Hubbry Logo
Zack WeissZack WeissMain
Open search
Zack Weiss
Community hub
Zack Weiss
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Zack Weiss
Zack Weiss
Zack Weiss
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Zachary Daniel Weiss (Hebrew: זאק וייס; born June 16, 1992) is an American-Israeli professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels, and Boston Red Sox.

Key Information

Weiss was a 2015 Southern League All Star, and a 2015 MILB.com Cincinnati Organization All Star, after a season in which his 30 saves were second-most in Minor League Baseball. The Cincinnati Reds added Weiss to their active roster for Opening Day 2018, and he made his major league debut that year.[1]

In 2018, he became a dual Israeli citizen. He pitched for Team Israel at the 2019 European Baseball Championship. He also pitched for the team at the Africa/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournament in Italy in September 2019, which Israel won to qualify to play baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He pitched for Team Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in the summer of 2021, and won its game against Mexico. He pitched for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Early and personal life

[edit]

Weiss was born in Irvine, California, to Ernest and Nancy Weiss, has a younger sister, Ariana, and is Jewish.[2][3][4] He was bar mitzvahed at Congregation B’nai Israel in Tustin, California.[5] In October 2018 he became a dual Israeli citizen, partly to help Israel's baseball team make the 2020 Olympics.[6][7]

Weiss played baseball for Northwood High School in Irvine, where as a senior he was second-team All-California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division II and second-team All-Sea View League.[3] Academically, he had a 4.0 GPA.[8]

College

[edit]

He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 10th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. He did not sign, and instead attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he majored in geography and environmental studies and played college baseball for the UCLA Bruins baseball team.[2] In 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.[9] In his junior year of college, he switched from being a starter to pitching as a reliever, had a 2.25 earned run average (ERA), and helped the Bruins win the 2013 NCAA Division I baseball tournament to capture their first national baseball championship.[10][5] He was a 2013 Jewish Sports Review Division I College Baseball All-American, along with Alex Bregman and Brad Goldberg.[4]

Professional career

[edit]

Weiss has four pitches; he mostly throws his 94–95 mph (151–153 km/h) four-seam fastball and an 84–85 mph (135–137 km/h) slider, and also throws a curveball and a changeup.[11][10][2]

Cincinnati Reds

[edit]

Weiss was then selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth round, with the 195th overall selection, of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.[12] Weiss signed with the Reds and made his professional debut with the Arizona League Reds, and also played for the Billings Mustangs that year. Weiss spent 2014 with the Dayton Dragons of the Single–A Midwest League, for whom he was 2–4 with a 2.42 ERA, with 80 strikeouts in 63+1⁄3 innings.[13]

Weiss spent 2015 with the Daytona Tortugas of the High–A Florida State League and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos of the Double-A Southern League.[14] He had a Pensacola-record 25 saves (leading the league; in 27 opportunities), and 30 saves (second in the minor leagues; in 32 opportunities) in total between the two teams.[15][16][10][17] In 63 2/3 innings, he had a 1.98 ERA and gave up 42 hits and 15 walks, while striking out 90 batters (averaging 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings).[10][18] He was a 2015 Southern League All Star, and a 2015 MILB.com Cincinnati Organization All Star.[16] After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League. He suffered an elbow injury in early 2016 while in major-league spring training, did not pitch that year, and underwent surgery to transpose the ulnar nerve and to remove scar tissue in his pitching elbow in December 2016.[19][20][18][21][22]

In 2017, Weiss was 2–1 with one save and a 2.08 ERA, and 19 strikeouts in 13 innings, for Daytona, and 2–4 with nine saves (tied for 7th in the league) and a 2.89 ERA, and 37 strikeouts in 28 innings, for Pensacola.[13] Between the two teams, he averaged 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings.[23] The Reds added him to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season.[24] In 2018 in the minors, between the Arizona Reds, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, and the Louisville Bats he was 3–3 with one save and a 5.40 ERA, and 26 strikeouts in 24+1⁄3 innings.[25]

Reds manager Bryan Price said in spring training in 2018: "if he doesn't make the team I imagine we'll see him at some point during the year."[22] Cincinnati added Weiss to their active roster on their Opening Day, March 30, 2018,[1] and he made his major-league debut on April 12, at Great American Ball Park against the St. Louis Cardinals.[26] He gave up two walks and two home runs to the four batters he faced, without recording an out. It was Weiss' only major-league appearance for the Reds; he was released by the team on September 1, 2018.[27]

