Position: RHP
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 216 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 10/24/1994
College: University of South Florida
Signed: Non-drafted free agent, 2018 (Brewers)
How Acquired: Trade (from Guardians for cash)
Bonus: N/A
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 0
Overview
Strzelecki was a starter for two years at South Florida, putting up a 3.33 ERA and 9.2 K/9. By then he was 23 and he wasn’t drafted, but the Brewers signed him as a non-drafted free agent. As a pro he’s been exclusively a reliever. He advanced pretty quickly through the Milwaukee system, not making any prospect lists but getting called up in his fourth season, if you exclude the pandemic year. According to StatCast, he throws a four-seam fastball that averages a little over 92 mph, along with a change, slider, cutter and sinker. He appears to mix the pitches up quite a bit, with the slider maybe being the most effective. He’s had good control, with good K rates in the minors and solid ones in his 77 games in the majors. As a major leaguer he’s had a big platoon split, holding right-handed hitters to a .567 OPS while allowing a .792 figure to left-handed hitters.
2018-21
Strzelecki pitched mainly in advanced rookie ball after signing in 2018 and got hit around some, although he had very good walk and K rates. In 2019, the Brewers sent him to Low A and he pitched well there, with a 3.22 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. He was even better in an eight-game stretch in High A late in the season.
Strzelecki didn’t pitch in 2020, then went to AA for 2021. He continued to make good progress there, posting a 3.45 ERA with especially good walk and K rates of 3.3 and 12.4 per nine innings, respectively.
2022-24
In 2022, Strzelecki opened the season in AAA and pitched well there, with the Brewers calling him up in late May. He was up and down several times after that, but spent the last seven weeks of the season in Milwaukee. Ultimately, he got into 30 games in the majors and 27 in AAA. He put up outstanding numbers in AAA, with a 2.84 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 14.2 K/9. In the majors those figures were 2.83, 1.23 and 10.2. He had good control at both levels.
In 2023, Strzelecki got off to a good start for the Brewers, but had a rough time in May and June, with an ERA of 6.95 between the two months. Milwaukee sent him to AAA in July and, on August 1, traded him to Arizona. Except for one game with the Diamondbacks, he spent the rest of the season in AAA. He pitched badly at both AAA stops.
At the start of 2024, Arizona sent Strzelecki to Cleveland for cash. He spent the season bouncing back and forth between AAA and Cleveland, spending more time in the minors. He mostly struggled in AAA, with a 5.01 ERA and 1.37 WHIP, although he continued to put up good walk and K rates. In ten games with the Guardians he had a 2.31 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. Cleveland designated Strzelecki for assignment at the non-tender deadline and then sent him to the Pirates for cash.
Strzelecki is out of options.
Stats
Transactions
June 17, 2018: Signed by the Milwaukee Brewers as a non-drafted free agent.
May 30, 2022: Contract purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers.
August 1, 2023: Traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Andrew Chafin.
March 28, 2024: Traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Cleveland Guardians for cash.
November 22, 2024: Traded by the Cleveland Guardians to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash.