Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Zach Pop (hamstring) will make a minor-league rehab outing at Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, June 21. Pop was close to returning earlier this month, but he felt some pain in his right hamstring and had to reset his rehab. He threw a bullpen session on June 13 at the team's spring training complex in Florida. Pop should be ready to return to Toronto's bullpen by the end of June as long as he doesn't have any further setbacks with his leg. It would be a welcome sight for the Blue Jays' worn-down bullpen. The 26-year-old Canadian has made 15 appearances out of the bullpen for the team in 2023, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 11 hits (four homers) while walking six and striking out 14 in 13 2/3 frames.
Toronto Blue Jays reliever Zach Pop left Thursday's contest against the Boston Red Sox with left hamstring discomfort, Kaitlyn McGrath reports. He went 0.2 innings, allowing three earned runs while walking and striking out one. The outing raised Pop's ERA to 6.59, and he owns a 25.0% strikeout rate and 1.24 WHIP across 13.2 innings. According to manager John Schneider, the club will see how he's feeling on Friday and then decide on their course of action. If Pop does miss time, it won't factor much into fantasy baseball, as he hasn't been used much in a high-leverage role, proved by his zero saves and one hold.
The Toronto Blue Jays are acquiring relief pitcher Anthony Bass, right-hander Zach Pop and a smaller unnamed piece on Tuesday in exchange for infield prospect Jordan Groshans. The Blue Jays had been looking to upgrade their bullpen for a run at a postseason spot, so Bass and Pop will be inserted as late-inning setup men in Toronto in front of closer Jordan Romano. Bass has been excellent this year, posting a 1.41 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 45:10 K:BB in 44 2/3 innings, but his fantasy value won't change all that much in a setup role in Toronto. Pop has been solid but not spectacular, going 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 14 strikeouts in 20 relief innings for the Fish.
Miami Marlins rookie relief pitcher Zach Pop had another rough outing in Monday's loss to the Boston Red Sox. Pop came in to pitch the fourth inning after starter Zach Thompson was forced to leave with an ankle injury. Pop got three outs, but allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out one. He also pitched poorly in his previous outing, after having nine straight scoreless appearances before that. It's been feast or famine for Pop in his rookie season, but overall he's struggled to a 7.32 ERA. To be fair, he had no business being in this game, but Marlins manager Don Mattingly seems to manage his bullpen by pulling names out of a hat. Pop could use some more minor league time, but as a Rule 5 pick, he cannot be sent down without first being offered back to his original team. Pop should continue to work in a mop-up role, but with Mattingly at the helm, sometimes that means absolutely nothing.
Miami Marlins rookie relief pitcher Zach Pop was left out to dry by manager Don Mattingly in Friday's loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pop threw one inning, allowing five runs on six hits, at one point allowing five hits in a row. The only bright spot was that all three outs Pop got were strikeouts. He clearly didn't have it in this game, but Mattingly never has "it" if "it" is a clue on how to manage a bullpen, so he let Pop throw 38 pitches and likely lose most of his confidence as his ERA rose to 6.75. The Rule 5 pick needs to remain on the Marlins roster if they want to keep him around, so he's likely to just be relegated to mop up duty for a while.
Miami Marlins rookie relief pitcher Zach Pop was stellar in his inning of work on Thursday. Pitching in a 6-0 game, Pop worked the ninth inning, closing out the series win for the Marlins. He faced three hitters, threw 17 pitches (10 strikes) and wrapped things up with three strikeouts. Rafael Marchan, Brad Miller, and Alec Bohm went from the dugout to the plate and right back to the dugout. After a rough start to the season, Pop has been sensational of late and manager Don Mattingly has said Pop has earned the right to pitch some more high leverage innings. He'll likely continue in a middle relief/medium leverage role for a while, but we could be seeing the closer of the future in Miami.
Miami Marlins relief pitcher Zach Pop has earned a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. Pop was a Rule 5 selection by the Diamondbacks, then traded to the Marlins. Per Rule 5 draft rules, he'll need to be offered back to his original team, the Orioles, if he does not remain on the active roster all season. Pop earned his spot by pitching well this spring, allowing just an unearned run in five innings of work. He had Tommy John Surgery last year, but put up a 1.34 ERA with 80 strikeouts in his first 80 1/3 minor league innings before the surgery. He could be the closer of the future in Miami, but he'll begin the season in a fantasy-irrelevant middle relief role.
Miami Marlins relief pitcher Zach Pop contributed a scoreless inning of relief in Wednesday's 4-4 Grapefruit League tie with the Houston Astros. Pop didn't allow a hit and struck out one while walking one in his inning of work. It took him 21 pitches (11 strikes) to work through the inning. Pop was recently a top relief prospect, but Tommy John Surgery took him out of that conversation for now. He's a Rule 5 pick, so the Marlins will have to keep him on the roster (or IL) if they want to keep him. He has a good chance to win the last spot in the Marlins bullpen and should start the season in middle relief.
