) to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for prospect Jordan Groshans. Pop made 17 relief appearances down the stretch, going 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 19 innings, giving the Blue Jays a reliable arm for the final weeks of the season.
Pop made the Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster in 2023, but he struggled to a 6.59 ERA with 14 strikeouts across 13⅔ innings in 15 games. He opened 2024 with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons before returning to the majors, where he made 58 bullpen appearances and posted a 2-4 record with a 5.59 ERA, 33 strikeouts, and one save in 48⅓ innings. The Blue Jays designated Pop for assignment on March 27, 2025, and released him on April 2.
Seattle Mariners and New York Mets (2025)
On April 16, 2025, Pop signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners and split time between the Arizona Complex League Mariners and the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, going 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA, nine strikeouts, and one save in 9⅔ innings. The Mariners selected his contract on June 13, adding him to the major league roster, but he struggled in four appearances, allowing runs at a 13.50 clip with three strikeouts over 5⅓ innings before being designated for assignment on June 28 and electing free agency on July 2.
Pop signed a one-year major league contract with the New York Mets on July 5, 2025. In his first appearance for New York, he allowed three runs in 1⅓ innings against the New York Yankees in a 6-4 loss on July 6. He was designated for assignment two days later following the promotion of Alex Carrillo and elected free agency on July 10 after clearing waivers. On July 22, he signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs, making nine appearances for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs with a 1-0 record, a 5.59 ERA, and 14 strikeouts over 9⅔ innings before electing free agency again on November 6.
Philadelphia Phillies Era (2025–Present)
On December 22, 2025, Pop signed a major league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, joining a contender looking to add bullpen depth for the stretch run. The deal represented an opportunity for Pop to settle into a more stable role after a turbulent 2025 season that saw him move between five different organizations.
With the Phillies, Pop is positioned as a middle-relief option who can handle multiple innings and keep the game within reach for the back end of the bullpen. The move marked a fresh start in a more stable environment after a year defined by short stints and quick transactions.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pop operates as a ground-ball-oriented reliever, relying on command and contact management rather than overpowering velocity. He has shown the ability to throw strikes, limit walks, and handle left-handed hitters, which has made him a useful specialist in the middle innings. His durability, developed during his Tommy John recovery and tested across multiple organizations, has allowed him to bounce back quickly from setbacks and stay available for frequent use.
Notable Events and Milestones
Pop’s most notable milestone came on April 3, 2021, when he made his MLB debut with a scoreless inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. He later appeared in the same trade package that sent superstar Manny Machado from the Dodgers to the Orioles, putting his name on a high-profile deal. His post-Tommy John return in 2019 and his Rule 5 selection in 2020 stand out as defining moments that shaped his major league career.
Zach Pop Family
Personal Life
Public information about Pop’s personal life is limited, with no widely reported details on his marital status or family. He grew up in Brampton, Ontario, and remains closely tied to his Canadian roots, and he can be followed on X (formerly Twitter) at @pop_zach.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was the most turbulent year of Pop’s career, as he cycled through five different organizations in a single campaign. He began the year with the Toronto Blue Jays before being released in early April, then bounced from the Seattle Mariners to the New York Mets to the Chicago Cubs in quick succession, piecing together stints at both the Triple-A and major league levels.
At the major league level, he combined for a small number of appearances with the Mariners and Mets, struggling with a high ERA in limited innings. His work in Triple-A, particularly with the Iowa Cubs, was more productive, and his free agency in November set the stage for a fresh start. On December 22, 2025, he signed a major league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, giving him a clearer path to consistent playing time and a chance to contribute to a playoff contender heading into 2026.