Pitcher Zac Curtis to Join Arizona Diamondbacks
Published on April 30, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release
VISALIA, CA - The Visalia Rawhide announce today that LHP Zac Curtis has been selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks and will report to Chase Field today.
The Castalian Springs, TN, native will make his Major League debut in just his third professional season in the Diamondbacks organization after making the rare jump directly from Single-A Advanced Visalia Rawhide to the major leagues.
While in a Rawhide uniform the 23-year old lefty made eight appearances for Visalia this season going 1-0 with two saves and an ERA of 5.23. He allowed eight runs (six earned) in 10.1 innings on the mound on 12 hits, walking five and striking out 22 hitters. His 22 punch outs in just 10.1 innings pitched placed him atop the California League leaderboard for SO/9 IP Ratio at 19.16.
It has been a bit of a meteoric rise for the 5'9", 192-pound pitcher. In 2015 he pitched in the Midwest League with Single-A Kane County and earned both a Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star nod after finishing 4-4 with a 1.33 ERA and 33 saves in 36 chances. He was stingy on the mound allowing only 33 hits and nine runs (eight earned) in 54.0 innings with 75 strikeouts in a Cougars uniform while issuing just 12 free passes and holding opposing hitters to a .176 batting average. His season also netted him an Arizona Organizational All-Star Award at season's end.
The former Middle Tennessee State University hurler is 7-5 in with a 1.68 ERA spanning 85 games and 91.1 innings on the mound. He is 49 for 54 in saves in his young career and has allowed 22 runs (17 earned) on 63 hits, 29 walks and he has accumulated 139 strikeouts while allowing just two home runs and opposing hitters swing at a clip of .193 against him.
Curtis was originally a 6th round draft choice in 2014 by Arizona and he becomes the first member of the Visalia Rawhide to jump directly from Visalia to Major League Baseball since 1B Kent Hrbek did it in 1981 and the Rawhide have now had over 280 alumni that have graced major league diamonds in their franchise history.
The Rawhide continue their homestand tonight against the San Jose Giants at Recreation Ballpark with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch. For more information or tickets call 559-732-4433 or head to rawhidebaseball.com. You can follow the Rawhide on Twitter (@VisaliaRawhide), Facebook (TheRawhide), Instagram (@visaliarawhide) and Snap Chat (visaliarawhide).
California League Stories from April 30, 2016
- Pitcher Zac Curtis to Join Arizona Diamondbacks - Visalia Rawhide
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- Misiewicz Flirts with No-No in Blaze Win - Bakersfield Blaze
- Four-Run Ninth Not Enough in Fifth Straight Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Comeback Victory for Visalia Nets 5th Straight Win - Visalia Rawhide
- Four-Run Lead Slips Away, Giants Lose 7-5 - San Jose Giants
- Thornton, James Combine To Toss Gem At Diamond - Lancaster JetHawks
- Blaze Get Gem from Misiewicz, Hold off Rally - Inland Empire 66ers
- Quakes Win 4th Straight; Yaisel Sierra Pitches Saturday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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