Zachery Michael Pop Bio
Zachery Michael Pop (born September 20, 1996) is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher. Pop has worked primarily as a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball and has appeared with the Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies during his big-league career.
Early Life and Background
Pop grew up in the Greater Toronto area and attended Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario. He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 23rd round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft but chose to attend the University of Kentucky and continue his development in college baseball.
While at Kentucky and during collegiate summers, Pop gained experience in wood-bat leagues. He pitched for the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League in 2015 and for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2016, showcasing the relief work that would define his professional role.
Path to Baseball
Pop entered professional baseball after the Los Angeles Dodgers selected him in the seventh round, 220th overall, of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Dodgers and made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers, recording scoreless innings in his first outing.
In 2018 Pop advanced through Single-A and High-A with the Great Lakes Loons and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes before he was included in a multi-player trade to the Baltimore Orioles on July 18, 2018, as part of the package in the Manny Machado deal. He continued to work as a relief pitcher in the Orioles system before undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2019, which ended his 2019 season.
Zachery Michael Pop Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
After signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers following the 2017 draft, Pop made early appearances at the Arizona League level and moved into full-season ball in 2018. That year across Great Lakes, Rancho Cucamonga, and Double-A Bowie he compiled strong relief numbers, including a stretch in which he posted a 1.53 ERA and recorded 64 strikeouts in 44 relief appearances between affiliates.
Pop was traded to the Baltimore Orioles organization in July 2018 and opened 2019 at Double-A Bowie. On May 14, 2019, Pop underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the remainder of that season. The 2020 minor league season cancellation also interrupted his trajectory, delaying his return to game action.
Miami Marlins Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Pop’s path to the major leagues accelerated after the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him in the Rule 5 draft on December 10, 2020, and then traded him to the Miami Marlins. He made the Marlins’ Opening Day roster in 2021 and debuted in the major leagues on April 3, 2021, tossing a scoreless inning of relief against the Tampa Bay Rays.
During his rookie season with Miami Pop made 50 appearances, finishing 2021 with a 1–0 record and a 4.12 ERA while striking out 51 batters in 54 2/3 innings. He remained with Miami into the 2022 season, appearing in 18 games and compiling a 2–0 record with a 3.60 ERA across 20 innings pitched before being included in a trade to Toronto.
Toronto Blue Jays Tenure (2022–2024)
On August 2, 2022, the Miami Marlins traded Pop and Anthony Bass to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for prospect Jordan Groshans. Pop made 17 relief appearances for Toronto down the stretch in 2022, posting a 2–0 record with a 1.89 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 19 innings of work.
Pop made the Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster in 2023. Over parts of the 2023 and 2024 campaigns he moved between the major-league staff and Triple-A Buffalo, and in 2024 he made 58 appearances for Toronto with a 2–4 record, one save, and 33 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings. The Blue Jays designated him for assignment in March 2025 and released him in early April 2025.
Journeyman Season and Philadelphia Era (2025–Present)
The 2025 season was a period of frequent movement. Pop signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners on April 16, 2025, and the Mariners selected his contract on June 13, 2025. He struggled in a small major-league sample with Seattle and was designated for assignment later that month, electing free agency in early July. Pop then signed a one-year major league contract with the New York Mets on July 5, 2025, and was designated for assignment shortly after, electing free agency again on July 10.
Later in July 2025 Pop signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs and made nine appearances for Triple-A Iowa, posting a 1–0 record with 14 strikeouts across 9 2/3 innings. He elected free agency following the season. On December 22, 2025, Pop signed a major league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He appeared in seven games for Philadelphia in 2026, recording a 3.68 ERA with six strikeouts before a right calf strain landed him on the injured list on April 13, 2026. He was later activated, designated for assignment on May 30, and cleared waivers to elect free agency on June 6, 2026.
Pitching Role and Strengths
Pop has served primarily as a relief pitcher throughout his professional career, working in short relief appearances across multiple organizations. Through April 12, 2026, his major league record stood at 8–6 with 132 strikeouts and a 4.83 earned run average, reflecting his ability to generate swings-and-misses in relief innings.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Pop’s career include being selected in the 2017 MLB draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, being part of the 2018 trade associated with Manny Machado, undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2019, being selected in the Rule 5 draft and traded to the Miami Marlins in December 2020, and making his major league debut on April 3, 2021. His rookie 2021 season featured 50 appearances with the Marlins and established him as a big-league bullpen option.
Zachery Michael Pop Career Wins
Across his major league service time through April 12, 2026, Pop held an 8–6 win–loss record. His rookie season with the Miami Marlins produced his first big-league decisions and the volume of appearances that built his profile as a relief pitcher.
MLB Highlights
Pop’s major league highlights include his April 3, 2021 debut for the Miami Marlins and a productive stretch after his August 2022 trade to the Toronto Blue Jays, when he posted a 1.89 ERA in 17 relief outings to finish the 2022 season. His cumulative major league totals through April 12, 2026, list 132 strikeouts, an 8–6 record, and a 4.83 earned run average.
Other Wins & Perfromances
In the minor leagues Pop produced standout relief numbers in 2018 across three levels, recording a combined 1.53 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 44 relief appearances. He logged additional minor league innings during rehabilitation and the 2025 Triple-A stint with the Iowa Cubs that helped him remain active between organizational opportunities.
Zachery Michael Pop Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public records and available sources list Pop as Canadian and reference his upbringing in the Brampton, Ontario area. Specific details about parents or family life are not publicly detailed in available sources.
Personal Life
Pop maintains a public social presence, including an official Twitter account. Other personal details such as marital status and residence are not publicly disclosed in the reviewed records.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was transitional: Pop signed with the Seattle Mariners in April, received a major-league call in June, and struggled in a brief major-league stint before being designated for assignment. He signed with the New York Mets in July and was again designated for assignment within days, then joined the Chicago Cubs organization on a minor league deal and made nine Triple-A appearances with Iowa.
The pattern of short stints in multiple organizations highlighted Pop’s role as a bullpen depth option during 2025. He recorded strikeouts in Triple-A that kept him on teams’ radars and entered the 2026 offseason as a free agent before signing with the Philadelphia Phillies, who added him to their major-league roster late in 2025 for the following season.