Samuel Zazueta

Samuel Zazueta

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 11", Weight 170 lb.

• Born November 21, 1996 in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora Mexico

BR register page

Biographical Information

Samuel Zazueta has pitched in the minors and for the Mexican national team.

Zazueta was signed by Texas Rangers scout Manuel Velez in July 2013. He had a fine pro debut with the DSL Rangers 1 in '14, going 5-0 with a 1.63 ERA and .92 WHIP. He fanned 91 and walked 12 in 66 1/3 IP. He led the Dominican Summer League in whiffs, four ahead of Samuel Montano. He made the DSL postseason All-Star team. He did not pitch in 2015, presumably due to injury, and never played in the Rangers chain again.

He did not return to the diamond until the winter of 2016-2017, when he allowed three runs in eight innings for his hometown Yaquis de Obregón. In the summer of '17, he was 1-2 with a 3.55 ERA in four starts for the Diablos Rojos del México. H was 2-2 with a 4.26 ERA in 30 games that winter for the Yaquis, mostly as a LOOGY (he totaled 25 1/3 IP). He was 0-1 with a save and six runs in 5 1/3 IP for the Diablos Rojos in the spring of 2018, when the Mexican League went to a split season. He threw 7 2/3 shutout frames for the Guerreros de Oaxaca in the fall season. In the winter, he had a 2-1, 4.07 record for Obregón.

In 2019, he was 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA in ten games for Oaxaca. He rebounded in winter ball with two saves and a 1.80 ERA in 46 games (35 IP). He led the Mexican Pacific League in games pitched, four ahead of Arturo Barradas. After the 2020 season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic, he pitched 1 2/3 innings the next winter. He was 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA in 17 innings for the 2021 Diablos Rojos. He was 3-3 with 8 saves and a 1.90 ERA for the 2021-2022 Yaquis, finishing 5th in games pitched (38) and tied Tyler Wilson for 7th in saves. In the 2022 Caribbean Series, he retired one batter but allowed a game-losing, game-ending hit to Robinson Canó.

Moving to the Toros de Tijuana in 2022, he was 0-1 with a 7.32 ERA in nine games. In 2022-2023, he was 3-2 with 14 saves and a 1.83 ERA for his hometown club. He tied Jake Sanchez for 4th in saves. He allowed two runs in four innings in the 2023 Caribbean Series, tying for 9th in the Series with four appearances. Debuting for Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic against defending champion Team USA, he relieved César Vargas in the 8th with two on, two out and a 11-3 lead. He walked Kyle Tucker and gave up a two-run double to Tim Anderson then retired Will Smith. Gerardo Reyes relieved in the 9th.