MLB: Houston Astros call up Marlington High School and Ohio State product Zach Dezenzo

Josh Weir, Canton Repository

Stark County's Major League Baseball representation continues to grow.

Marlington High School and Ohio State product Zach Dezenzo was called up to the big leagues by the Houston Astros on Tuesday. He made his MLB debut in the Astros' 4-2 win at Texas. Dezenzo served as the designated hitter and batted seventh in the order, going 0-for-4. He is wearing jersey No. 9 with Houston.

Dezenzo's promotion comes just more than a week after the Detroit Tigers called up Jackson High School alum Dillon Dingler, another former Buckeye. Dingler's former high school teammate, Kyle Nicolas, currently pitches for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Hooks' Zach Dezenzo scores during a homestand against the Sod Poodles at Whataburger Field on Thursday, June 22, 2023.
Hooks' Zach Dezenzo scores during a homestand against the Sod Poodles at Whataburger Field on Thursday, June 22, 2023.

When the Pirates called up Nicolas in September 2023, that marked the first county product in the big leagues since Canton South's Dirk Hayhurst in 2009. Now, Stark boasts three players on MLB rosters.

A 6-foot-5, 220-pound power-hitting infielder, Dezenzo is the Astros' fourth-ranked prospect according to MLB.com. It's been a quick rise for Dezenzo, who was selected in the 12th round of the MLB Draft (373rd overall) in 2022.

Ohio State shortstop Zach Dezenzo rounds second base on a ground ball hit during Wednesday night’s game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Kent State's Schooner Stadium.
Ohio State shortstop Zach Dezenzo rounds second base on a ground ball hit during Wednesday night’s game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Kent State's Schooner Stadium.

Injuries limited the 24-year-old Dezenzo to 38 total games this season in the minors, but he batted .306 with 13 doubles, six home runs and 24 RBIs during stints with the Rookie League Astros, Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land. In 11 games with Sugar Land, Dezenzo batted a scorching .391 with four home runs, four doubles and 13 RBIs. That included an OPS of 1.211.

Dezenzo tied the Ohio State single-season home run record with 19 as a senior in 2022 (a mark he shares with Massillon product Dan Seimetz).

In 607 career minor league at-bats, Dezenzo is batting .297 with 28 home runs, 100 RBIs and 31 stolen bases.

To make room for Dezenzo on the active roster, the Astros optioned outfielder Trey Cabbage to Triple A. To make room for Dezenzo on the 40-man roster, they designated pitcher Dylan Coleman for assignment.

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Zach Dezenzo to make Major League Baseball debut with Houston Astros

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