Minnesota Twins

[edit]

On November 1, 2018, Weiss signed a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins.[28] During the 2019 season, pitching for the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, he was a combined 1–3 with a 7.24 ERA in 16 relief appearances, with 30 strikeouts in 27+1⁄3 innings.[29] He was released by the organization on July 15, 2019.[30]

Long Island Ducks

[edit]

On July 19, 2019, Weiss signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Pitching for them in 2019, he was 4–1 with one save and a 4.68 ERA in 16 relief appearances, as he struck out 34 batters in 25 innings.[29] He became a free agent following the season.

Sugar Land Skeeters

[edit]

On February 18, 2020, Weiss signed a minor-league deal with the Cleveland Indians. He did not appear in a game for the organization due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[31] Weiss was released by the Indians on May 29.[32]

On August 4, 2020, Weiss signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Constellation Energy League. In five relief appearances, he posted a 5.40 ERA while striking out seven batters in 6+2⁄3 innings.[29]

Kansas City Monarchs

[edit]

On February 25, 2021, Weiss signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball. Weiss allowed one run in two innings of work in his only appearance for the Monarchs.[29]

Seattle Mariners

[edit]

On May 22, 2021, Weiss had his contract purchased by the Seattle Mariners organization.[33] Pitching for the Tacoma Rainiers of the Triple-A West in 2021, he was 2–3 with one save and a 4.31 ERA.[29] In 30 games (one start) he pitched 39+2⁄3 innings, striking out 56 batters (12.7 strikeouts per 9 innings).[29]

Los Angeles Angels

[edit]

On November 28, 2021, Weiss signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels.[34] He began the 2022 season with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, with whom he was 2–3 with three saves and a 4.50 ERA in 43 relief appearances, covering 50 innings in which he had 65 strikeouts and held batters to a .226 batting average.[35][36] He had his contract selected on September 1, 2022, and with the Angels was 0–1 with a 3.38 ERA in 12 relief appearances, as in 13+1⁄3 innings he gave up seven hits and struck out 18 batters (12.2 strikeouts per 9 innings).[35] Between both the majors and the minors in 2022, right-handed batters hit .161/.240/.277 against him.[37]

Weiss began the 2023 season with Triple-A Salt Lake, with whom he was 2–1 with two saves and a 6.03 ERA, as he struck out 50 batters in 37+1⁄3 innings (12.1 strikeouts per 9 innings).[38] He made six relief appearances for the Angels, logging a 5.06 ERA with 7 strikeouts in 5+1⁄3 innings pitched.[39] On August 22, Weiss was designated for assignment.[40]

Boston Red Sox

[edit]

On August 25, 2023, Weiss was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox and assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Worcester Red Sox.[41] In four relief appearances he had two saves as he pitched four scoreless innings for Worcester, with six strikeouts.[39] He was added to Boston's active roster on September 9, and optioned back to Worcester on September 23.[42]

In six relief appearances for the Red Sox, he was 0–0 with a 2.08 ERA, as in 8.2 innings he struck out 8 batters and had an 0.808 WHIP.[39] He threw his slider 65% of the time, and his fastball 35% of the time.[43] Weiss was designated for assignment on January 31, 2024.[44]

In 2023, 63.7% of his pitches were sliders, against which batters hit .121, and 7.1% were cutters, as to which opponents did not have a hit.[45] His fastball averaged 94.3 mph, and he induced a 13.9% swinging-strike rate and 33% opponents’ chase rate in his major league career to date.[46]

Minnesota Twins (second stint)

[edit]

On February 7, 2024, Weiss was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins.[45] On April 9, he was placed on the 60–day injured list with a right shoulder strain.[47] Following his activation from the injured list on July 17, Weiss was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A St. Paul Saints.[48] In 21 appearances split between the rookie-level Florida Complex League Twins, Single-A Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, and St. Paul, he accumulated a 2-1 record and 4.66 ERA with 34 strikeouts. Weiss elected free agency following the season on November 4.[49]

St. Louis Cardinals

[edit]

On January 27, 2025, Weiss signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.[50] He made 43 appearances for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, registering a 3-2 record and 5.43 ERA with 77 strikeouts and two saves across 66+1⁄3 innings pitched. Weiss elected free agency following the season on November 6.[51]

