| Date | News | Comment |
| Jun 2 2025 | Zerpa threw 1.2 scoreless innings in Sunday's 1-0 loss against the Tigers. He lowered his ERA to 5.01 | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa has improved after a few rough outings in March and early May, as he has a 1.08 ERA and 0.60 WHIP since May 16. However, he's seen a significant drop in his strikeout rate to 13.6 percent from 20.5 percent in 2024. He still has plus velocity with an average 96.0 mph fastball, so there's hope for a turnaround. He has just two holds as his slow start has limited his high-leverage usage, but he's still a key lefty in the setup corps. |
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| Mar 8 2025 | Zerpa threw a scoreless inning in Friday's spring training win over the Angels. He's thrown four scoreless innings with five strikeouts and no walks this spring. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa became a high-leverage weapon last season thanks to a sinker with high velocity (it reached 99 mph last year, according to MLB.com) that helped lead to a 58.4% ground-ball rate. He'll be a key lefty in the late innings in the bullpen and could be a good source of holds (12 last season). |
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| Sep 24 2024 | Zerpa (2-0) earned the extra-inning win over the Nationals on Tuesday, pitching a perfect inning. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa worked the ninth inning in a scoreless game, and he was able to keep it that way. He's allowed just one hit while striking out six over four innings across four appearances since he rejoined the major-league roster Sept. 14. The left-handed reliever is at a 4.06 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 47:18 K:BB with 10 holds and a blow save over 51 innings in the majors this season. |
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| Sep 14 2024 | The Royals recalled Zerpa from Triple-A Omaha on Saturday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Chris Stratton (forearm) headed for the injured list, the Royals will call upon Zerpa to help get their bullpen through the final couple weeks of the regular season. The 24-year-old southpaw owns a 4.40 ERA and 1.57 WHIP through 47 big-league innings on the year and will most likely serve in middle relief while with Kansas City. |
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| Aug 26 2024 | The Royals optioned Zerpa to Triple-A Omaha on Monday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa leads Kansas City with 53 appearances this season and has pitched well for the bulk of the campaign, but in August, he's turned in a 9.82 ERA and 4:8 K:BB in 7.1 frames. Daniel Lynch was called up from Triple-A to take Zerpa's spot in the bullpen. |
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| Jun 26 2024 | Zerpa (1-0) struck out one without allowing a baserunner over two-thirds of an inning to earn the win over the Marlins on Wednesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa's had a strong season, but his overall numbers are skewed by a five-run meltdown versus the Rangers last Saturday. It was just the third time all year he had allowed multiple runs, and he bounced back with a sharp outing Wednesday to grab his first win. Zerpa is at a 3.41 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 25:9 K:BB over 29 innings while adding eight holds and a blown save. The southpaw saw increased high-leverage work in May, but the Royals have gone 9-14 in June, creating fewer opportunities for him to pitch in key situations. Zerpa should continue to factor in the late innings, but he's not yet a threat to James McArthur's closer job. |
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| May 18 2024 | Zerpa extended his scoreless streak to 7.2 innings with a perfect inning in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Athletics. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa's scoreless streak spans nine appearances, and he's earned five holds while adding an 8:0 K:BB in that span. The southpaw came up through the minors as a starter, but he's found some success in the Royals' bullpen this year. He's up to seven holds through 20 appearances while pitching to a 1.47 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 20:3 K:BB over 18.1 innings this season. Zerpa has yet to get a look for saves, but he's been one of the Royals' most effective relievers over the first quarter-plus of the campaign. |
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| Mar 20 2024 | Manager Matt Quatraro said Wednesday that Zerpa will begin the season in the Royals' bullpen, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 12 of Zerpa's 15 MLB appearances last season came out of the bullpen, and he'll officially reprise his role as a multi-inning reliever in 2024. A strong start to the regular season could help the 24-year-old southpaw move into the rotation, but Zerpa would have to turn things around after giving up seven earned runs across 9.2 innings this spring. |
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| Mar 7 2024 | Zerpa allowed a run on two hits and struck out five without walking a batter over three innings in his first spring start Wednesday versus the Mariners. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa's first two appearances of the Cactus League slate had come out of the bullpen, but the Royals are intent on keeping him stretched out as a starter. He's started six of his 19 major-league appearances, though he primarily worked as a long reliever in 2023 when he was with the Royals. Zerpa faces an uphill battle to make the rotation out of camp, but he should be one of the first options available for a call-up from Triple-A Omaha once the season is underway -- if he doesn't end up serving as a swingman in the bullpen. |
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| Sep 20 2023 | Zerpa (3-3) earned the win Wednesday against the Guardians. He allowed three hits while striking out four over 5.1 scoreless innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After Zack Greinke pitched the first 3.2 innings, Zerpa entered in relief and proceeded to blank the Guardians for 5.1 frames to earn his second straight win. The 23-year-old southpaw has excelled out of the bullpen recently, allowing just one run in his last three appearances (10.1 innings), striking out nine while issuing just one walk in that span. Zerpa may be making a case to start the 2024 campaign in Kansas City's rotation. He now sports a 4/83 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB across 37.1 innings this season. |
