Yankees deal Zastryzny back to Brewers

The New York Yankees traded left-hander Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) back to the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. Photo: Milwaukee Brewers

May 18, 2025

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

The New York Yankees traded left-hander Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) back to the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.

The veteran southpaw was immediately added to the Brewers’ big league roster and he pitched two scoreless innings in relief in the Brewers’ 7-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins.

Zastryzny has taken a circuitous route back to the Brewers. After posting a 1.17 ERA with five strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings in nine appearances for the Brewers last season, he was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs in November.

But prior to spring training, the Cubs designated him for assignment, and on February 17, he was signed to a minor league deal by the Yankees. He proceeded to register a 4.50 ERA in 13 appearances for the Yankees’ triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders.

Zastryzny’s first tenure with the Brewers started when he was signed in December 2023. He spent the bulk of the 2024 campaign with the triple-A Nashville Sounds where he went 4-0 with a 3.03 ERA in 30 games. He had 39 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings.

He finished the season on the 60-day injured list with left elbow tendinitis.

Zastryzny was a second-round pick of the Cubs in 2013. He recorded a 4.41 ERA in 18 relief appearances with the Cubs from 2016 to 2018 and earned a World Series ring in 2016.

From 2019 to 2022, he pitched in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins, New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels organizations.

He also started for Canada against Mexico in the World Baseball Classic in March 2023.