Zach McAllister

McAllister was drafted by the New York Yankees in the third round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft out of Illinois Valley Central High School.[8] He went 5–2 with a 3.09 ERA in 11 appearances during the 2006 season for the Yankees' Gulf Coast League squad.[9] In 2007, McAllister was in Short Season-A State Island. He posted a 4–6 record with a 5.17 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 71.1 innings.[10]

McAllister was ranked the Yankees' sixth best prospect prior to the 2009 season, according to Baseball America,[11] and their fifth best prospect prior to the 2010 season.[12] He was named the Yankees' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2009 for his performance with the Double-A Trenton Thunder.[13] However, he struggled in 2010 with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.[14]

McAllister pitching in the 2009 Eastern League (AA) All-Star Game

At the 2010 MLB trade deadline, the Yankees and Seattle Mariners almost completed a deal that would have sent McAllister, Jesús Montero, and David Adams to the Seattle Mariners for Cliff Lee. When the teams shared medical reports, the Mariners determined that Adams' ankle was broken, not sprained.[15] As a result, they chose to trade Lee to the Texas Rangers in a package centered on Justin Smoak.[16]

On August 20, he was revealed to be the player to be named later in the July 30 trade between the Yankees and Cleveland Indians for Austin Kearns.[13][17] After the 2010 season, McAllister was added to the Indians' 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[18]

After teammate Fausto Carmona was sent to the disabled list, McAllister was activated and made his major league debut against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 7, 2011 at Progressive Field in Cleveland.[19] McAllister earned his first MLB victory on May 7, 2012 against the Chicago White Sox.[20]

In a May 13, 2012 road game against the Boston Red Sox, McAllister started in place of injured pitcher Josh Tomlin and recorded a career-high 8 strikeouts in a 4–1 loss. McAllister pitched 7 innings and gave up 4 runs on 8 hits.[21] McAllister recorded the shortest outing of his career on August 6, pitching 1.2 innings. He gave up 9 runs, 2 earned.[22]

He was designated for assignment on August 1, 2014,[23] and optioned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers on August 3. In 2015, he had an ERA of 3 in 61 appearances. He was 4–4 in 69 innings.

At the end of the 2016 regular season, McAllister finished with a 3.44 ERA and would be added to the postseason roster as the Indians clinched its first Central division title since 2007.[24] On October 17, 2016, McAllister made his first postseason debut as the fourth pitcher of Game 3 of the ALCS against the Blue Jays. He faced three batters before giving up one run, before being pulled in favor of Bryan Shaw.[25] During Game 2 of the World Series, McAllister made his second postseason appearance relieving Trevor Bauer. McAllister pitched through the fifth inning with two strikeouts before issuing a walk and two earned runs.[26]

In 2017, McAllister appeared in 50 games, posting a 2–2 record, striking out 66 batters, walking 21, while posting a 1.19 WHIP and a 2.61 ERA.[27] He recorded his 500th career MLB strikeout on Sept. 11, 2017 as the Indians captured their 19th win in a row.[28] McAllister avoided arbitration with the Tribe on Jan. 12, 2018 by agreeing to a one-year deal valued at $2.45 million. McAllister was designated for assignment by the Indians on August 3, 2018, and, after clearing waivers, was released on August 7.[29]

On August 10, 2018, McAllister signed a major league contract with the Detroit Tigers.[30] Eight days later, McAllister was designated for assignment by the Tigers after playing in three games and giving up eight runs.[31] On August 21, 2018, McAllister elected free agency after clearing waivers.[32]

On August 27, 2018, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed McAllister to a minor league contract and assigned him to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.[33] He appeared in five games, pitching six innings and allowing six earned runs.[34]

On January 22, 2019, McAllister signed a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers,[35] but was released on March 25.[36]

McAllister agreed to return to the Dodgers on a minor league contract a few days later.[37] He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.

From 2010 to 2014, McAllister threw a four-seam and two-seam fastball in the low 90s, a cut fastball in the mid-high 80s, a changeup averaging about 80, and a curveball in the high 70s.[38] Some sources also list him as throwing a slider.[39] Since being converted into a reliever in 2015, McAllister now relies on 3 pitches only.