Former MU pitcher Rob Zastryzny will be in the dugout with the Chicago Cubs tonight for the sixth game of the World Series.
Zastryzny was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the second round of the 2013 MLB amateur draft. He was officially brought up to the major leagues on August 19 this year.
“I know that I’ve worked so hard to get to this level and I put in so many hours," Zastryzny said. "A lot of people told me I was crazy for playing summer ball every day of the summer and not enjoying the pool or anything like that but it all paid off.”
The 24-year-old has played in eight total games with the Cubs. He started in one of these games. In his college career, Zastryzny tallied a total of 228 strikeouts. This total is the eighth all-time in Mizzou baseball history.
Brett Peel, MU baseball graduate assistant, said Zastryzny was one of the hardest working players he knew.
“I think what made him different was the way he balanced his work on the field and off the field. He took it really seriously and was more competitive than everybody else but he knew how to joke around and have a good time on the field as well,” Peel said.
The Cubs will take on the Indians tonight in Cleveland. The Cubs are currently down 3-2. Zastryzny is not on the World Series roster but will still be in uniform at the games.
“These guys have waited so long for a World Series to come to Chicago and to be a part of the team is unbelievable,” he said. “If you would’ve told me I was going to do this, I would’ve called you a liar.”