Los Angeles Dodgers Tab Kentucky Pitcher Zach Pop

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Hard-throwing right-hander Zach Pop was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh round with the No. 220 overall pick of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday. 

Pop, a 6-foot-4, 220-pounder from Brampton, Ontario, had the best season of his three-year career at Kentucky in 2017, settling into a setup role in the Wildcats’ bullpen. Appearing in 22 games, he struck out 20 in 20.2 innings, giving up 19 hits and holding batters to a .247 average. 

The Canadian pitcher routinely reached the upper 90’s with his fastball, which paired with a late-breaking and hard slider made him difficult to hit. He lowered his ERA more than a run and a half from 2016 to 2017 as he was matched up nicely out of the bullpen. 

A bit of a renaissance man, Pop also played volleyball, hockey and golf in high school at Notre Dame Catholic in Ontario and was one of two Canadians on the Cats’ roster this season, joining sophomore All-American outfielder Tristan Pompey.

• Preseason Top 100 College Prospects, No. 74 (Baseball America)

• Preseason Top 100 College Prospects, No. 69 (D1 Baseball)

• SEC No. 19 2017 draft prospect (D1 Baseball)

• SEC Academic Honor Roll (2016)

• SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll (2015)