Eddie Zosky

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#1E90FF
bgcolor2=#002FA7
textcolor1=#002FA7
textcolor2=white
name=Eddie Zosky

---

position=Shortstop
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1968|2|10|
debutdate=September 2
debutyear=by|1991
debutteam=Toronto Blue Jays
finaldate=October 1st
finalyear=by|2000
finalteam=Houston Astros
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.160
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=0
stat3label=RBI
stat3value=3
teams=
*Toronto Blue Jays (1991-1992)
*Florida Marlins (1995)
*Milwaukee Brewers (1999)
*Houston Astros (2000)
highlights=
*none

Edward James Zosky (born February 10, 1968, in Whittier, California) is a former Major League Baseball shortstop, who also played a few games at third base, and second base. He batted and threw right handed. A promising shortstop prospect for the Toronto Blue Jays in the early 1990s, elbow problems and a lack of offense ended his hopes of stardom.

Zosky was a traditional career minor leaguer, seeing time in the majors in 44 games in parts of 5 seasons, which spanned over 10 years. Zosky played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Florida Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros.

Early life

Zosky attended St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs, California, and Fresno State University, where he played shortstop. He had a marvelous college career at Fresno State, where he was Sporting News and Baseball America All-American after hitting .370 his final year.

Draft

He was drafted twice. First, by the New York Mets out of high school in the 5th round of the 1986 amateur entry draft (128th overall), but he decided to attend college rather than turn professional.

He was then drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1st round of the 1989 amateur entry draft (19th overall). His signing bonus was $182,000.

Minor league career

In nine minor league seasons, beginning in 1989, Zosky batted .252.

Major league career

A top prospect, Zosky was considered "the next big thing" for the Blue Jays, and was regarded as their shortstop of the future. After two seasons in the minors, he broke into the majors in 1991, making his Major League debut for the Blue Jays on September 2, 1991, at the age of 23. He played in 18 games, hitting only .148.

After another brief stint with the Jays in 1992, Zosky injured his elbow in 1993.

On November 18, 1994, Zosky was traded to the Florida Marlins by the Blue Jays for minor leaguer Scott Pace.

That season, he split time between the minors and the Marlins, appearing in 6 games and going 1-5 for Florida.

In January 1996, he signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles.

In October 1996 he signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants.

In December 1997 he signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers.

In January 2000 he signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Zosky started the 2000 campaign playing for the AAA Nashville Sounds of the Pirates organization.

In August 2000 the Pirates traded him to the Houston Astros for future considerations.

Zosky played his final game on October 1, 2000, at the age of 32. Zosky retired from baseball in March 2001.

He played in the Major Leagues in 1991, 1992, 1995, 1999, and 2000.

He never played more than 18 games in a season (1991, his rookie year, was that season), and when he did play, he was mainly used as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement. He hit .160 in 50 career at-bats, with 2 doubles, 3 triples, and 13 strikeouts (he walked only once).

Defensively, he was involved in 8 career double plays, and committed two errors. Zosky's career fielding percentage was .967.

Miscellaneous

*Zosky was number 22 on Baseball America's 1991 All-Time Top 100 Prospects List. He was number 82 on the 1992 version of that list.

*Zosky earned $109,000 in 1992.

*Zosky pitched one inning in his professional baseball career, in 2000 with the Nashville Sounds. He gave up one run, walked two, and struck out one.

*He was one of three Jewish players to make their Major League debut in 1991. The others were Rubén Amaro, Jr. and Wayne Rosenthal.

*He wore 5 numbers in his career - 1 with the Blue Jays, 16 with the Marlins, 45 and 47 with the Brewers, and 23 with the Astros.

*Zosky lives in Whittier, California.

*Zosky acts as a part-time talent scout for the West Coast operations of the production company Rocco's Jobbers.

Links

*baseball-reference|id=z/zoskyed01
* [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/Z/Eddie-Zosky.shtml Baseball Cube stats]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/z/zoskyed01.shtml Baseball Reference stats]
* [http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1014459&position=SS Fangraphs stats]
* [http://www.baseballprospectus.com/dt/zoskyed01.php Baseball Prospectus bio]