Connor Sadzeck
Connor Sadzeck
Position: RHP
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 235 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 10/01/1991
College: Howard College (JC)
Drafted: 11th round, 354th Overall, 2011 (Rangers)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Bonus: $350,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2024
Options Left: 0
Overview
Sadzeck was first drafted out of high school by the Pirates, but he didn’t sign. He went to junior college and signed a year later when the Rangers selected him in round 11. He’s a big guy with a history of reaching triple digits with his fastball, adding a slider that misses bats. In the majors in 2018-19, he averaged 96-97 mph with the fastball. By 2022, he was down to 95 and was throwing the slider most of the time. Sadzeck’s had a lot of ups and downs in his career, as well as some injury problems. His control has come and gone, but it’s usually been a problem in AAA and the majors. The Pirates signed Sadzeck to a minor league deal for 2024.
2012-15
Pitching as a starter, Sadzeck got decent results the year he signed, then put up a 2.25 ERA in Low A in 2013. He missed all of 2014, though, due to Tommy John surgery. When he came back in 2015, he pitched reasonably well in High A, but he struggled badly, with a 9.61 ERA in seven games, after a late promotion to AA. Control was a big problem, as he walked more than he struck out. Nevertheless, after 2015 Texas added Sadzeck to the 40-man roster.
2016-19
Sadzeck spent all of 2016 and 2017 in AA, the first year as a starter, the second in a swing role. He made a lot of progress with his control and got his K/9 up to 10.7 in 2017, but he got hit harder that year, leading to a 6.25 ERA. He had gopher ball problems both years.
In 2018, the Rangers moved Sadzeck to the bullpen for good. He spent most of the season in AAA, where he had a 4.03 ERA and 10.2 K/9. The Rangers called Sadzeck up for September and he managed a fluky 0.96 ERA while walking 11 in 9.1 IP. At the beginning of the 2019 season, Texas traded Sadzeck to Seattle. He got into 20 games with the Mariners and put up a 2.66 ERA. The walks were still high, as he had a 5.7 BB/9, but he had a 10.3 K/9 and held opponents to a 200/327/344 line. In early June, though, Sadzeck went on the injured list with elbow inflammation and missed the rest of the season.
2020-23
Seattle outrighted Sadzeck after the 2019 season and he elected free agency. In January 2020 he signed a minor league deal with the White Sox. He didn’t play in the pandemic season, then posted a 5.86 ERA and 6.5 BB/9 in 23 games in AAA for the Sox. In early August, Chicago released Sadzeck and he signed a minor league deal with the Brewers. He pitched much better in 17 AAA games with them.
Sadzeck went back to AAA with Milwaukee in 2022 and pitched very well there, with a very good K rate and a good walk rate. Milwaukee called him up July, but outrighted him after he appeared in two games, allowing three runs in three innings. Sadzeck again elected free agency and the Nationals signed him to a minor league deal. He pitched for them the rest of the season, became a free agent afterward, and signed a minor league deal with the Twins. He opened 2023 in AAA and struggled there, largely due to renewed control problems, as he walked 6.7 per nine innings. The Nationals released Sadzeck in July and he didn’t catch on anywhere else until the Pirates signed him to a minor league deal in the offseason.
2024
Sadzeck spent the 2024 season with Indianapolis and led the team in games with 49, all in relief. He wasn’t very effective, walking 5.9 per nine innings, with a 1.71 WHIP. He did strike out 9.5 per nine and led the team with nine saves.
Stats
Transactions
June 9, 2010: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 45th round, 1347th overall pick.
June 8, 2011: Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 11th round, 354th overall pick; signed June 12.
November 20, 2015: Contract purchased by the Texas Rangers.
April 2, 2019: Traded by the Texas Rangers to the Seattle Mariners for Grant Anderson.
October 28, 2019: Outrighted to AAA by the Seattle Mariners; elected free agency on November 4.
January 9, 2020: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Chicago White Sox.
August 3, 2021: Released by the Chicago White Sox.
August 11, 2021: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Milwaukee Brewers.
July 13, 2022: Called up by the Milwaukee Brewers.
July 29, 2022: Outrighted to AAA by the Milwaukee Brewers; elected free agency on July 31.
August 4, 2022: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Washington Nationals.
November 10, 2022: Became a free agent.
February 9, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Minnesota Twins.
July 5, 2023: Released by the Minnesota Twins.
February 2, 2024: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.