Stark County’s representation in Major League Baseball continues to grow.
Zach Dezenzo, a graduate of Marlington High School and Ohio State, was called up to the major leagues by the Houston Astros on Tuesday. He made his MLB debut in the Astros’ 4-2 win at Texas. Dezenzo was the designated hitter and batted seventh in the order, striking out 0 of 4. He wears jersey number 9 for Houston.
Dezenzo’s promotion comes just over a week after the Detroit Tigers drafted former Jackson High School player Dillon Dingler, another former Buckeye. Dingler’s former high school teammate Kyle Nicolas currently plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
When the Pirates signed Nicolas in September 2023, he became the first county product to make the Major Leagues since Dirk Hayhurst of Canton South in 2009. Stark now has three players on MLB rosters.
Dezenzo is a 6’5″, 220-pound, hard-hitting infielder and the Astros’ fourth-best prospect according to MLB.com. Dezenzo has had a rapid rise and was selected in the 12th round of the 2022 MLB Draft (373rd overall).
Due to injuries, the 24-year-old Dezenzo only played 38 games in the minors this season, but he posted a .306 batting average with 13 doubles, six home runs and 24 RBIs while with the Rookie League Astros, Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land. In 11 games with Sugar Land, Dezenzo posted an impressive .391 batting average with four home runs, four doubles and 13 RBIs. That included an OPS of 1.211.
Dezenzo set Ohio State’s single-season home run record with 19 as a senior in 2022 (a mark he shares with Massillon product Dan Seimetz).
In 607 minor league at-bats during his career, Dezenzo has a .297 batting average with 28 home runs, 100 RBIs and 31 stolen bases.
To make room for Dezenzo on the active roster, the Astros sent outfielder Trey Cabbage to Triple A. To make room for Dezenzo on the 40-man roster, they sent pitcher Dylan Coleman into action.
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Zach Dezenzo makes his Major League Baseball debut with the Houston Astros
