Zach Messinger Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Zachary Joseph Messinger
Born 10/04/1999 in Chandler, IN
Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Virginia
Drafted in the 13th round (393rd overall) by the New York Yankees in 2021 (signed for $225,000).

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Messinger is a 6-foot-6, 225-pound righthander who has spent his career in Charlottesville splitting time as a reliever and starter. This spring, Messinger threw 56.1 innings (four starts, 22 appearances out of the bullpen) and posted a 4.31 ERA, while striking out 63 batters (10.1 K/9) and walking 21 (3.4 BB/9). He impressed scouts during the ACC Tournament, when he got the start against Virginia Tech and struck out six batters over 5.1 innings of work. With that appearance and a four-pitch mix, there are some scouts who think Messinger can start at the next level. His fastball sits in the 89-91 mph range, but has been up to 96 at its best, with some downhill plane out of Messinger’s higher, three-quarter arm slot. He also throws a slider, curveball and changeup. The slider comes in around 78-81 mph with horizontal and vertical movement and his curveball is a slower breaking pitch in the low-to-mid 70s with similar shape. The two pitches blend together at times. Messinger’s changeup averages around 80-81 mph but he struggles to land the pitch to his glove side and used it infrequently this spring.

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Messinger is a 6-foot-6, 225-pound righthander who has spent his career in Charlottesville splitting time as a reliever and starter. This spring, Messinger threw 56.1 innings (four starts, 22 appearances out of the bullpen) and posted a 4.31 ERA, while striking out 63 batters (10.1 K/9) and walking 21 (3.4 BB/9). He impressed scouts during the ACC Tournament, when he got the start against Virginia Tech and struck out six batters over 5.1 innings of work. With that appearance and a four-pitch mix, there are some scouts who think Messinger can start at the next level. His fastball sits in the 89-91 mph range, but has been up to 96 at its best, with some downhill plane out of Messinger’s higher, three-quarter arm slot. He also throws a slider, curveball and changeup. The slider comes in around 78-81 mph with horizontal and vertical movement and his curveball is a slower breaking pitch in the low-to-mid 70s with similar shape. The two pitches blend together at times. Messinger’s changeup averages around 80-81 mph but he struggles to land the pitch to his glove side and used it infrequently this spring.