yorkrevolution.com

(June 9, ) — The contract of York Revolution right-handed pitcher Zac Grotz has been purchased by the New York Mets, Revs manager Mark Mason announced today. Grotz becomes the second Revs player this season and the second in just over a week to have his contract purchased by a Major League organization.

 

Grotz was stellar in his first seven appearances (four starts) of the 2018 season, going 2-1 with a 2.53 ERA, which ranks 5th in the Atlantic League. He has allowed just 24 hits in 32.0 innings for a .207 opponents’ average and has walked only 10 while striking out 33 batters.

 

After allowing a run in his first appearance of the season, Grotz strung together a 21.2-inning scoreless streak from April 27 to May 30, through which he held a 0.40 ERA, the lowest in the league. His streak established the fourth longest in Revs history, third longest by a starter, and longest by a starter since 2012. That included five shutout innings in his first start, May 2 against the Road Warriors, a four-inning save on May 8 at Southern Maryland, and just the fifth nine-inning complete game shutout in Revs history, a six-hitter on May 24 at Lancaster, in which he walked only one and struck out nine in just the fifth start of his pro career. It is the only nine-inning complete game shutout to have been thrown in the Atlantic League in 2018.

 

The 25-year-old Grotz, in just his fourth pro season, joins Major League veteran left-hander Ross Detwiler as Revs to have their contracts purchased in 2018. Detwiler joined the Seattle Mariners organization on June 1 and was assigned to Triple-A Tacoma.

 

“We are all very happy for Zac,” stated Mason. “He has worked extremely hard and has been very focused on getting better. We wish him the best and hopefully he will take full advantage of this great opportunity.”

 

Grotz was acquired by the Revs after pitching in relief for Bridgeport in 2017, going 4-3 with a 3.77 ERA and a pair of saves in a league-high-tying 67 appearances. His 80 strikeouts led Atlantic League relievers.

 

The San Mateo, CA native was originally a 28th round draft pick of the Houston Astros in 2015 out of Embry-Riddle University and also pitched in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 2016 after his contract was purchased from the Frontier League. Grotz owns a career 19-9 record with a 2.62 ERA and 18 saves in 127 appearances (seven starts).

 

Grotz becomes the 40th player in Revs history to have his contract purchased in-season by a Major League club and the third by the New York Mets (1B Jason Botts-2011, RHP Matt Fox-2013). Two additional Revs went on to play in the Majors for the Mets, as left-handed pitcher Justin Hampson was called up by New York in 2012, and fellow lefty Scott Rice pitched for the Mets in 2013 and 2014 after playing in York.

 

Grotz departs York having retired 17 of his last 19 batters in a Revs uniform, which he accomplished in his last start on Monday, June 4 at New Britain.