A year ago around this time, Orioles pitching prospect Zach Fruit was a 23-year-old draft prospect who had pitched for three colleges across five seasons. He recorded a 6.46 ERA in his final college season at Troy.
Despite those factors working against him, Baltimore saw enough out of Fruit to select him in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB Draft (271st overall). Midway through his first professional season, the organization is beginning to reap the rewards of that selection, and Fruit credits much of his progress to the Orioles’ development program.
“If it wasn’t for all this technology and the player development with the Orioles, I would be in a tough spot right now,” he said on Glenn Clark Radio June 26.
In his first full professional season, the Orioles’ development staff has helped the righty completely rework his arsenal. Fruit threw a two-seam fastball and slider in college. He has since added a four-seam fastball, changeup and curveball.
The new repertoire has required an adjustment, and Fruit said the Orioles have been patient with him and are allowing him to grow naturally. The 6-foot-4, 212-pound right-hander has posted a 3.90 ERA in 15 games (11 starts) for High-A Aberdeen while averaging 9.67 punchouts per nine innings entering play on July 10.
Fruit tries to take a month-by-month approach to pitching rather than looking at whole-season numbers, likening it to hot and cold stretches for hitters. Looking at his season with Aberdeen on a monthly basis, Fruit appears to be making considerable strides.
After recording 3.86 and 4.57 ERAs in April and May, Fruit brought that figure down to 3.26 in the month of June. This past month was also his strongest in terms of opponents’ batting average and strikeout rate.
Fruit credits much of his newfound success to the Orioles’ pitching development program, which focuses on long-term goals. Aberdeen pitching coach Jordie Henry recently told Fruit his changeup is already one of his most effective off-speed pitches, just months after learning it.
Fruit said he had some rough moments in spring training this year but knew they were typical growing pains and all a part of the process.
“There were some outings in spring training where I go out there and I’m getting freaking torched,” Fruit said. “I’m like, ‘This is horrible, what’s going on?’ But basically just gotta stick to the process. It’s a long season.”
Fruit’s path to the professional ranks is far from traditional. With stops at Lansing Community College, Eastern Michigan and Troy, the 24-year-old knows he’s had to overcome all the odds.
“It’s been a journey, that’s for sure,” Fruit said. “It’s not really the script I would’ve [written] up … going to three different colleges, but we’re here now.”
Fruit pitched at Lansing Community College in Michigan for two years after graduating from nearby Dundee High School. As a freshman, the Ypsilanti, Mich., native recorded an unsightly 8.37 ERA in 23.2 innings. He threw just six innings in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, allowing no runs on 10 strikeouts.
Fruit then transferred to Eastern Michigan for two seasons. In his first season, he tallied a 3.57 ERA as a reliever, throwing 17.2 innings across 17 appearances. Fruit transitioned to a starting role as a senior and struggled mightily, putting forth a 7.71 ERA in 14 starts.
Fruit transferred to Troy ahead of his fifth and final season of college ball, helping the Trojans compile a 40-22 record while contributing in the rotation and the bullpen. He once again underwhelmed from a statistical standpoint, recording a 6.46 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP, but struck out 11.9 batters per nine innings.
Now working his way up the Orioles’ organizational ladder, Fruit’s goals going forward are fairly simple: Stay healthy and continue to throw hard.
“Keep that right arm attached to you for as long as possible without having to go underneath the knife,” he said. “The whole basic thing for me is just trying to stay healthy … and keep throwing hard.”
For more from Fruit, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Aberdeen IronBirds