by Rylee Bamberger
Although he normally is a starting pitcher for the Troy Trojans baseball team, graduate transfer Zach Fruit is coming off a dominant 4.2 inning performance out of the bullpen. On Friday, April 7, Fruit relieved Logan Ross in the fourth inning.
This was a spectacular Friday for Fruit, recording nine strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work. Fruit limited Arkansas State to only three hits and one run with 94 pitches in his appearance.
The 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher has produced the best results for the Trojans. Although Fruit has the highest ERA out of Troy’s starting rotation, he leads the team with a record of 5-1.
Fruit also has been one of the most dominant pitchers in Division I baseball. Fruit is ranked 11th in the nation with a 14.03 strikeout per nine innings rate. Fruit is also tied as the No. 44 pitcher in the nation for wins.
This season, Fruit has 53 strikeouts in only 34 innings and has limited opposing batters to a .229 batting average when facing him. Fruit’s success is contributed to his high velocity and his experience.
According to Perfect Game, one of the world’s largest scouting organizations, Fruit averages a 95-mph fastball but hit 99.2-mph in his first appearance of the season. He also throws an 80-83-mph sweeping curveball.
Fruit transferred from Eastern Michigan, where he led the Eagles with four wins and 65 strikeouts in 2022. In 2021, he was the main piece in the Eagles’ bullpen. Fruit struck out 18 batters in 17.2 innings, finishing the season with a 3.52 ERA and leading Eastern Michigan with three saves.
On May 23, 2022, Fruit was assigned to the Frederick Keys of the MLB Draft League. The MLB Draft League is an amateur-professional league made up of six teams. The season is split into two halves.
In the first half of the season, rosters consist of players eligible for the MLB Draft that are trying to increase their stock before July. The second half of the season has players who have played longer than their amateur status and have become paid professionals.
The MLB Draft League has produced 86 MLB draft picks and has had 50 undrafted free agents earn the opportunity to sign with a major league organization.
According to Prep Baseball Report, Fruit led the Draft League in strikeouts with 36 in only 22 innings. He was ranked as the No. 39 pitcher and PBR said “he has the two requisite pitches to become a good pro reliever.”
The 23-year-old from Dundee, Michigan will look to continue to build his draft stock in his last year of collegiate eligibility. Troy is tied for seventh in the conference with 22 regular season games remaining. The Trojans need the veteran to serve as the program’s ace to make a deep run in the Sun Belt Tournament.
