JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri Southern senior left hander Zach Parish has announced he will sign an undrafted free agent deal with the Texas Rangers.
The consensus Division II National Player of the Year will fly to Texas on Tuesday to officially sign his deal and find out where he will be sent to start his professional journey.
“I have said when one door closes, another one opens,” Parish said. “I want to thank the good Lord above for giving this old man one last hoorah. I’m excited to be where I’m at and excited to see where I go.”
Parish has racked up the awards this season. The Tahlequah, Okla. native was the MIAA Pitcher of the Year, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Region and National Pitcher of the Year, the American Baseball Coaches Association Regional and National Pitcher of the Year, as well as the D2CCA Regional and National Pitcher of the Year. He was a first-team All-MIAA, All-Region and All-American selection by each organization.
Parish became the NCAA Division II all-time leader in strikeouts this season as he ended his career with 488 strikeouts. Parish tied his MSSU single-season strikeout record with 136 this year. Parish also finished the season with the best single-season ERA for a starter in MSSU history (1.21) and the second-best career ERA for a starter (2.16).
This season, Parish led the MIAA and ranked third nationally in strikeouts. He was second in the MIAA and third nationally in wins, while ranking first in the MIAA and eighth nationally in WHIP. He ranked first in the MIAA and fifth nationally in hits allowed per nine innings, while ranking first in the MIAA and second nationally in ERA. Parish was the active career leader in all of college baseball (d1, d2, d3) in wins, strikeouts, innings pitched and starts. Parish finished the season with an 11-1 record and a 1.21 ERA. HE struck out 136 batters, while walking just 25 and held opposing batters to a .162 batting average.
Head coach Bryce Darnell can’t be any happier for Parish.
“Zach has a tremendous work ethic,” Darnell said. “He has set the tone for our pitchers in every way possible. Our baseball program is very proud of him.”
https://mssulions.com/news/2021/7/18/baseball-zach-parish-signs-deal-with-texas-rangers.aspx