Team Israel

[edit]

Weiss pitched for Team Israel at the 2019 European Baseball Championship, going 1–0 with one save and a 0.00 ERA as in four relief appearances he pitched 6+1⁄3 innings and gave up one hit (holding batters to a .050 batting average) and three walks while striking out five batters.[52] He also pitched for the team at the Africa/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournament in Italy in September 2019, which Israel won to qualify to play baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.[53] In the tournament, he was 0–0 with a 6.00 ERA over three innings in which he gave up one hit, four walks, and had six strikeouts.[54]

Weiss pitched for Team Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in the summer of 2021, and won its game against Mexico.[55] Overall, in three games Weiss pitched seven innings, gave up nine hits and seven earned runs, and struck out 11 batters.[55] He pitched for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[56][57][58]

After the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Weiss said: "I'm not arguing against the people of Palestine being free and treated fairly, but ... Hamas is a terrorist organization bent on extermination of the Jews and eradicating the world of the land of Israel ... kind of all of our holidays are basically celebrating 'they tried to kill us, and they didn’t get us all.' That's the majority of the Jewish holidays... To see what you saw and applaud it, that's not human... when you see families slaughtered indiscriminately. And these people are posting videos of it, they're proud of it, they're parading, they're taking hostages. This isn't war. It's terrorism at its most disgusting level."[59]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Zack Weiss

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Zachary Daniel Weiss (born June 16, 1992) is an American-Israeli professional baseball currently signed to a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Weiss, who holds dual in the United States and , acquired Israeli in 2018 partly to strengthen Israel's national team for international events; he has since pitched for Team Israel in competitions such as the 2019 European Baseball Championship, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the . A right-handed thrower standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, he played at UCLA, where he made 17 appearances (13 starts) as a sophomore in 2012, posting a 3–3 record with a 4.28 over 69.1 innings. Drafted by the in the sixth round (195th overall) of the 2013 MLB Draft out of UCLA, Weiss debuted in the major leagues with the Reds on April 12, 2018, and later appeared for the , though the bulk of his career has involved assignments across multiple organizations.

Early life and background

Family and upbringing

Zack Weiss was born on June 16, 1992, in . Growing up in a family for whom was a central , Weiss frequently attended games with his father, uncles, and cousins, fostering an early passion for the game amid Southern California's baseball culture. His father secured a partial plan following the 1994 MLB strike, allowing Weiss to spend much of his childhood at , located near his home. Weiss developed his skills through local youth , including participation in Northwood Little League, before advancing to high school competition. At Northwood High School in Irvine, he earned two varsity letters as a under coach Rob Stuart, demonstrating notable progression; as a junior, he topped out at 91 mph with consistent speeds of 85-86 mph, and by his senior year in , he had increased his further, contributing to a memorable postseason performance. His high school totals included 82 batters in one , ranking him among top performers in California's Southern Section. This early foundation highlighted his raw talent and dedication, setting the stage for collegiate recruitment without relying on professional scouting hype.

Jewish heritage and dual citizenship

Zack Weiss was born to a Jewish family in Encino, , and has maintained cultural ties to from a young age. According to family accounts, he began sounding the during services at his local at age 8, a tradition reflecting personal involvement in Jewish religious observances. Weiss acquired dual U.S.-Israeli on October 17, 2018, under Israel's , which grants citizenship to individuals of Jewish descent or their eligible relatives. This process occurred alongside nine other Jewish-American baseball players at the Bureau of Population and Immigration office in , primarily to enable participation in international competitions for , such as Olympic qualifiers. While the immediate catalyst was athletic eligibility—requiring for national team representation—Weiss's Jewish heritage provided the legal basis, with sources attributing the decision to a combination of familial roots and professional baseball prospects. At the time, Weiss was a 25-year-old following a brief MLB debut with the earlier that year, positioning the citizenship as a strategic move amid career transitions rather than a relocation or full .

