TODAY: Zeuch has been released, the Cardinals announced.
MAY 21: The Cardinals announced a handful of roster moves prior to tonight’s game. Left-hander Matthew Liberatore, whose imminent promotion was reported yesterday, has now officially had his contract selected. To make room on the active roster, righty Jake Walsh has been optioned to Triple-A Memphis. Fellow righty T.J. Zeuch has been designated for assignment to open up a spot for Liberatore on the 40-man roster.
The Blue Jays selected Zeuch 21st overall in the 2016 draft, with Zeuch then landing at #8 among Toronto prospects the next year, according to Baseball America. However, his prospect stock faded as he climbed the ranks of the minors, dropping to #12 in the system in 2018 and #24 in 2019. BA’s reports on Zeuch noted that his primary pitch, a sinker, was good at generating ground balls, but that Zeuch lacked a strikeout pitch, as his curveball and slider were mediocre.
Those reports have largely proved astute as Zeuch has faced more talented hitters. Over 2019-2021 with the Blue Jays, he threw 49 innings at the big league level, generating worm burners at a decent 50.9% clip but a paltry 14.1% strikeout rate. The blue birds designated him for assignment in July of last year and traded him to the red birds for cash considerations.
After the trade last year, Zeuch threw 38 1/3 innings for Memphis with a 4.93 ERA, 65.7% grounder rate and 21.6% strikeout rate. Unfortunately, things have soured so far this year, as Zeuch has an unsightly 11.64 ERA through 19 1/3 frames. He hasn’t even been getting ground balls at his customary pace, slipping to 36.8%.
The Cardinals will now have a week to trade him or expose him to waivers. It’s possible that a team in need of pitching depth could write off this year’s struggles as a small sample blip and take a shot on him, given his former first-round pedigree. He’s still just 26 years old and is in his final option year, meaning he could be stashed in Triple-A for emergencies.
Brewers could maybe pick up and work with at AAA use him for depth. Especially with I think with some who are pitching good enough to possibly get promoted like Barker, Small, Kelley, Sanchez and couple others. Honestly I think teams would nuts not to call on some of these relievers for a trade
*Daffy Duck voice*
“Zeuch…. and awaaaay!”
(WHAM!)
How in the World is T.J. McFarland still with the Club?!
Because Mo signed him for two years in the office season and he clearly doesn’t like to be wrong. T.J. was good last year.
Because Seth won’t let him voice any characters on family guy or American Dad.
T.J. Zeus @Forever Giant
marmol needs fired
What? Why?
Kodiak Marmoset?
I don’t know, he’s been a great puppet so far. Keep pulling his strings and give him a little more time.
@jerrybird unfortunately untill mo gets fired or he needs a scapegoat marmol is here to stay, tbh i hoped both happens i getting tired of mo’s arrogance thinking he is the smartest man in the room. sad thing is we had a good manager in schlidt that had nice balance of using adv. metrics but also having a feel for his team but he didn’t get along with mo and be his puppet so see ya.
You can tell fans don’t know anything about how current baseball is played, managed or baseball teams are ran when you say (insert managers name) should be fired less than a season into his tenure. Just stfu you don’t even know what you’re watching.
If you don’t stain your deck. It’s like the previous owners are still around.
As should put this guy up..former first round pick yes please
Pardon?
T.J. has not been bad, just not as unbeatable as last year. Marmol has done no worse than any other manager might have done. The Hicks as starter experiment needs to end. He’s, at best, a 2 inning man.
They need to trade for Montas.
no we don’t not at oak asking price we are a wc team at best and rather not give up some of our top prospects for a year or 2 of montas
Really brodie? Quite a few prospects we have don’t have anywhere to play… I know that can change year to year but prospects do not equal quality MLB players unless you trade them for one. Cards need pitching badly, hicks needs to go back to the bullpen so he can be nasty again. The cards are going to have to spend $ on pitching now. They are not just a WC team. If they get oniell going and can see what they have in Gorman theor lineup is stacked… obviously best defense in baseball as well
i get there are kids that don’t have a spot on the mlb roster, but our needs were apparent before the season. we needed a ss which could of been addressed in fa, and a few arm which also could of been had via trade before the asking price was insane. instead we get matz as our big ticket item (don’t get me wrong i like the matz signing) and do nothing about ss other than hope that dejong would bounce back. ff to now we still have no ss and we’re moving a gg 2b to ss to let a kid that needs more time in aaa to figure things out, but hey let’s let a kid that k’s 35%.+ in aaa be our 2b and take a gg glover and move out of pos. the way mo is constructing the roster just screams train wreck, but hey he knows best right
Zeuch most likely refused to cheat and was subsequently released. Only a matter of time before former Cardinals join together in a class action law suit against the team
Every pitcher has cheated for decades now get over it.
JimmyForum, I am sensing a strong Cardinals-hating vibe from you. Care to reveal what your favorite team is and why you hate the Cards so much?
I know of a small number of pitchers who definitely did not cheat and their careers and their financial status were hurt
Time to check out the Orient Express TJ!
Zeuch is not a MLB caliber pitcher and has never ever been one. This as called before he pitched an inning for the BlueJays.