TORONTO – Former Kansas pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn was promoted to the major leagues today by the Salt Lake Bees, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. Zeferjahn is the first Kansas player to be called up to the major leagues since Wes Benjamin on August 11, 2020.
Zeferjahn was recently traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Angels on July 30, 2024. After the trade, Zeferjahn was assigned to the Salt Lake Bees, where he posted a 2.35 ERA in 7.2 innings in five relief appearances.
Before being signed by the Angels, Zeferjahn played for the Red Sox’s Double-A and Triple-A affiliate teams. This season, with his three different clubs, Zeferjahn has a 3.33 ERA in 46.0 innings pitched. He has recorded 61 strikeouts compared to 21 walks, and his opponents have a .201 batting average against him.
Zeferjahn spent three seasons at Kansas from 2017-2019. He had a career record of 17-12 with a 4.68 ERA in 47 appearances (42 starts). Zeferjahn pitched 221.0 innings and struck out 260 batters at Kansas. His 260 career strikeouts are the third-most in program history.
Following his junior season, in which he went 5-2 with a 3.97 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 88.1 innings pitched, Zeferjahn was named to the All-Big 12 First Team. His 107 strikeouts in 2019 are the fourth-most in a single season in program history. Zeferjahn also held hitters to a .193 batting average in 2019.
Zeferjahn was selected 107th in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He is the sixth-highest Jayhawk ever drafted in the program’s history.
When Zeferjahn makes his first MLB appearance, he will be the 27th Jayhawk to play in the Major Leagues.
Welcome to the show, Zef!
Congratulations to Ryan Zeferjahn on his appointment to the @Angel.#Chalk pic.twitter.com/rs5ZLclNzG
– Kansas Baseball (@KUBaseball) 23 August 2024