Collegiate career

UCLA Bruins performance

Zack Weiss enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2011 as a freshman right-handed pitcher, transitioning from high school to a key role in the Bruins' rotation. During his freshman season, he made 22 appearances, including 9 starts, primarily as the team's midweek starter, compiling a 5-3 record with a 2.86 ERA over 66 innings pitched. He allowed 44 hits, 24 runs (21 earned), 22 walks, and 1 home run while striking out 53 batters, earning recognition as a Freshman All-American for his contributions to the pitching staff. As a in 2012, Weiss solidified his position as UCLA's No. 3 , appearing in 17 games with 13 starts and posting a 3-3 record alongside a 4.28 in 69.1 . He surrendered 73 hits, 42 runs (33 earned), 7 home runs, and 32 walks, recording 44 strikeouts; this workload highlighted his durability but also areas for refinement in command, as his walk rate increased relative to his freshman year. In his junior year of 2013, Weiss shifted to a relief role amid UCLA's pursuit of the title, which the Bruins ultimately won. He appeared in a team-high 43 games (all in relief), achieving a 2-1 record with a career-best 2.25 over 40 , allowing 36 hits, 13 runs (10 earned), 1 , 12 walks, and 10 hit batters while striking out 27. This transition demonstrated improved efficiency and control, with a lower walk rate (2.70 per 9 ) compared to prior seasons, contributing to his selection in the sixth round (195th overall) of the 2013 MLB Draft by the based on evaluations of his right-handed pitching potential.
YearAppearances (Starts)RecordIPHR/ERHRBB
201122 (9)5-32.86664424/2112253
201217 (13)3-34.2869.17342/3373244
201343 (0)2-12.25403613/1011227

Professional career

Draft and

Weiss was selected by the in the sixth round, with the 195th overall pick, of the out of UCLA. Following the draft, he began his professional career in the Reds' rookie-level affiliate, the , where he posted a 4.08 over 28.2 in 12 appearances, including five starts, with 20 s. In 2014, Weiss transitioned to a relief role at Single-A , recording a 2.42 in 63.1 across 34 games, striking out 80 batters while issuing 22 walks, demonstrating improved command and strikeout efficiency. He advanced to High-A and Double-A in 2015, excelling as a closer with a 1.98 , 90 in 63.2 , and 30 saves—second-most in the Reds' minor league system that year—earning him recognition as a Southern League . Weiss missed the entire 2016 season due to injury, which stalled his momentum despite prior high strikeout rates exceeding in multiple stops. Returning in 2017, he split time between Daytona and Pensacola, achieving a 2.63 over 41 in 34 appearances with 56 strikeouts and 10 saves, rebuilding his prospect stock. Baseball America ranked him as the Reds' No. 22 prospect entering 2016, highlighting his potential as a high-velocity reliever with three above-average pitches when healthy. In 2018, Weiss earned a spot on the roster after strong recovery, though his velocity and command had been points of evaluation amid recovery. Weiss made his MLB debut on April 12, 2018, against the , but in his only appearance with the Reds, he recorded 0.0 innings while allowing four earned runs on two hits—including two home runs—and two walks with no strikeouts, resulting in an uncalculable but effectively poor 36.00 line. The outing reflected ongoing command challenges, as he faced four batters without retiring any, leading to his optioning to Triple-A shortly after; he was later and released by the Reds on September 1, 2018, concluding a minor league tenure marked by dominant relief stretches interrupted by health setbacks.

Minnesota Twins first stint

Weiss signed a minor league contract with the as a on November 19, 2018, after his release from the Cincinnati Reds organization earlier that year. As a right-handed reliever, he spent the entire 2019 season in the Twins' farm system without a major league call-up, shuttling between Double-A and Triple-A affiliates amid ongoing efforts to refine his command and effectiveness against upper-level hitters. In 10 appearances with the Double-A of the Southern League, Weiss recorded a 1–2 mark with a 5.94 over 16+2/3 , surrendering 18 hits—including 3 home runs—12 walks, and 11 earned runs while striking out 20 batters for a 1.800 . His performance escalated in struggles at Triple-A of the , where in 6 outings he went 0–1 with a 9.28 across 10+2/3 innings, allowing 19 hits, 2 homers, just 3 walks, and 11 earned runs opposite 10 strikeouts, yielding a 2.063 .
Team/AffiliateLevelGIPW-LERAHERHRBBSOWHIP
Pensacola Blue WahoosAA1016.21-25.941811312201.800
AAA610.20-19.28191123102.063
These metrics highlighted persistent vulnerabilities to contact and power, with opponents batting .310 against him overall in the Twins system, contributing to no advancement to the major league roster despite the organization's needs. The Twins released Weiss on July 15, 2019, reflecting the competitive pressures on fringe relievers lacking standout velocity or swing-and-miss rates to secure a 40-man roster spot. This period underscored the trajectory, where inconsistency often leads to mid-season cuts without MLB opportunities.

