Red Sox lefty pitching prospect Zach Penrod dominant through 10.1 innings to begin season
Red Sox minor league pitching prospect Zach Penrod has been dominant through two starts for the Portland Sea Dogs.
Penrod took a no-hitter into the sixth inning during Thursday’s game against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out six and gave up one hit over 5 1/3 innings in the Sea Dogs’ win.
Through his first two starts, he has tossed 10 1/3 scoreless frames and allowed just three hits with three walks while striking out 14 batters.
“He’s exciting to watch. This is the second time I’ve seen him, and both times have obviously been pretty good,” Sea Dogs' Chad Epperson said postgame to reporters, including the Portland Press Herald. “The fastball, you can’t deny it when it runs up there at 97 today. You’ve got to give it up for 97. Then he throws that changeup and slider. There’s a lot of weapons there.”
The Red Sox plucked Penrod out of Indy Ball last season. After signing with Boston, he was assigned to High-A Greenville. The righty posted a 2.18 ERA over four starts before getting an opportunity to pitch in the Arizona Fall League.
A native of Nampa, Idaho, he was initially signed by the Rangers after he went undrafted in 2018. Following Tommy John surgery in April 2019, he was released by Texas in 2020. After his rehab was complete, Penrod spent May 2021 through August 2023 pitching in the independent Pioneer League.
Through six appearances in the Red Sox organization, his second Double-A start was his most impressive. Penrod is now 3-3 with a 2.74 ERA with 50 strikeouts, 20 walks, and a 1.20 WHIP over 42 2/3 innings last season.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Penrod throws from a high three-quarters arm slot. The lefty operates a four-pitch mix; he has a 92-94 mph fastball that has topped out at 96 mph. He also has an 84-87 changeup, an 82-87 mph breaking ball, and a 90-91 mph cutter, which he uses primarily against right-handed hitters, per his SoxProspects.com scouting report.
