### Zach Pop Joins Philadelphia Phillies: A New Chapter for the Canadian Right-Hander - On December 22, 2025, the Philadelphia Phillies announced the signing of Canadian right-hander Zach Pop to a Major League deal, adding him to their 40-man roster. The financial details of the contract remain undisclosed. Pop, originally drafted in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017, made his MLB debut with the Miami Marlins in 2021. He was later traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, where he faced challenges in securing a consistent role on the big league roster, leading to a fluctuating performance over three seasons. His career statistics include a 4.89 ERA and a 5.09 FIP across 81 innings pitched, with notable struggles against home runs, allowing 14 homers during his tenure [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/canadian_zach_pop_lands_a_major_league_deal_with_the_philadelphia_phillies/s1_13549_43245677]. ### Overview of Zach Pop's Career and Recent Performance - **Career Background**: 1. Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017. 2. Made MLB debut with the Miami Marlins in 2021. 3. Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022, where he struggled to maintain a consistent role. - **2025 Season Performance**: 1. Opened the season with the Blue Jays but was released shortly after Opening Day. 2. Made brief appearances with the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets, allowing 12 runs in 6.2 innings. 3. Recorded a career ERA of 4.88 over 162.1 innings across five seasons. - **Minor League Performance**: 1. In 2025, Pop made 20 appearances in the minors, achieving a 4.19 ERA over 19.1 innings. 2. Showed improved underlying metrics, including a strikeout rate of over 25% and a walk rate of 8.9% [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/phillies_sign_zach_pop_to_major_league_deal/s1_13237_43238835]. ### Statistical Insights and Performance Metrics - **Key Performance Metrics**: - **Career ERA**: 4.88 - **Innings Pitched**: 162.1 - **Strikeouts per 9 Innings (K/9)**: 6.4 - **Walks per 9 Innings (BB/9)**: 3.0 - **Home Runs Allowed per 9 Innings (HR/9)**: 1.6 - **Ground Ball Rate**: 75% in the minors, indicating strong groundball tendencies [https://breakingac.com/news/2025/dec/22/philadelphia-phillies-news-zach-pop-contract]. ### Conclusion: A Strategic Addition to the Phillies' Bullpen 1. **Zach Pop's Signing**: The Philadelphia Phillies have added a potentially valuable asset to their bullpen with the signing of Zach Pop, who brings a mix of experience and untapped potential. 2. **Performance Outlook**: Despite past struggles, Pop's ability to generate ground balls and his recent minor league performance suggest he could be a key contributor moving forward. 3. **Future Implications**: The Phillies' decision to sign Pop reflects their strategy to bolster their pitching depth, aiming for improved performance in the upcoming season [https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-sign-zach-pop-one-year/702532].