Zak Kent

Zak Kent
Minnesota Twins
Pitcher
Born: (1998-02-24) February 24, 1998
Henrico, Virginia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 23, 2025, for the Cleveland Guardians
MLB statistics
(through 2025 season)
Win–loss record1–0
Earned run average4.58
Strikeouts16
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Zachary Allen Kent (born February 24, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut for the Cleveland Guardians in 2025.

Amateur career

Kent attended Northumberland High School in Heathsville, Virginia.[1][2] As a sophomore, he was a member of their 1A State Championship team in 2014; a season in which he hit .315 and posted a 1.96 ERA.[3][4] Kent was named the Virginia High School League's 1A All-State as a pitcher in his senior season of 2016.[5] Undrafted out of high school, Kent attended the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) to play college baseball for the VMI Keydets for three seasons. Kent enjoyed his best season as a junior in 2019, when he went 5–5 with a 4.64 ERA and 132 strikeouts over 97 innings.[6]

Professional career

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers selected Kent in the ninth round, with the 265th overall selection, of the 2019 MLB draft.[7][8] He signed with Texas for a $140,000 signing bonus.[9]

Kent split his professional debut season of 2019 between the AZL Rangers of the Rookie-level Arizona League and the Spokane Indians of the Low-A Northwest League, going combined 0–1 with a 5.12 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 19+1⁄3 innings.[6] Kent did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He opened the 2021 season with the Hickory Crawdads of the High-A East, going 6–2 with a 2.83 ERA and 78 strikeouts over 60+1⁄3 innings.[10][11] After being promoted to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Central in August, he posted a 0–4 record with a 5.34 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 28+2⁄3 innings.[12][13] Kent split the 2022 season between Frisco and the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, going a combined 3–4 with a 3.94 ERA and 110 strikeouts over 109+2⁄3 innings.[14][15]

On November 15, 2022, the Rangers selected Kent to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[12][16] Kent was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to begin the 2023 season but was placed on the injured list after one game due to an oblique strain.[17] In just 10 games due to injury, Kent posted a 0–1 record with a 3.97 ERA, and 34 strikeouts over 34 innings. Following the 2023 season, Kent played for the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League.[18]

Cleveland Guardians

On March 28, 2024, Kent was traded to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for international bonus pool space. He was subsequently optioned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers.[19] Kent was designated for assignment by the Guardians on June 29.[20] After clearing waivers, Cleveland released him on July 5. He re-signed with the organization on a minor league contract on July 16.[21]

On April 21, 2025, Kent was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[22] On September 28, Kent recorded his first career win, allowing two earned runs over two innings pitched against the Texas Rangers.[23] He made 12 appearances for the Guardians during his first MLB season, compiling a 1–0 record and 4.58 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 17+2⁄3 innings pitched.

Minnesota Twins

On December 5, 2025, Kent was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals.[24] He was designated for assignment on January 6, following the acquisition of Justin Bruihl.[25] On January 9, Kent was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers,[26] who designated him for assignment on February 13.[27] On February 16, he was again claimed off waivers by the Cardinals.[28] However, on February 21, Kent was designated for assignment by St. Louis following the signing of Ramón Urías.[29] On February 26, he was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins.[30]

Personal life

Kent is married. He grew up rooting for the Baltimore Orioes.[31]

References

  1. ^ "Zak Kent (2016, RHP) Commits to VMI". Richmond Braves. August 10, 2015. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  2. ^ Hinton-Valdrighi, Lisa (April 10, 2019). "NHS grad Zak Kent pitches into the spotlight". Rappahannock Record. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  3. ^ "Rangers make eight selections on day two of 2019 First-Year Player Draft". MLB.com. June 4, 2019. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  4. ^ "Zak Kent - 2018-19 - Baseball". Virginia Military Institute. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  5. ^ "VHSL 1A All-State Baseball teams". USA Today. June 21, 2016. Archived from the original on 2020-08-08. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  6. ^ a b "Zak Kent College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  7. ^ Hinton-Valdrighi, Lisa (June 12, 2019). "Zak Kent is drafted by Texas Rangers". Rappahannock Record. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  8. ^ "VMI Baseball: Zak Kent taken in ninth round of 2019 MLB Draft by Texas". Augusta Free Press. June 5, 2019.
  9. ^ Grant, Evan (2021-08-13). "Rangers' top 20 prospects: Post-trade deadline, midseason reshuffle after a busy July in Texas". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  10. ^ "Kent dazzles as Crawdads blank Grasshoppers 7-0". The News Herald. August 6, 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  11. ^ Newberg, Jamey (August 16, 2021). "Texas Rangers 2021 midseason prospect rankings: Nos. 72 through 43". The Athletic. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  12. ^ a b Weaver, Levi (September 30, 2021). "How Rangers prospect Zak Kent went from unheralded draft pick to grabbing attention in 2021". The Athletic. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  13. ^ Grant, Evan (August 8, 2021). "'Best stuff I've seen this year': Hickory trio flashes potential of Rangers' minor-league pitchers". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  14. ^ Hinton-Valdrighi, Lisa (September 7, 2022). "Zak Kent moves up the ladder to Round Rock Express | Rappahannock Record". Rappahannock Record. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  15. ^ Postins, Matthew (October 12, 2022). "Rangers Top 30 Prospect Wraps: Zak Kent". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  16. ^ "Rangers fill roster by protecting 6 prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  17. ^ "Rangers' Zak Kent: Out with oblique strain". CBS Sports. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
  18. ^ "Rangers Select Prospects for Arizona Fall League". On SI. 23 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Guardians Acquire Peter Strzelecki From D-backs, Zak Kent From Rangers". MLB Trade Rumors. 2024-03-28. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  20. ^ "Guardians Activate Eli Morgan, Designate Zak Kent". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  21. ^ "Transactions". MiLB.com. 2024-07-16.
  22. ^ Adams, Steve (April 21, 2025). "Guardians Designate Triston McKenzie For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  23. ^ "Guardians 9-8 Rangers (Sep 28, 2025) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  24. ^ Adams, Steve (December 5, 2025). "Cardinals Claim Zak Kent Off Waivers From Guardians". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  25. ^ McDonald, Darragh (2026-01-06). "Cardinals Acquire Justin Bruihl, Designate Zak Kent For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  26. ^ "Rangers Claim Zak Kent". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  27. ^ Adams, Steve (February 13, 2026). "Rangers Designate Zak Kent For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors.
  28. ^ Wright, Charlie (February 16, 2026). "Cardinals To Claim Zak Kent, Designate Bryan Ramos". MLB Trade Rumors.
  29. ^ "Cardinals sign Ramón Urías to a 1-year deal with option". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 21, 2026. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  30. ^ "Twins Claim Zak Kent Off Waivers From Cardinals". MLB Trade Rumors. February 26, 2026.
  31. ^ Cleveland Guardians 2025 Media Guide. 2025. p. 113.
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