Ángel David Zerpa Bio
Ángel David Zerpa is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021 with the Kansas City Royals, where he spent the first five seasons of his major league career before being traded in December 2025. Zerpa has established himself as a versatile pitcher capable of both starting and relieving roles throughout his professional career. He represented Venezuela at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, helping his country earn a medal in the tournament held in Miami.
Early Life and Background
Ángel David Zerpa was born on September 27, 1999, in Venezuela. His exact birthplace within Venezuela is not widely documented in available sources. Zerpa grew up in Venezuela showing promise as a baseball pitcher from an early age. He developed his skills in his home country before being noticed by Major League Baseball scouts.
Zerpa signed with the Kansas City Royals as an international free agent on July 26, 2016. He received a $100,000 signing bonus to join the organization. This signing marked the beginning of his professional baseball career in the United States minor league system.
Path to Major League Baseball
After signing with the Royals, Zerpa began his professional career in 2017 with the Dominican Summer League Royals. He performed exceptionally well in his debut season, posting a 3-4 record with a 1.84 earned run average and 39 strikeouts across 63⅔ innings pitched. His strong showing earned him a promotion to higher levels of the minor leagues in subsequent seasons.
He advanced through the Royals minor league system over the following years, refining his pitching repertoire and building experience at each level. The Royals organization recognized his potential and added him to their 40-man roster on November 20, 2020, to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. This move indicated the franchise’s belief in his future major league contributions.
Ángel David Zerpa Career
Minor League Development (2017–2020)
Zerpa spent his 2018 season with the Arizona League Royals, where he went 3-6 with a 3.88 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 48⅔ innings. He continued to make progress in 2019, splitting the season between the Burlington Royals and the Idaho Falls Chukars in the Pioneer League. He combined for a 6-3 record with a 3.40 ERA and 55 strikeouts across 55⅓ innings during that season.
The 2020 season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the cancellation of the minor league season. Zerpa did not play in any games that year, though he remained with the Royals organization and continued his development. He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kansas City Royals Breakthrough (2021–2025)
Zerpa split the 2021 minor league season between the High-A Quad Cities River Bandits, Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, and Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers. He went a combined 4-4 with a 4.58 ERA and 108 strikeouts over 88⅓ innings across the three levels. His strong performance earned him a promotion to the major leagues.
On September 30, 2021, Zerpa was recalled to the active roster to make his MLB debut as the starting pitcher against the Cleveland Indians. This debut marked the culmination of his path through the minor leagues and the beginning of his major league career. In 2022, Zerpa made three appearances including two starts for the Royals, logging a 2-1 record and 1.64 ERA with three strikeouts in 11 innings pitched. He made 19 additional starts between Northwest Arkansas and Omaha, posting a 2-5 record and 4.02 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 71⅔ innings of work. He was placed on the 60-day injured list on August 2 with a small tear in his patellar tendon, which caused him to miss the remainder of the season.
On March 15, 2023, Zerpa was placed on the 60-day injured list with left shoulder tendinopathy. He was activated on July 14 and subsequently optioned to Triple-A Omaha. Zerpa made 15 appearances including three starts for Kansas City during the year, recording a 3-3 record and 4.85 ERA with 36 strikeouts across 42⅔ innings pitched.
Zerpa made 60 appearances out of the bullpen for Kansas City during the 2024 campaign, registering a 2-0 record and 3.86 ERA with 49 strikeouts across 53⅔ innings pitched. He appeared in 69 games including two starts for the Royals in 2025, posting a 5-2 record and 4.18 ERA with 58 strikeouts over 64⅔ innings.
Milwaukee Brewers Era (2026–Present)
On December 14, 2025, Zerpa was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Isaac Collins and Nick Mears. The trade represented a new chapter in his career as he joined a different American League Central organization. He made 12 appearances for the Brewers, compiling an 0-2 record and 6.39 ERA with eight strikeouts and two saves across 12⅔ innings pitched.
His tenure with Milwaukee was interrupted when it was announced on May 5, 2026, that Zerpa would undergo Tommy John surgery, effectively ending his season. The Tommy John procedure is a common elbow surgery for pitchers that typically requires an extended recovery period. He has since been working through his rehabilitation process as he aims to return to the mound.
Career Statistics and Achievements
Across his MLB career spanning from 2021 through the 2026 season, Zerpa has compiled a 12-9 win-loss record with a 4.13 earned run average and 158 strikeouts. His career statistics reflect his versatility as both a starter and reliever throughout his time with the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers. He has demonstrated the ability to pitch effectively in various roles within a major league bullpen.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career highlights, Zerpa represented Venezuela at the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Miami, where he helped his country earn a medal in the international tournament. His MLB debut against the Cleveland Indians on September 30, 2021, marked a significant milestone in his professional journey. His transition to a bullpen role with the Royals in 2024 showed his adaptability, as he made 60 appearances out of the relief corps.
Ángel David Zerpa Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Ángel David Zerpa has accumulated wins at both the major and minor league levels. His career MLB record stands at 12 wins against 9 losses, while he has also recorded numerous victories during his time in the minor leagues across multiple organizations and levels.
Major League Baseball Highlights
In MLB, Zerpa has posted a 12-9 career win-loss record with a 4.13 ERA and 158 strikeouts through April 25, 2026. His most productive season came in 2025 with the Royals, where he earned 5 wins. His 2024 season saw him emerge as a reliable bullpen option with 2 wins in 60 relief appearances. His victory total has been accumulated across both starting and relieving roles.
Minor League and International Achievements
Prior to his MLB career, Zerpa accumulated multiple wins in the minor leagues, including seasons with the Dominican Summer League Royals, Arizona League Royals, Burlington Royals, and Idaho Falls Chukars. His best minor league season came in 2019 when he went a combined 6-3 across two teams. He also represented Venezuela internationally, earning a medal at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked one of Zerpa’s most consistent years in Major League Baseball. He appeared in 69 games for the Kansas City Royals, including 2 starts, showcasing his versatility as both a reliever and occasional starter. He posted a 5-2 win-loss record with a 4.18 ERA and 58 strikeouts across 64⅔ innings pitched.
His performance throughout the season demonstrated his reliability as a bullpen piece for the Royals. The right-hander averaged roughly one inning per appearance and maintained solid run prevention. His ability to log multiple appearances while preserving effectiveness highlighted his durability and importance to the pitching staff.
Prior to the conclusion of the 2025 season, Zerpa was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in December. This move brought his five-year tenure with the Royals organization to an end. Following the trade, he joined a new clubhouse and prepared for the challenges of pitching for a different team in the American League.