Zack Weiss (MiLB.com)

By Scott Barancik, editor

It has been a big week for Reds prospect Zack Weiss.

Weiss, a 23-year-old reliever drafted out of UCLA in 2013, began the season with the Daytona Tortugas (A+), where he quickly earned 5 saves before being promoted to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (AA) in early May. Since arriving he has established himself as one of the country’s premier closers. 

Though nowhere to be seen on pre-season ‘top prospect’ lists, the 6’3″ righty recently set a Blue Wahoos franchise record with his 25th save. His 30 overall saves (in 31 attempts) rank 2nd among all 4,781 players who have pitched in the minor leagues so far in 2015.

The baseball world has begun to notice. Yesterday, he was named the Southern League’s relief pitcher of the month, thanks to a ridiculous August in which he recorded a 0.56 ERA, 12 saves in 12 chances, yielded just 5 hits and 5 walks over 16 innings, and struck out 24.

Also yesterday, Weiss was one of seven top Cincinnati prospects selected to participate in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, whose season begins Oct. 13. He and his fellow Reds farmhands will play for the Peoria Javelinas, alongside teammates from the Padres, Braves, Mariners and Orioles.

Yesterday marked beginning of the season’s roster expansion for MLB teams, which are permitted to grow from 25 players to 40. The reds called up three prospects, but Weiss was not among them.

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