Sept. 21: He cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple‑A Nashville, according to MiLB.com. Was this the only option?
Sept. 17: Milwaukee designated left‑hander Rob Zastryzny for assignment, reports Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The pitcher was on the injured list and on a rehab stint, and with no options left the club chose to remove him from the roster rather than retain him in the bullpen.
Zastryzny, 34, missed all major‑league action this year because of a trapezius strain, spending the season on the 60‑day IL. In 2024‑25 he logged 29 2/3 innings with a 2.12 ERA, a 20.5% strikeout rate and a 9.5% walk rate for Milwaukee’s bullpen—numbers slightly below average but not disastrous.
This campaign has been rough. He endured four separate rehab attempts, each cut short before the latest. His fastball, once a 92 mph gem, has slipped to a modest 90.2 mph in Triple‑A, reflecting the lingering shoulder and back issues. He posted a 3.27 ERA over 11 minor‑league innings, yet the stop‑and‑start pattern and velocity loss raise red flags for a Brewers club that currently boasts baseball’s best record and eyes a first‑round playoff bye. For my money, the dip in speed could hurt the team’s depth when it matters most.
A 2013 second‑round pick out of the Cubs, Zastryzny has seen parts of seven big‑league seasons. Last year he logged a career‑high 22 appearances, totaling 89 MLB innings with a respectable 3.84 ERA, though injuries, subpar peripheral stats and average velocity have limited his staying power. In the minors he’s compiled ten campaigns, posting a 4.69 ERA across 437 1/3 innings.
If he clears waivers, Zastryzny can elect free agency and jump‑start his offseason, likely attracting non‑roster deals with spring‑training invites. Should another club take a chance and add him to a major‑league roster, could he re‑emerge as a late‑season asset?