Atlanta Braves Top 100 Prospect – #32 Zachary Bird Scouting Report

Atlanta Braves Right Hander Zachary Bird

Who Is He?

Zachary Bird is a Mississippi boy, drafted in the 9th round in 2012 by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of high school in Jackson, Mississippi. The Dodgers sent him to their rookie league team in the Arizona League in his draft season where he made 10 starts, throwing 39 2/3 innings. In that time, he racked up a 4.54 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 17/46 BB/K ratio and began drawing rave reviews for his raw stuff.

Bird moved up to Ogden of the advanced-rookie Pioneer League in 2013 to start the season, and he finished by moving up to Great Lakes of the Midwest League. Once again, scouts raved about his stuff, but the numbers left a lot to be desired. In 28 combined appearances (20 starts), he pitched 103 2/3 innings, totaling a 5.38 ERA and 1.57 WHIP with a 64/94 BB/K ratio. The control became a real issue after his promotion, walking 45 in 60 innings in the Midwest League.

Bird returned to Great Lakes for the entire 2014 season, and the results were more impressive over 26 games and 24 starts, throwing 118 2/3 innings. He ended the season with a 4.25 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and 55/110 BB/K ratio, leaving scouts to rave about his stuff again.

Next: Bird's scouting report

The Dodgers moved Bird up to high-A Rancho Cucamonga of the California League to start 2015. The Cal League is a notorious hitter’s league, so a higher ERA wasn’t surprising, and the improved control numbers were promising. The Atlanta Braves acquired Bird in the big July trade with the Dodgers and Marlins. The Braves sent him immediately to the AA Mississippi Braves, and while his debut went well and his ERA wasn’t terrible, he was lucky to keep that ERA with the struggles with control that he had. Overall on the season, he made 22 appearances, 20 of them starts. Combined, he had a 4.69 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 101 2/3 innings while posting a 60/103 BB/K ratio.