Zach Pop Bio
Zachery Michael Pop, known professionally as Zach Pop, is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher currently in Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on September 20, 1996, he has built his career as a relief pitcher, suiting up for multiple organizations since reaching the majors. He most recently played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2026.
Standing out for his work out of the bullpen, Pop has also been associated with the Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, and New York Mets. His journeyman path across the league has included both major league contracts and minor league deals, reflecting the resilience required to stay active in professional baseball.
Early Life and Background
Zachery Michael Pop grew up in Brampton, Ontario, where he attended Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School. The Canadian city provided a strong baseball community for young athletes, and Pop developed his skills locally before attracting attention from professional scouts.
He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 23rd round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, but he chose not to sign. Instead, Pop opted to continue his education and athletic development at the University of Kentucky, playing college baseball for the Wildcats. During his college summers, he honed his game in collegiate leagues, spending 2015 with the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League and 2016 with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Path to Major League Baseball
Pop re-entered the MLB draft in 2017 and was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh round with the 220th overall pick. He signed with the organization and launched his professional career that same year, debuting with the rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers and posting five scoreless innings.
He moved quickly through the Dodgers system, joining the Single-A Great Lakes Loons in 2018 before earning a promotion to the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. That July, Pop was part of the high-profile package sent to the Baltimore Orioles in the trade that brought Manny Machado to Los Angeles. Assigned to the Double-A Bowie Baysox, he finished 2018 with a combined 2–3 record, 1.53 ERA, and 64 strikeouts across 44 relief appearances.
Zach Pop Career
Early Career (2017-2019)
Pop opened his professional journey in the Dodgers system and continued developing in the Orioles organization. After a strong start at Bowie in 2019, he underwent Tommy John surgery on May 14, 2019, ending his season. The following year brought further difficulty, as the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic kept him off the mound entirely.
Despite these setbacks, Pop remained on MLB rosters. On December 10, 2020, he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Rule 5 draft and quickly traded to the Miami Marlins. He earned a place on the Marlins’ Opening Day roster in 2021, signaling the organization’s belief in his recovery and future role.
Miami Marlins Breakthrough (2021-2022)
Zachery Michael Pop made his Major League Baseball debut on April 3, 2021, against the Tampa Bay Rays, firing a scoreless inning of relief. The Canadian right-hander went on to appear in 50 games during his rookie season, posting a 1–0 record, 4.12 ERA, and 51 strikeouts across 54⅔ innings. His ability to log consistent relief innings established him as a reliable late-inning option.
In 2022, Pop made 18 appearances for Miami, recording a 2–0 mark and 3.60 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 20 innings. On August 2, 2022, he was traded, along with Anthony Bass and a player to be named later, to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Jordan Groshans, closing the first chapter of his MLB career.
Toronto Blue Jays Era (2022-2025)
After joining Toronto in August 2022, Pop pitched in 17 relief outings for the Blue Jays, going 2–0 with a 1.89 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 19 innings. The strong finish strengthened his case for a longer look with the organization. He made the Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster in 2023 but struggled to a 6.59 ERA across 15 games and 13⅔ innings, leading to a return to the minors.
Pop split 2024 between the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons and the major league club, ultimately appearing in 58 games for Toronto with a 2–4 record, 5.59 ERA, 33 strikeouts, and one save across 48⅓ innings. On March 27, 2025, the Blue Jays designated him for assignment, and he was released on April 2, ending his multi-year stint with the franchise.
Philadelphia Phillies Era (2025-Present)
On December 22, 2025, Pop signed a major league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, marking a new opportunity with a National League contender. He appeared in seven games for the Phillies during the early 2026 season, recording a 3.68 ERA and six strikeouts while working in middle relief.
Pop was placed on the injured list on April 13, 2026, with a right calf strain. After being activated, he was designated for assignment on May 30 and elected free agency on June 6 rather than accepting an outright assignment to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Driving Style and Strengths
Zachery Michael Pop has built his career as a late-inning reliever capable of providing steady innings in tight games. His experience across multiple organizations has allowed him to develop a flexible approach out of the bullpen, and he has produced his strongest results when used in short bursts behind established closers.
Notable Events and Milestones
Pop’s MLB debut on April 3, 2021, against the Tampa Bay Rays remains a defining milestone in his professional journey. He was also part of the trade package sent to Baltimore in the Manny Machado deal, an early indicator that MLB organizations valued his arm in meaningful transactions.
Zach Pop Career Highlights
Across his MLB career, Zachery Michael Pop has accumulated an 8–6 record, a 4.83 ERA, and 132 strikeouts, with experience coming primarily out of the bullpen. He has recorded wins with the Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays while posting a sub-2.00 ERA in his first extended stint with the Blue Jays in 2022.
Major League Highlights
Pop made 50 appearances for the Marlins during his 2021 rookie season and added 17 strong relief outings for the Blue Jays after the August 2022 trade. His 1.89 ERA in Toronto that year stands as one of his most effective stretches at the major league level, and he later added 58 appearances for the Blue Jays in 2024.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his major league resume, Pop has compiled a long track record in the minor leagues with affiliates of the Dodgers, Orioles, Blue Jays, Mariners, and Cubs. He recorded a 1.53 ERA across 44 relief appearances in 2018 and posted a 0.84 ERA at Bowie in 2019 before undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Zach Pop Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Zachery Michael Pop was raised in Brampton, Ontario, and his baseball roots trace back to Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School. The Canadian pitcher has kept most personal details out of the public eye, and there are no widely confirmed details about his parents or siblings.
Personal Life
Pop remains focused on his professional career and has not publicly shared extensive information about his marital status or family life. His journey from Brampton to Major League Baseball underscores a career built on perseverance through injuries and roster moves.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season proved to be one of the most eventful years of Zachery Michael Pop’s career. He began the year with the Toronto Blue Jays before being designated for assignment on March 27 and released on April 2, then signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners on April 16. After stints in the minors, he was added to Seattle’s active roster on June 13 but struggled to a 13.50 ERA across four appearances before being designated for assignment again.
Pop quickly found a new opportunity, signing a one-year major league contract with the New York Mets on July 5. His first outing as a Met, however, saw him allow three runs in 1⅓ innings against the Yankees in a 6–4 loss. He was designated for assignment on July 8 and elected free agency on July 10, then signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs on July 22, where he posted a 1–0 record and 5.59 ERA across nine appearances for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs before electing free agency on November 6.
Looking ahead, Pop closed 2025 by signing a major league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on December 22, positioning him for a fresh start with a contending National League club. His 2026 outlook will depend on his ability to bounce back from a right calf strain and re-establish himself in middle relief.
