TJ Zeuch threw five more shutout innings for Peoria in Arizona Fall League play last night, running his streak to eight scoreless frames.
The Blue Jays first round choice in 2016 was limited to 12 starts for High A Dunedin this year. Lower back problems sidelined him at the beginning of June, and then a hamstring problem suffered during rehab kept him out of action until August.
Facing elite competition in his first start last week, Zeuch was lights out. He threw three perfect innings, sitting 93-95 with his fastball, and mixing in his slider, change, and curve. The downward plane on his pitches, coupled with that four-pitch mix, is what prompted MLB Pipeline to rank Zeuch as the Blue Jays’ 5th top prospect.
In his latest start, Zeuch retired 8 of the first 9 hitters he faced. He gave up a pair of singles in the 4th, and another in the 5th before his night was over. Zeuch struck out four, walked none, and caused 6 ground ball outs.
Fellow Blue Jays prospect Andrew Case picked up the Win with two innings of scoreless relief in the 7th and 8th, as four Peoria pitches combined on a six-hit shutout.
