World Series Wednesday: Rob Zastryzny

Throughout the off-season, we will highlight players and staff weekly who stopped through Iowa on their way to making history with the 2016 World Champion Chicago Cubs. Today, we take a look at southpaw, Rob Zastryzny.

Rob Zastryzny, LHP
Drafted: 2nd round by the Chicago Cubs in the 2013 draft
MLB Debut: Aug. 19, 2016
Iowa Cubs Career (2016): 7-3, 4.33 ERA, 15G, 14GS, 81.0IP, 67H, 42R, 39ER, 7HR, 31BB, 77K

Twenty-sixteen was a big year for left-handed starter Rob Zastryzny. Over the course of a single season, the 2013 Cubs' draft pick made the improbable run from Double-A to the major leagues where he helped the Cubs bring home their first World Series Championship in 108 years. What a difference one year makes.

Zastryzny picked up in 2016 where he left off the previous season, in Double-A Tennessee. The 25-year-old looked for a comeback season after missing half of 2015 with a broken ankle and posting a 2-5 record with a 6.23 ERA (42ER/60.2IP) for the Smokies.

Zastryzny got off to a better start in 2016, compiling a 3-2 record with a 4.28 ERA (26ER/54.2IP) in nine starts for Tennessee. Injuries at Triple-A left a hole in Iowa's rotation and opened the door for a promotion for the southpaw in May. He made his Triple-A debut on May 24 against El Paso, spinning 7.0 innings and allowing two runs off five hits. It was the first time a left-hander pitcher had thrown 7.0 or more innings in his Triple-A debut for Iowa since Raul Valdes in 2005.

Zastryzny stuck as a part of the Iowa rotation, but didn't again match his debuting performance until late June when a tweak to his slider made all the difference. Zastryzny posted a 3.64 ERA from June 26-Aug. 13 and tabbed 50 strikeouts over 47.0 innings. He missed one start over that stretch due to a tired arm, but came back with fire. Zastryzny allowed two earned runs over 2.0 relief innings in his first outing, but followed with 15.0 scoreless innings over three starts - including 5.0 perfect innings at Omaha on Aug. 1. For the effort, Zastryzny was recognized as the Pacific Coast Pitcher of the Week on Aug. 7, his first accolade of the kind at any level of professional ball.

Scheduled to take the hill on Aug. 18 for the I-Cubs, Zastryzny was looking for his fourth win in as many starts. He entered the day 3-0 with a 2.81 ERA (5ER/16.0IP) in August with 22 strikeouts and two walks. However, the lefty never got the ball. Instead, he was handed his first ticket to The Show.

Zastryzny made his major league debut on Aug. 19 at Colorado. Taking the mound in the 10th inning, he loaded the bases on two hits and a walk, but was able to get out of the inning for a scoreless outing. He pitched five more times out of the bullpen for Chicago before getting his first big league start on Sept. 29 at Pittsburgh. Zastryzny went 3.2 innings and gave up one unearned run while whiffing four.

The lefty finished his 2016 season with a 1-0 record and a 1.13 ERA (2ER/16.IP) with the Cubs. He earned a spot on NLCS roster against the Dodgers, but never appeared in a game. It is anticipated that Zastryzny will be assigned to Iowa to begin 2017 and in due time, will join Chicago's rotation.