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| Sep 16 2023 | Zerpa (2-3) allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out five over four innings to earn the win Friday over the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa has bounced between the rotation and the bullpen, and his appearance Friday was as a long reliever behind Zack Greinke, who went just two innings. Zerpa threw 70 pitches (43 strikes) in an effective appearance. He's allowed just two runs over his last nine innings, an improvement on his 5.63 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 25:7 K:BB through 32 innings overall. Zerpa could continue to serve as a piggyback option for Greinke or Alec Marsh over the last two weeks of the season. |
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| Aug 30 2023 | Zerpa (1-3) allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three over 5.2 innings to take the loss Wednesday versus the Pirates. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa has moved between the bullpen and the rotation throughout August, but this was his longest outing of the year. He wasn't particularly effective, throwing just 49 of 84 pitches for strikes while allowing multiple runs for the fourth time in eight appearances. Overall, he has a 6.65 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB through 23 innings this season. If Brady Singer (arm) is cleared to pitch next week, Zerpa would likely move back to the bullpen unless the Royals opt to switch to a six-man rotation for the final month of the campaign. |
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| Aug 27 2023 | Zerpa struck out a batter and allowed one run on one hit while working out of the bullpen in Saturday's 15-2 loss to the Mariners. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa had started in each of his last two appearances, but he was piggybacked in Tuesday's game against Oakland by Zack Greinke, who was eased back in from his return from the injured list with a four-inning relief appearance. Greinke should be ready to take on a more traditional starting role the next time his turn in the rotation comes up during the Royals' upcoming series with the Pirates, so Zerpa appears to have transitioned back into a full-time relief role. |
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| Aug 22 2023 | Zerpa (1-2) allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out four over three innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Athletics. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa served as more of an opener, allowing the Royals to ease Zack Greinke back in for his return from an elbow injury. Zerpa ended up giving up all the runs in his start, and his future in the rotation for the rest of this season is likely in doubt. He's pitched to a poor 7.16 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB through 16.1 innings over six appearances (two starts). |
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| Aug 18 2023 | Zerpa did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over four innings against the Mariners. He struck out six. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It wasn't an ideal start for Zerpa as the right-hander allowed three hits and two walks over the first two innings while also beaning two batters. He still managed to come away with just one run allowed but was replaced by Max Castillo to open the fifth after reaching a season-high 84 pitches. Zerpa has now allowed five runs over his last two appearances, recording an 8:3 K:BB over that span. His six strikeouts Thursday also marked a season high. |
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| Aug 14 2023 | Zerpa is scheduled to start Thursday's game against the Mariners at Kauffman Stadium. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Zerpa is lined up to make his first start of the season, he's essentially making his second straight turn through the rotation as a replacement for Zack Greinke (elbow). In his most recent outing Friday versus the Cardinals, Zerpa was deployed in bulk relief behind opener Dylan Coleman and picked up the win despite giving up five runs (four earned) on five hits and one walk over four innings. He won't make for an especially trustworthy streaming option during his upcoming outing versus the Mariners. |
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| Aug 12 2023 | Zerpa (1-1) earned the win Friday against the Cardinals. He allowed five runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two over four innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's not that Zerpa was effective, but he entered the game in the second inning already up 8-0 giving him a clear path to earn his first win. Zerpa worked as a starter in the minors prior to his call up on August 1st. This was his second appearance as a bulk reliever for the big club and fourth overall. Zerpa has now allowed eight runs in 9.1 innings with only three strikeouts. Those stats do not portend to him holding much value moving forward, especially on a Royals' team that has amassed just 38 wins on the season. |
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| Aug 11 2023 | Zerpa is expected to serve in a bulk-relief role behind opener Dylan Coleman in Friday's game against the Cardinals, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa looks like he'll get the first chance to fill the opening in the Kansas City rotation that was created by Zack Greinke's (elbow) recent move to the injured list. Though Zerpa has made only three appearances in the big leagues in 2023 while spending a significant chunk of time on the injured list, he had been serving as a starter at Triple-A Omaha prior to is call-up to the Kansas City bullpen Aug. 1. Over six outings with Omaha, Zerpa compiled a 4.73 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 26.2 innings. |
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| Aug 6 2023 | Zerpa (0-1) allowed four runs on five hits and struck out one without walking a batter over three innings to take the loss Saturday versus the Phillies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa gave up a three-run home run and an RBI double to Trea Turner, which was enough to flip the game around in Philadelphia's favor. This was Zerpa's second major-league appearance of the season -- he tossed two scoreless innings versus the Mets on Wednesday. For now, it appears he'll provide a multi-inning option out of the bullpen. It's unclear if he'll be able to stretch out enough in that role to pick up starts down the stretch. |
