Brampton’s Pop makes MLB debut on mound with Marlins

Brampton native Zach Pop is officially a major leaguer.

The Miami rookie pitcher made his Major League Baseball debut on Saturday, coming on in relief in the sixth inning of a 12-7 Marlins win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

With the game tied at 6-6, the 24-year-old right-hander’s first appearance would be a memorable one, giving up no runs, no hits and no walks in a clean inning.

“(April 3, 2021) is a date that I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Pop said on Twitter after his appearance. “No words can express how it feels to step out on the mound and live out the dreams you had as a kid.

“Thank you to everyone who supported me and thank you God for the gifts you have given me.”

The six-foot-four, 220-pound hurler, who attended the University of Kentucky, was originally a seventh-round pick (220 overall) of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 MLB draft.

Pop was one of five prospects sent by the Dodgers to the Baltimore Orioles in a blockbuster deal for infielder Manny Machado in July of 2018.

His journey to the majors ran into adversity with the Orioles when he blew out his arm and had to have Tommy John surgery in May of 2019.

In December of 2020, the Canadian was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Rule 5 draft, before flipping him to the Marlins for a player to be named later.

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