Independent leagues

Following his release from the organization in early 2019, Weiss signed with the of the Atlantic League on July 19, 2019, primarily serving in relief roles to rebuild visibility among scouts. Over 16 appearances that season, he posted a 4-1 record with 1 save, logging 25 , during which he surrendered 23 hits and 12 walks but struck out 34 batters, yielding a 4.68 and 1.40 . In 2020, amid the pandemic's disruption to affiliated baseball, Weiss joined the Sugar Land Skeeters of the temporary Constellation Energy League on August 4. Limited to 5 relief outings totaling 6.2 innings, he achieved a 1-0 record with a 5.40 , allowing 9 hits and 2 walks against 7 strikeouts, reflecting adaptation to a makeshift league's variable competition. Weiss began the 2021 season with the of the American Association, signing on February 25 and making 1 appearance on April 3, where he pitched 2 scoreless innings initially before allowing 1 earned run overall, striking out 5 with a 4.50 and 1.00 . These brief independent engagements, spanning varied leagues with inconsistent talent pools, underscored his persistence in honing pitching skills amid career uncertainty, culminating in MLB interest later that year.
YearTeamLeagueGIPERASOBBWHIP
2019Long Island DucksAtlantic1625.04.6834121.40
2020Sugar Land SkeetersConstellation Energy56.25.40721.65
2021Kansas City MonarchsAmerican Association12.04.50511.00
These metrics highlight moderate effectiveness in high-leverage situations, with rates aiding transitions back to affiliated ball despite elevated s from hittability concerns.

Seattle Mariners

On May 22, 2021, following stints in independent leagues, Weiss signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners and was immediately assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the , in the . In 30 relief appearances (with one start) for Tacoma that season, Weiss posted a 2–3 record and 4.31 ERA over 39⅔ , allowing 34 hits, 19 earned runs, 5 home runs, and 24 walks while 56 batters. His stood at 1.462, with a strikeout rate of 12.7 per nine offset by a walk rate of 5.4 BB/9 that hampered command and contributed to inconsistent results in the hitter-friendly league. He finished 7 games and secured 1 save, underscoring his specialization as a middle reliever, but received no major-league call-up amid the Mariners' competitive AL West bullpen depth. Weiss elected free agency on November 7, 2021, concluding his brief organizational tenure without advancement.

Los Angeles Angels

Weiss signed a minor league contract with the on November 29, 2021, and received a non-roster invitation to 2022 spring training. He spent the bulk of the 2022 regular season with the Triple-A , appearing in 43 games with a 2–3 record, 4.50 ERA, and 65 strikeouts over 50 , while opponents hit .226 against him; his FIP of 5.22 reflected the challenges of pitching at Salt Lake's high altitude of approximately 4,200 feet, which tends to inflate offensive statistics due to reduced air density. On September 1, 2022, the Angels selected his contract from Triple-A, adding him to the active roster for depth late in the season. Weiss made his Angels debut—and second MLB appearance overall—on September 2, 2022, against the Houston Astros, retiring all four batters faced (three via ) in a scoreless ; he appeared in three total games that month, logging 3.1 scoreless innings with five s and no walks. His pitch mix emphasized a (63.7% usage), (29.2%, averaging 93-95 mph), and cutter (7.1%), contributing to his effectiveness in those limited outings. In 2023 spring training, Weiss made four appearances, allowing seven earned runs in 3.0 as he competed for a roster spot amid bullpen competition. He opened the season with , posting a 2–1 record, 6.03 , two saves, and 50 strikeouts in 37⅓ innings across 30 games, again impacted by the venue's altitude favoring hitters; the Bees' home park factors consistently show elevated ERAs for pitchers league-wide. Weiss was recalled to the Angels on May 14 and August 7 for brief stints but did not appear in MLB games that year, serving primarily as organizational depth before being on August 22.

