Christian Zazueta

Christian Zazueta

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 190 lb.

• Born October 20, 1984 in Bacobampo, Sonora Mexico

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Biographical Information

Christian Zazueta has played over a decade in the minors and has appeared for the Mexican national team. He has won a Mexican League stolen base title.

Zazueta debuted in 2005 with the Langosteros de Cancun, hitting .260/.268/.365 in 30 games while backing up Liu Rodríguez at short. In 2006, he hit .228/.271/.266 for the Cafeteros de Cordoba while playing 2B, SS, 3B, RF, CF and LF. He made his Mexican Pacific League debut, batting .185/.214/.185 in 23 games between the Mayos de Navojoa and Yaquis de Obregón. In 2007, he batted .240/.240/.400 in 30 games for the Petroleros de Minatitlán, backing up at SS and 3B. In the winter, he was 4 for 22 for the Mayos. He found a regular role with the 2008 Petroleros, hitting .254/.303/.316 while showing off a good arm in left field (12 A in 79 G). He batted .233/.242/.300 in 35 games that winter for Navojoa and was also 0 for 4 for the Algodoneros de Guasave.

He registered 18 more outfield assists in 2009, now mostly in CF while his offense picked up a bit (.295/.310/.368), though he only had 7 walks in 103 games. He hit .269/.292/.333 for Navojoa in 2009-2010. In the summer of 2010, the 25-year-old hit .308/.331/.421 while switching positions again, this time to 3B. He hit .203/.216/.252 in winter ball, with 2 walks and 5 RBI in 37 games. With the 2011 Petroleros, he batted .307/.324/.437 and was 14-for-17 in steal tries. He rapped 34 doubles and had 10 outfield assists. He tied Kevin Barker for 3rd in the LMB in two-baggers. He hit .285/.294/.405 for the Mayos that winter.

The free-swinger had 13 walks to 92 K in 113 games in 2012 for Minatitlán while playing both OF and 3B regularly. He amped up his power, going deep 18 times. He had a rough winter at .117/.131/.183 in 26 games. In '13, he hit .252/.273/.354 in 31 games for the Petroleros and was dealt to the Saraperos de Saltillo for Amilcar Gaxiola and Miguel Rubio. He batted .288/.318/.383 for Saltillo, with 3 walks in 68 games. He did not appear in the Mexican Pacific League that winter. In the summer of 2014, his batting line for Saltillo read .283/.308/.419. He was 4 for 12 that winter for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo. With Saltillo in 2015, he hit .310/.349/.462 with 27 doubles and stole 18 bases in 22 tries despite bouncing between 3B and the corner outfield slots, with a few games elsewhere. He tied Miguel Tejada and Hector Gimenez for 10th in the league in doubles and tied Justin Greene for 10th in swipes. He split the winter between Navojoa (0 for 1) and the Tomateros de Culiacán (6 for 18, 2B, HR).

At age 31, he moved to shortstop, a position he had not played regularly for over a decade. He fielded .967 there for Saltillo and also showed renewed vigor with 39 steals in 45 attempts. He hit .289/.308/.468 though walks remained an issue (9 in 108 G). He tied Greene for the league lead in steals and was 7th with 27 doubles. Returning to third with Navojoa in the winter, he hit .237/.246/.302 and again had more steals (4) than walks (2). The speedster fielded .974 at 3B for Saltillo in 2017 and batted .275/.301/.368 with 30 swipes (caught 13 times). He again drew 9 walks in over 100 games. He was third in the league in steals this time, behind Greene and Carlos Figueroa. As a utility man for Navojoa that winter, he hit .250/.248/.324 with no walks all season (49 games). He was 7-for-7 in steal attempts, tying him for 10th in the LMP in swipes.

Zazueta played for Mexico in the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games. He hit .191/.250/.238 and was only 1-for-3 in steals. He had 2 runs and 3 RBI in 7 games. The versatile veteran played left primarily, with 11 putouts, 1 assist and no errors. Interestingly, they had another Zazueta, Amadeo Zazueta, with nearly identical offensive numbers (.185/.185/.222); Christian actually outwalked Amadeo, 1 to 0. He led left fielders in fielding for the Games. With Saltillo in 2019, he hit .298/.337/.450 in 64 games.