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Zac Houston

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zac Houston
Houston with the West Michigan Whitecaps in 2021
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1994-11-30) November 30, 1994 (age 29)
Slidell, Louisiana
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Zachary Matthew Houston (born November 30, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.

Career

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Amateur career

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Houston attended Poplarville High School in Poplarville, Mississippi, and Mississippi State University, where he played college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.[1][2] In 2015, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3]

Detroit Tigers

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Houston was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 11th round, with the 325th overall selection, of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[4][5]

Houston signed with Detroit and spent his first professional season with the Connecticut Tigers and West Michigan Whitecaps, going a combined 2-0 with a 0.30 ERA in 20 relief appearances between both teams.[6] He pitched 2017 with West Michigan and the Lakeland Flying Tigers where he pitched to a combined 0-1 record and 2.17 ERA in 58 total relief innings pitched.[7] After the season he played in the Arizona Fall League. He started 2018 with the Erie SeaWolves and was promoted to the Toledo Mud Hens during the season.[8] Houston finished the year with a 1.63 ERA across 46 games for both affiliates.

Houston split the 2019 season back with Erie and Toledo, accumulating a 7–2 record and 4.53 ERA with 68 strikeouts across 40 total games. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] Houston returned to action in 2021, appearing in only 7 games for West Michigan and the rookie–level Florida Complex League Tigers. In 2022, he once again played for Erie and Toledo, accumulating a 2–7 record and 5.47 ERA with 88 strikeouts and 4 saves across 48 contests.[10] Houston elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.[11]

New York Yankees

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On December 4, 2022, Houston signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees. He split the 2023 season between the Double–A Somerset Patriots and Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. In 37 games between the two affiliates, Houston recorded a cumulative 4.43 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 2 saves across 42+23 innings of work. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2023.[12]

Philadelphia Phillies

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On December 13, 2023, Houston signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays organization.[13] On March 23, 2024, Houston was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for cash considerations.[14] In 14 appearances for the Triple–A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, he struggled to a 10.29 ERA with 19 strikeouts across 14 innings pitched. On July 3, Houston was released by the Phillies organization.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "MSU's Zac Houston emerging as dominant bullpen arm". clarionledger.com.
  2. ^ "Houston emerges as top arm out of MSU bullpen". cdispatch.com.
  3. ^ "Zac Houston - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  4. ^ "Poplarville native drafted in eleventh round by the Detroit Tigers - Picayune Item". picayuneitem.com. 15 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Draft capsules for each of the Tigers' picks in the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft". theoaklandpress.com.
  6. ^ "Whitecaps reliever Zac Houston doesn't ask questions about fast promotion". mlive.com.
  7. ^ "Zac Houston Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  8. ^ "No slowing Zac Houston in his climb with Tigers, but work remains". detroitnews.com.
  9. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  10. ^ "Zac Houston Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  11. ^ "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  12. ^ "2023 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  13. ^ "Rays' Zac Houston: Signs MiLB deal with Rays". cbssports.com. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  14. ^ "Phillies Acquire Zac Houston From Rays". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  15. ^ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-07-03
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