Zach Prendergast Signs with the St. Louis Cardinals
7/22/2017 10:21:00 AM | Baseball
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Seton Hall graduate Zach Prendergast (Horsham, Pa.) had his independent league contract purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals organization and will report to its rookie league affiliate in Johnson City, Tenn.
Prendergast becomes the fourth Seton Hall player to either sign with or be drafted by a Major League Baseball organization this summer. In June, former teammates Zach Schellenger, Shane McCarthy and Chris Morris were selected in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
Prendergast made four starts for the independent Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks before his contract was purchased by the Cardinals. The right-hander went 2-0 with a 2.08 earned run average with 25 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched.
Over the last four years, Prendergast has been one of the most reliable pitchers on the Pirates' staff. After appearing in 10 games, all in relief as a freshman, he joined the starting rotation as a sophomore. In his first collegiate start, Prendergast pitched seven hitless innings with six strikeouts in a victory against Cornell. As a sophomore, he was twice named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll and finished tied for fourth in the BIG EAST with five victories.
As a junior, Prendergast made 14 starts and set career-highs in innings pitched and strikeouts. He was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week after limiting No. 15 Missouri to just one run over seven innings with eight strikeouts on Feb. 21. Prendergast finished among the BIG EAST top-10 in strikeouts, opponent batting average, innings pitched and earned run average.
This season, Prendergast took his game to a new level. The right-hander was the Pirates' lone All-BIG EAST First Team selection, and was also named to the All-ECAC First Team. Prendergast threw a complete-game shutout with seven strikeouts and only one walk against Creighton on May 6. The following start, he needed just 82 pitches to throw a no-hitter at Villanova. Prendergast struck out a career-high 10 batters without a single walk, and faced only one batter over the minimum. For his no-hitter efforts, he was named NCBWA National Player of the Week, BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week and one of Collegiate Baseball's National Players of the Week.
Prendergast finished the season tied for second in the BIG EAST with seven wins and third with 91.0 innings pitched. He also ranked amongst the conference top-10 in starts, earned run average and fewest walks. Prendergast was twice named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week and was twice selected to the conference's Weekly Honor Roll.
Prendergast finished his collegiate career tied for fourth with 40 career starts at Seton Hall. He finished just outside the Seton Hall career top-10 with 17 career victories, 249.0 innings pitched and 193 strikeouts. All four of Prendergast's seasons featured a sub-4.00 earned run average, culminating with a career-best 3.07 ERA as a senior.
Prendergast is an Academic Merit Award recipient for maintaining a grade point average of at least 3.2 and is a three-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star.
Prendergast becomes the fourth Seton Hall player to either sign with or be drafted by a Major League Baseball organization this summer. In June, former teammates Zach Schellenger, Shane McCarthy and Chris Morris were selected in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
Prendergast made four starts for the independent Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks before his contract was purchased by the Cardinals. The right-hander went 2-0 with a 2.08 earned run average with 25 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched.
Over the last four years, Prendergast has been one of the most reliable pitchers on the Pirates' staff. After appearing in 10 games, all in relief as a freshman, he joined the starting rotation as a sophomore. In his first collegiate start, Prendergast pitched seven hitless innings with six strikeouts in a victory against Cornell. As a sophomore, he was twice named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll and finished tied for fourth in the BIG EAST with five victories.
As a junior, Prendergast made 14 starts and set career-highs in innings pitched and strikeouts. He was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week after limiting No. 15 Missouri to just one run over seven innings with eight strikeouts on Feb. 21. Prendergast finished among the BIG EAST top-10 in strikeouts, opponent batting average, innings pitched and earned run average.
This season, Prendergast took his game to a new level. The right-hander was the Pirates' lone All-BIG EAST First Team selection, and was also named to the All-ECAC First Team. Prendergast threw a complete-game shutout with seven strikeouts and only one walk against Creighton on May 6. The following start, he needed just 82 pitches to throw a no-hitter at Villanova. Prendergast struck out a career-high 10 batters without a single walk, and faced only one batter over the minimum. For his no-hitter efforts, he was named NCBWA National Player of the Week, BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week and one of Collegiate Baseball's National Players of the Week.
Prendergast finished the season tied for second in the BIG EAST with seven wins and third with 91.0 innings pitched. He also ranked amongst the conference top-10 in starts, earned run average and fewest walks. Prendergast was twice named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week and was twice selected to the conference's Weekly Honor Roll.
Prendergast finished his collegiate career tied for fourth with 40 career starts at Seton Hall. He finished just outside the Seton Hall career top-10 with 17 career victories, 249.0 innings pitched and 193 strikeouts. All four of Prendergast's seasons featured a sub-4.00 earned run average, culminating with a career-best 3.07 ERA as a senior.
Prendergast is an Academic Merit Award recipient for maintaining a grade point average of at least 3.2 and is a three-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star.
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