Zack Weiss from Irvine has been called up by the Los Angeles Angels. (Photo courtesy Angels Baseball).
Former Northwood High and UCLA baseball baseball star Zack Weiss has joined the 40-man roster of the Los Angeles Angels and could have an opportunity to make his second Major League pitching appearance.
The announcement was made Thursday by the Angels on Twitter and confirmed Friday by a spokesperson with the team.
The Angels selected the contract of the 30-year-old Weiss, a right-handed pitcher, from the Salt Lake Bees on Thursday and Weiss is expected to be in uniform when the Angels open a three-game series Friday night vs. the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium.
After numerous stops with Major League organizations, in March this year, the 6-3, 210-pound Weiss was invited to the Angels spring training camp.
“I couldn’t be happier for Zack and his family,” said former Northwood Coach Rob Stuart, who coached Weiss in high school. “He’s worked so hard for so long and done everything the right way. He played independent ball, had to win a spot on a roster, played for Team Israel and now gets a chance to play for the team he watched growing up is so exciting.
“He was the best teammate and person I ever coached, not to mention he was a great player.”
Weiss was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth round of the Major League Draft in 2013 as the 195th overall pick out of UCLA.
He had one Major League appearance with the Reds in 2018 allowing four runs without getting an out in a relief appearance vs. the St. Louis Cardinals.
But Weiss said he was hoping to get another chance in the Major Leagues and made numerous stops in pursuit of accomplishing his dream.
Weiss had a successful run pitching for Israel in the 2021 Olympic Games. Weiss was the winning pitcher in the team’s 12-5 victory over Mexico in an elimination game.
Weiss was released by the Reds organization in 2018, but he signed with the Minnesota Twins as a free agent later in the year. In 2020, Weiss was signed as a free agent by Cleveland.
In 2021, Weiss was signed by the Seattle Mariners and in November 2021 he was signed as a free agent by the Angels.
Weiss played high school baseball for Stuart at Northwood. In 2010, his senior season, he was second team All-Sea View League and second team All-CIF. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 10th round but opted to honor his commitment to UCLA. Weiss had a 7-5 record, a 2.45 ERA and 82 strikeouts in his senior season with the Timberwolves.
Weiss was born in Irvine on June 16, 1992.
The Angels host the Astros in the first game of the series Friday night at 6:38 at Angel Stadium.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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