Boston Red Sox

On August 25, 2023, the Boston Red Sox claimed right-handed pitcher Zack Weiss off waivers from the and optioned him to their Triple-A affiliate, the . Weiss made limited appearances in Worcester before being recalled to the major league roster on September 9, 2023. Weiss appeared in six major league games for the Red Sox during the 2023 season, all in roles, logging 8+2⁄3 with a 2.08 , allowing 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, and no home runs while striking out 8 batters. His outings provided short-term depth amid Boston's late-season push, but he was optioned back to Worcester on September 23 before a brief recall on October 2 as the regular season concluded. On January 31, 2024, the Red Sox designated Weiss for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot after claiming Gonzalez off waivers, highlighting the precarious nature of fringe roster positions in MLB where depth players are frequently shuffled via transactions. Weiss cleared waivers and became a minor league shortly thereafter.

Minnesota Twins second stint

On February 7, 2024, the Minnesota Twins claimed right-handed pitcher Zack Weiss off waivers from the Boston Red Sox, reuniting him with the organization following a minor league contract in 2019. At age 31, Weiss was viewed as a potential bullpen option given his familiarity with the Twins' system and recent major league relief outings with the Los Angeles Angels and Red Sox. Weiss's stint was quickly disrupted by injuries, beginning with a right shoulder strain that led to his placement on the 15-day injured list on March 28, retroactive to March 25. He was subsequently transferred to the 60-day injured list due to a right elbow flexor strain, sidelining him for much of the season. Recovery efforts included multiple rehab assignments starting in late June, such as outings with the FCL Twins on June 28, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels on July 2, and St. Paul Saints on July 9. Activated from the 60-day on July 17, Weiss was immediately outrighted to Triple-A , where he made limited appearances in the , recording a 5.40 and 1.88 over 25 innings amid ongoing health management. Persistent injuries in his early 30s restricted him to roles, preventing any major league contributions during this period despite the Twins' need for relief depth.

St. Louis Cardinals

On January 27, 2025, Weiss signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals as a following his release from the organization. He was subsequently assigned to the Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate, the , where he began the 2025 season in the bullpen. The deal included no guaranteed major league salary, positioning Weiss as depth for the Cardinals' relief corps with potential for recall based on performance and roster needs. During 2025 Spring Training, Weiss appeared in limited action for the Cardinals, logging 3 without detailed or figures publicly highlighted in transaction logs, as he competed for a minor league roster spot amid a crowded . In the regular season with Memphis, he made 43 relief appearances, posting a 3-2 record with a 5.37 over 67 , allowing 65 hits, 40 earned runs, 17 s, 36 walks, and recording 77 s with 1 save. Notable outings included earning a win on April 4, 2025, with 2.1 of one-run relief in Memphis's home opener against the ; striking out three over 2⅓ shutout frames on September 1; and surrendering three runs in one on September 14. These efforts demonstrated his role as a multi-inning option, though elevated and walk rates limited recall opportunities to the Cardinals' major league roster amid stable depth through October 2025. evaluations noted his durable 6-foot-3 frame supporting a four-pitch mix, including an 89-92 mph , but emphasized command adjustments needed for major league viability.

International career

Team Israel participation

Zack Weiss, an American-born of Jewish descent, qualified for Israeli under the country's , which grants eligibility to individuals with at least one Jewish or who are Jewish by halakhic standards. In October 2018, he obtained dual U.S.-Israeli , fulfilling the requirement to represent in international competitions governed by rules mandating national . This process, rooted in ancestral ties rather than mere residency, addressed criticisms of "imported" talent by adhering to 's legal framework for eligibility, which does not mandate prior physical residence for acquisition via heritage. Following citizenship approval, Weiss integrated into Team Israel's setup as a right-handed , participating in initial training and qualification activities aimed at Olympic contention. His debut with the national team occurred in the context of these efforts, leveraging his professional experience from systems to bolster Israel's pitching depth. Weiss's involvement emphasized a strategic recruitment of heritage-eligible athletes, enhancing the team's competitiveness without relying on non-citizen imports prohibited by international sports regulations.

Key tournaments and achievements

Weiss appeared on the roster for Team at the 2019 European Baseball Championship, contributing to the team's efforts in the tournament held in , , from September 1 to 8. In the preceding 2019 Europe-Africa Olympic Qualifying Tournament in , (September 18–22), Weiss pitched three relief innings, striking out six batters without allowing earned runs, aiding Israel's undefeated 5–0 record and qualification for the Tokyo Olympics as the tournament winner. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics (baseball competition July 28–August 5), Weiss made three relief appearances for , totaling seven innings pitched and earning one win as the pitcher of record in a victory; the team finished with a 1–3 record but marked Israel's inaugural Olympic participation, achieved as qualifiers despite a world ranking outside the top 20. During the (Pool D games March 11–15), Weiss logged 2.0 innings in relief with a 2.70 , including surrendering one solo ; advanced to the quarterfinals with a 2–1 pool record, upsetting higher-seeded and before a loss to , underscoring the program's growth in leveraging diaspora talent for competitive underdog performances.

