Rob Zastryzny Bio
Robert John Zastryzny, known professionally as Rob Zastryzny, is a Canadian-American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed reliever, he has appeared in the majors for the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Milwaukee Brewers across multiple stints. He is a 2013 second-round draft pick out of the University of Missouri and a 2016 World Series champion with the Cubs.
Standing 6-foot-2 and pitching from the left side, Zastryzny has built a career as a durable, journeyman reliever who has spent time in many organizations. He has represented Canada in international competition, including the 2019 WBSC Premier12 and the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Early Life and Background
Zastryzny was born on March 26, 1992, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. When he was one year old, his family relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas, where he was raised. He holds dual Canadian-American citizenship and was homeschooled during his formative years.
He attended Calallen High School, where he played both pitcher and first baseman before focusing on pitching by his junior year. He compiled a 26–4 win–loss record and a 0.71 earned run average with 299 strikeouts, including a 17–1 record, 0.20 ERA, and 198 strikeouts as a senior. He also threw a perfect game during his junior season.
Path to Professional Baseball
After high school, Zastryzny enrolled at the University of Missouri and pitched three seasons for the Missouri Tigers. In his college career, he posted a 9–19 win–loss record and a 3.79 ERA with 228 strikeouts, the eighth-highest total in Tigers history at the time.
The Chicago Cubs selected him in the second round, 41st overall, in the 2013 MLB draft. He began in the lower minors with the Boise Hawks and quickly climbed the Cubs’ farm system, advancing through Kane County, Daytona, and Tennessee before reaching Triple-A Iowa.
Rob Zastryzny Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
Zastryzny’s first three professional seasons were spent in the Cubs’ minor-league system, where he steadily moved from Low-A Boise to Double-A Tennessee. He split time as a starter and reliever, refining his craft against progressively older competition. Following the 2015 regular season, the Cubs assigned him to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League for additional development.
He opened 2016 with Tennessee and earned a mid-season promotion to Iowa before the Cubs brought him to the majors on August 19, 2016. In 11 relief appearances for Chicago down the stretch, he went 1–0 with a 1.13 ERA. He was added to the roster for the National League Championship Series but did not appear in a game and was replaced on the World Series roster by Kyle Schwarber. The Cubs won the 2016 World Series, ending a 108-year championship drought, and Zastryzny earned his first ring.
Journeyman Years (2019–2022)
Zastryzny was designated for assignment by the Cubs in September 2018 and released in March 2019. He signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers and Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, and was later named to the Canada national baseball team for the 2019 WBSC Premier12.
He signed with the Baltimore Orioles organization in November 2019 but did not appear in an official game in 2020 after the minor-league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League before the Miami Marlins purchased his contract, and he pitched the year at Triple-A Jacksonville. He later signed with the New York Mets, reaching the majors briefly in August 2022 before being claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels later that month.
Pittsburgh Pirates (2022–2023)
After being non-tendered by the Angels, Zastryzny signed a minor-league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates in December 2022. He made the club out of spring training in 2023 and appeared in 18 games, posting a 5.29 ERA with 13 strikeouts across 17 innings. A brief injured-list stint for left forearm inflammation preceded a July designation for assignment, an outright to Indianapolis, and a September return to the majors.
Milwaukee Brewers Era (2023–Present)
Zastryzny signed a minor-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers in December 2023 and was assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. The Brewers selected his contract on June 29, 2024, and he rewarded them with a 1.17 ERA in nine appearances. Left elbow tendinitis landed him on the injured list in late July, and he was transferred to the 60-day IL in September.
After a 2025 detour through the Chicago Cubs, a brief Triple-A stint with the New York Yankees, and a May 16, 2025 trade back to Milwaukee for cash considerations, Zastryzny was active with the Brewers again. Through the 2025 season, he has posted a 6–1 record, 3.84 ERA, and 74 strikeouts in his major-league career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Zastryzny’s most memorable achievement is his 2016 World Series championship as a member of the Chicago Cubs, a ring he earned despite not appearing in the Fall Classic. He also represented Canada at the 2019 WBSC Premier12 and the 2026 World Baseball Classic, highlighting his ongoing connection to his country of birth.
Rob Zastryzny Career Highlights
Across his MLB career, Zastryzny has appeared with the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Milwaukee Brewers. He owns a 6–1 record, a 3.84 ERA, and 74 strikeouts. His most productive MLB stretch came in 2024 with Milwaukee, when he posted a 1.17 ERA in nine appearances.
Major League Highlights
Zastryzny’s first MLB stint with the Cubs in 2016 produced a 1–0 record and 1.13 ERA in 11 relief outings. His 2024 run with the Brewers established him as a reliable left-handed option before injury cut his season short. In Pittsburgh, he logged 18 appearances in 2023 before being shuttled between the majors and Triple-A.
Rob Zastryzny Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Zastryzny married Natalie Sanchez in 2018. The couple has kept much of their personal life out of the public eye, and Zastryzny primarily resides in Corpus Christi, Texas.
2025 Season Performance
Zastryzny’s 2025 season was a whirlwind. He was claimed off waivers by the Cubs in November 2024, designated for assignment in February 2025, and signed with the New York Yankees before being traded back to Milwaukee on May 16, 2025, for cash considerations. With the Brewers, he has provided veteran left-handed depth in the bullpen.
He began the 2026 season on the injured list with a left rhomboid strain after pitching for Team Canada in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list in April 2026 before being activated by Milwaukee on May 31.