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| Aug 1 2023 | Zerpa was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa was sent to Omaha after being reinstated from the 60-day injured list in mid-July, and he'll now join the big-league club. The 23-year-old has a 4.73 ERA across 26.2 innings as a starter at Triple-A but may work out of the bullpen for the Royals. |
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| Jul 14 2023 | Zerpa (shoulder) was activated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Friday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The shoulder issue which has kept Zerpa out all season looks to be behind him, but he'll remain at Omaha where he had been on his rehab assignment. Zerpa has collected a 2.91 ERA and 22:9 K:BB over 21.2 frames covering six rehab starts. |
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| Jul 6 2023 | Zerpa (shoulder) covered 4.1 innings and struck out seven in his most recent rehab start Monday for Triple-A Omaha. He allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa has resided on the injured list all season while recovering from a tendon issue in his left shoulder, but he appears to be on the cusp of an activation. He's now reached the fifth inning in both of his last two rehab outings and tossed a season-high 80 pitches Monday. Altogether, Zerpa has compiled a 3.78 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB in 16.2 innings over his five starts between Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. If the Royals opt to have him forgo another rehab start, Zerpa could be a candidate to return from the 60-day IL to fill the opening in the big-league rotation Sunday versus the Rays. |
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| Jun 15 2023 | Zerpa (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Thursday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa has been out all season so far while dealing with a tendon issue in his left shoulder. He's on the 60-day injured list, so he'll be eligible to return whenever ready. He's covered just 16 innings over two seasons in the majors, so there's a chance Zerpa could be optioned to the minors once he's healthy enough to return. Given the length of his absence, the southpaw will likely require multiple rehab outings to get up to speed. |
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| Mar 15 2023 | The Royals placed Zerpa (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa hasn't thrown all spring due to the left shoulder issue, which the Royals are labeling as tendinopathy. He'll be out for at least the first two months of the 2023 regular season and is likely to settle into the rotation at Triple-A Omaha once healthy. |
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| Sep 21 2022 | Zerpa was pulled from his rehab start in Triple-A Omaha early due to discomfort in his left arm, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa was struck by a ball that came right back at him off the bat during his previous start, so it is possible that the two incidents are connected. Nonetheless, the Royals will determine their approach with Zerpa following an evaluation of his arm. |
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| Sep 10 2022 | Zerpa (knee) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha on Saturday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa has been on the injured list with right knee discomfort since late July, and he isn't eligible to be activated until late September. However, he'll appear in minor-league games over the next few weeks and should have a chance to rejoin the big-league club prior to the end of the regular season. |
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| Aug 3 2022 | Zerpa (knee) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa landed on the injured list with right knee discomfort last Wednesday, but he'll ultimately be forced to miss at least two months after the Royals detected a small tear in his patella tendon, per Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star. The southpaw posted a 1.64 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 11 innings over three appearances (two starts) in the majors this year, and though he'll technically be eligible to come off the IL in the penultimate week of the regular season, the Royals are more likely to shut him down rather than risking a potential setback heading into the offseason. |
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| Jul 27 2022 | The Royals placed Zerpa on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right knee discomfort, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The transaction comes after Zerpa exited his start Tuesday against the Angels with the knee injury after working four innings of one-run ball. Zerpa looked as though he would line up for a two-start week, but the knee issue will thwart those plans. Jackson Kowar was called up from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday to replace Zerpa on the active roster. |
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| Jul 26 2022 | Zerpa was removed from Tuesday's game against the Angels with right knee discomfort, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa started Tuesday's contest and was lifted after giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits with one strikeout and one walk over four innings. The severity of the injury remains unclear, leaving the 22-year-old's availability up in the air. |
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| Jul 17 2022 | The Royals reversed Zerpa's option to Double-A Northwest Arkansas and transferred him to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa didn't pitch for the Double-A club after he was sent to the affiliate following his spot start for Kansas City in Thursday's win over the Blue Jays. He rolled to his second career big-league victory in the outing, working five innings while allowing an earned run on four hits and two walks. With Daniel Lynch (finger) moving back to the 15-day injured list Sunday, Zerpa could be a candidate to rejoin the big-league rotation if Jonathan Heasley (shoulder) isn't ready to return from the IL when the Royals next require a fifth starter July 26 versus the Angels. |
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| Jul 15 2022 | Zerpa was returned to Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Friday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa served as the starting pitcher during Thursday's series opener in Toronto and he earned the win by allowing a run on four hits and two walks while striking out two in five innings. However, he'll head back to the minors after Carlos Hernandez was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Friday. |
