Skip to main content

ProspectNation 2011: #22 Mike Zagurski

With a track record of Major League experience, Mike Zagurski continues to be the virtual understudy for the Phillies' lefty relievers. Zagurski's primary role in his career, when healthy, has been as an occasional substitute for the big club's bull pen.

The Nebraska native, Zagurski, made his debut with the Phillies in May 2007 and was sidelined with an elbow injury by August that year, which required Tommy John Surgery and kept him out for the entire 2008 season. Teamed with Kyle Drabek, who underwent the same procedure, during rehab and their time at Reading in 2009, Zagurski is credited with helping the former Phillies prospect to mature as a ballplayer. Drabek was, of course, dealt to Toronto as part of the Roy Halladay trade in December, 2009.

In October, 2008, the Phillies invited Zagurski, and another rehab partner, Scott Mathieson, to be guests at game 5 of the World Series. That historic night was something that really got under Mike's skin and gave him even more drive to get back to the Major Leagues. It allowed him to see, up close and in person, the type of action and excitement he was missing. The World Series clincher is steadily on Mike's mind as he strives to be successful and get noticed.

With a steady work ethic, Zagurski, who will turn 27-years-old this month, grinded hard throughout his 2009 campaign positioning himself to make a return to the big leagues. Combined at High A Clearwater and Double A Reading that year, Zagurski went 3-4 with 8 saves and a 3.38 ERA.

His commitment paid off, as Zagurski earned a call to don red pinstripes once again, this past season. In 52 relief outings with the Triple A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs in 2010, Zagurski, who married his fiance Lauren this off-season, posted a 2-3 record with 3 saves, a 3.27 ERA and struck out 71 opponents in 52 1/3 innings.

However, once called up, Zagurski struggled, with a 10.29 ERA and a .320 batting average against. On a positive note, Zagurski struck out 11 batters in just 7 innings of action. Mike had two separate tough outings, in which he allowed 3 earned runs. Those efforts resulted in inflated numbers during his minimal MLB time last season. The strike out numbers show he has still some potential to compete at the highest level, if he can simply avoid the mistakes that result in those large outbursts by the opposing offense.

Zagurski is an individual that has serious goals and will work hard to achieve them. He remains a hard throwing lefty hurler with the potential to contribute out of the 'pen, when given the chance.

__________________________________________________________


You can follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter by clicking HERE.

Connect with PhoulBallz.com on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

On Wednesday, Phillies lefty pitching prospect Jacob Diekman made his Arizona Fall League debut. Diekman, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 amateur draft, was assigned to Mesa late, in order to increase his 2010 innings total, according to Mesa hitting coach Mark Parent, who managed Diekman in Lakewood this past season. Diekman, 23, posted a 2-0 record with 1.90 ERA in 21 games with Class A Lakewood before being promoted to High-A Clearwater on June 24th. In 24 games with the Threshers, Diekman went 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Combined, Diekman tossed 55 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .187 batting average against at two levels in 2010. However, after not pitching in an official game since he threw a shutout inning to wrap up the Clearwater season on September 5th, Diekman was unable to record an out as all seven batters he faced reached base, six with hits, one on an error. Diekman was charged with 5 earned runs in the outing. Diekman had spent time at instructional ball from

McGwire Stays Phony, Despite Admitting Drug Use

Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he's taken at

Bubby Rossman's long awaited MLB debut

Eight years after he initially signed a professional contract with the Dodgers and a five-year stretch playing away from affiliated ball, Bubby Rossman became a major leaguer on Wednesday. Added as a substitute for pitcher Kyle Gibson, who is restricted from travel to Canada for the Phillies' series in Toronto, due to his medical inability to be vaccinated from COVID-19, Rossman took the mound for the first time in the majors. Rossman, who was a 22nd round draft selection in 2014 had pitched in 200 professional games before his one-inning outing in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. In 27 appearances with Double-A Reading this year, the 30-year-old right-hander has performed well, tallying a 2-2 record with a save, a 3.32 ERA and a .200 batting average against.   The embedded video below features a media session with Rossman from prior to opening day this year, in which the California native discusses his journey through independent baseball and back to affiliated ball wi