Penrod Signs Contract With Red Sox Organization Tuesday

MISSOULA, MT- It has been a special season for the Missoula PaddleHeads in 2023. The team currently sits with a .720 winning percentage and leads the Pioneer League North in the 2nd half standings. After claiming the first half pennant in July, the PaddleHeads are in search of their 6th consecutive half title. This feat has never been accomplished in the 84 year history of the Pioneer League. One of the strong points of the club has been the starting rotation. The top 3 pitchers in the league in terms of ERA call the Garden City home. One starter has proven to have drawn the most attention however outside the lens of the Pioneer League. 

Zach Penrod has been an intimidating force on the mound as a starting pitcher in Missoula this season. The Nampa Idaho product stands tall on the mound routinely pouring in cutting fastballs over 96 miles an hour past opposing batters. It has been a journey for Penrod in his professional career over the last 3 seasons having spent time with 3 clubs in the Pioneer League. After an injury shortened 2022 season, Penrod has blossomed into a truly dominant force in Missoula. Clearly folks from Major League Baseball agree as it was announced on Tuesday that Penrod has signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox organization. 

This will be Penrod's second opportunity to pitch in affiliated baseball after previously also pitching in the Texas Rangers system in 2018. This would tell the story for his professional career however for 2 seasons with injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic playing a role. In 2021 however, Penrod's journey into the Pioneer League began. 

Penrod would make his first appearance in professional baseball since 2018 in 2021 in the Southern Division with the Boise Hawks. Penrod would also appear mainly as a starter that season with the Southern Division Champions starting 14 games that season. Penrod would go on to strike out 85 batters in 68 innings that season as one of the top starters in the league. 

After struggling with injuries last season while appearing with Boise, and the Billings Mustangs, Penrod has taken a leap forward in his time with the PaddleHeads this season. The former Walla Walla Sweet  compiled 65 strikeouts in 54 innings pitched while allowing only 39 hits in that span. Opposing batters only held a .192 batting average against him while compiling a 4-1 record. Penrod also excelled in his time filling in as the PaddleHeads closer earning 2 saves in as many opportunities while allowing just 1 run over 3 appearances. Penrod also leads all pitchers in the Pioneer League in ERA (2.98). 

So the list grows of the players with Missoula ties now playing in affiliated ball. Penrod now joins a list of hurlers like Andrew Bash (Toronto Blue Jays) and Joey Lancelotti (New York Mets) who will look to make the jump from Affiliated baseball to 'The Show.' After injury may have limited Penrod in the past, the sky truly seems to be the limit for the Northwest Nazarene product. Fans in the Garden City may not be able to hear Avenged Sevenfold blaring on the loudspeakers prior to his time on the hill any longer. But they may also have witnessed a portion of his journey to the Big Leagues.  

Catch the PaddleHeads (52-20) at home all this week in action at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park in a 6-game slate opposite the Boise Hawks (37-34). Action on Tuesday-Saturday will begin at 7:05 with action Sunday kicking off at 2:05. If you cannot make it to the ballpark to be a part of the action, listen live on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.