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| Jul 14 2022 | Zerpa (2-0) earned the win Thursday in Toronto, striking out two in five innings while allowing a run on four hits and two walks. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa pitched two innings Monday as the 27th man for the Royals' doubleheader and was recalled to start Thursday. With the short turnaround, it was a bit of a surprise that the lefty tossed five innings but he managed to pitch long enough to pick up his second victory. He held Toronto scoreless until Matt Chapman led off the fifth with a solo blast. After that. he stayed in the game and finished off the frame by retiring George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero. The 22-year-old will likely be back in the minors for his next appearance. Whether that's a return to Double-A Northwest Arkansas or his season debut for Triple-A Omaha remains to be seen. |
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| Jul 12 2022 | The Royals returned Zerpa to Double-A Northwest Arkansas following Monday's doubleheader with the Tigers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa had been designated as the Royals' 27th man for the twin bill, so he was never expected to stick around with the big club beyond Monday. He appeared in relief in the second game of the doubleheader, tossing two scoreless frames en route to securing his first MLB win. |
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| Jul 11 2022 | Zerpa (1-0) allowed one hit across two scoreless innings to earn the win in the second game of Monday's doubleheader versus the Tigers. He recorded zero strikeouts and zero walks. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa hadn't pitched above the Double-A level this season, but he was able to hold his own against major-league hitters in just his second career appearance with the Royals. For his efforts, he was awarded the win after Daniel Lynch (finger) went only four innings and wasn't eligible for the decision. Zerpa has a 4.36 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 69:21 K:BB in 64 innings across 13 starts with Northwest Arkansas this year, and it's expected he'll return to the Double-A club Tuesday after being designated the 27th man for Monday's doubleheader. |
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| Jun 10 2022 | Zerpa was recalled by the Royals on Friday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa has spent the entirety of this season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, though he's actually pitched at the big-league level before, throwing five scoreless innings his major-league debut at the tail end of last season. In nine starts this year, he owns an unimpressive 4.79 ERA, though his 24.5 percent strikeout rate and 6.0 percent walk rate make for a somewhat promising combination. It looks as though he'll be pitching in a bullpen role for now, as it was reliever Collin Snider who was optioned in a corresponding move. |
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| Apr 3 2022 | The Royals optioned Zerpa to Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Sunday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Zerpa was summoned from the minors to make a spot start for the Royals late in the 2021 season, and though he acquitted himself well by striking out four while allowing two unearned runs in five innings in a Sept. 30 loss to Cleveland, he never looked like a serious threat to win a spot on Kansas City's Opening Day roster. Instead, Zerpa will return to the Double-A level in search of better results after he submitted a 5.96 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 45.1 innings for Northwest Arkansas in 2021. |
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| Oct 1 2021 | Zerpa (0-1) was tagged with the loss Thursday after allowing two runs (both unearned) on three hits and a walk while fanning four across five innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The young left-hander made his big-league debut in the series finale and while he was tagged with the loss, he looked composed while tossing 44 of his 68 pitches for strikes. Zerpa posted a 2.59 ERA across eight starts at High-A Quad Cities and will probably start next season at Double-A, but this outing was certainly encouraging for his long-term outlook. |
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| Sep 30 2021 | Zerpa was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to start Thursday's game against Cleveland, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The young left-hander will fill the rotation spot of Brady Singer (upper arm), who recently landed on the injured list. Zerpa opened the season at High-A Quad Cities and posted a 2.59 ERA in eight starts, and he struggled between Double-A and Triple-A the rest of the season with 33 earned runs in 46.2 frames. He'll have one games to show what he can do in the big leagues before heading into the offseason. |
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| Sep 29 2021 | The Royals will call up Zerpa from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday to start the team's series finale with Cleveland at Kauffman Stadium, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 22-year-old lefty will be taking the rotation spot of Brady Singer (upper arm), who was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Zerpa began the season at High-A Quad Cities and submitted a 2.59 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 41.2 innings, but he's faltered during his brief time in the upper levels of the minors. Between stops at Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas, Zerpa has compiled a 6.36 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and a 55:20 K:BB across 46.2 frames. |
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| Nov 20 2020 | Zerpa's contract was selected by the Royals on Friday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A relative unknown, general manager Dayton Moore told Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com that Zerpa will move quickly through the system and would have been selected in the Rule 5 draft if they had not protected him. The 21-year-old lefty from Venezuela logged a 3.33 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 51:13 K:BB in 51.1 innings in the Appalachian League in 2019. He could open the year at High-A and looks like an interesting sleeper in deep dynasty leagues. |
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