Zach Dezenzo Impresses Astros With Impact, Improved Contact
As third baseman Zach Dezenzo climbed from High-A Asheville to Double-A Corpus Christi, the Astros were pleased to see how he maintained his power while improving his bat-to-ball skills.
He hit 14 home runs while hitting .257/.339/.486 in 63 games in the Texas League. The 23-year-old then added three homers in 16 games at the Arizona Fall League.
“The most impressive thing about Zach’s development was his improved bat-to-ball skills with no loss in power,” said Jacob Buffa, the Astros’ senior director of player development and performance science. “We knew he was a big, strong kid with juice coming out of college.
“Very few hitters are able to shore up the swing-and-miss without losing that.”
Drafted as a shortstop out of Ohio State in the 12th round in 2022, Dezenzo has focused his time at the infield corners plus second base in pro ball.
He is expected to primarily play in the outfield this year with some time at first and third. Dezenzo hit 38 home runs in four college seasons. He added 22 in his first two pro seasons.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Dezenzo is likely to begin this season at Corpus Christi. Buffa notes that if Dezenzo starts at Double-A, it will be “with the goal of preparing him to move quickly.”
The Astros are pleased with the progress Dezenzo has made since he was drafted. Now it’s a matter of building on what he accomplished last season.
“I don’t think Zach needs to do anything dramatically different than what he did last year,” Buffa said. “That’s what makes him so exciting. If he just continues to do what he did last year and develop at the same rate, he’ll have an impact for us.
“His most exciting tool is his raw power. Not only is it plus major league power, but he has the ability to get to it consistently in games across different pitches, and that’s a rare combination.”