References

  1. https://www.mlb.com/player/zack-weiss-592848
  2. https://www.milb.com/player/zack-weiss-592848
  3. https://www.hillel.org/meet-the-american-pitcher-who-brought-new-turf-to-israel
  4. https://uclabruins.com/news/2021/7/6/baseball-weiss-to-make-olympics-debut-for-team-israel
  5. https://uclabruins.com/sports/baseball/roster/zack-weiss/4459
  6. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/weissza01.shtml
  7. https://www.hillel.org/meet-the-american-pitcher-who-brought-new-turf-to-israel/
  8. https://thegreatrabbino.com/2019/03/27/interview-bringing-heat-on-the-mound-and-to-his-brisket-zack-weiss/
  9. https://www.instagram.com/p/CiImH4DvRza/
  10. https://www.ocregister.com/2010/06/15/a-memorable-finish-for-northwoods-weiss/
  11. https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/irvine/northwood-timberwolves/athletes/zack-weiss/?careerid=b6glcksa4p4vf
  12. https://www.redlegnation.com/2015/08/04/qa-with-double-a-pensacola-reliever-zack-weiss/
  13. https://jewishbaseballnews.com/players/zack-weiss/
  14. https://www.jta.org/2018/10/18/sports/team-israel-10-new-baseball-players
  15. https://www.milb.com/news/tacoma-rainiers-tokyo-2020-olympics-eric-filia-usa-zack-weiss-israel
  16. https://www.timesofisrael.com/10-us-baseball-players-becoming-israeli-to-boost-olympics-bid/
  17. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=weiss-001zac
  18. https://www.redsminorleagues.com/2017/12/29/cincinnati-reds-25-prospect-zack-weiss/
  19. https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/3070-zack-weiss/
  20. https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2018/03/08/reds-manager-price-return-zack-weiss-who-knows-he-could-make-our-club/402985002/
  21. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/player/68712/zack-weiss/
  22. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=weissza01
  23. https://www.reddit.com/r/angelsbaseball/comments/r55ed1/angels_have_signed_rhp_zack_weiss_to_a_milb_deal/
  24. https://www.mlb.com/news/zack-weiss-records-four-outs-in-first-appearance-since-2018
  25. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/zack-weiss-592848
  26. https://www.mlb.com/video/zack-weiss-ball-to-mauricio-dubon
  27. https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-red-sox-claim-right-handed-pitcher-zack-weiss-off-waivers-from-los
  28. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/red-sox-claim-romy-gonzalez-waivers-white-sox-zack-weiss-dfa.html
  29. https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2023.shtml
  30. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/twins-claim-zack-weiss-designate-three-players.html
  31. https://www.mlb.com/twins/roster/transactions/2024/03
  32. https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/zack-weiss/48202/news
  33. https://www.mlb.com/twins/roster/transactions/2024/06
  34. https://www.mlb.com/transactions/2024/07/02
  35. https://www.mlb.com/transactions/2024/07/09
  36. https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player/zack-weiss-11596
  37. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/cardinals-sign-zack-weiss-to-minor-league-deal.html
  38. https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/player/_/id/24576/zack-weiss
  39. https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/st-louis-cardinals-team-stats?category=pitching&season=2025&seasonType=pre
  40. https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/stats/t-mr12923/y-2025
  41. https://www.milb.com/memphis/news/memphis-opens-home-slate-with-win-over-buffalo
  42. https://thecardinalnation.com/cardinals-minor-league-notebook-september-1-2025/
  43. https://thecardinalnation.com/?post_type=post&p=292394
  44. https://jta.org/2018/10/18/sports/team-israel-10-new-baseball-players
  45. https://richmondspiders.com/news/2018/10/11/baseball-alumni-to-represent-team-israel-in-olympic-qualifying.aspx
  46. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/2019_European_Championship_%28Rosters%29
  47. https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/roster/israel?season=2023
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.