Red Sox’ Zach Penrod makes debut after long major league journey

NEW YORK (AP) — Zach Penrod’s tortuous journey to the major leagues ended just in time for his daughter Noa Mae to watch his debut, though she’ll have to watch the video years from now to remember what she saw.

A 27-year-old left-hander who spent parts of three seasons in the independent Pioneer League, Penrod struck out two batters in a no-hit eighth inning for the Boston Red Sox in a 7-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday.

Noa Mae, born Sept. 5, watched from the arms of her mother, Kyla, in the seats at Yankee Stadium.

“My wife has been there every step of the way and sharing this moment with her has been incredible,” Penrod said after posing for photos on the field with his wife and newborn.

Penrod was at home in Massachusetts Saturday, preparing to put Noe Mae to bed, when he was informed of the promotion by Triple-A Worcester pitching coach Dan DeLucia.

“I missed the first call and then I took the second one,” he said of the calls. “I just didn’t recognize the number.”

He entered the field after Aaron Judge doubled in the top of the eighth inning. Penrod struck out Austin Wells on a slider, retired Jazz Chisholm Jr. on a knee-first changeup, walked Jasson Dominguez and retired Anthony Rizzo on a fly ball that third baseman Rafael Devers juggled.

Penrod threw 26 pitches, including 15 fastballs averaging 95.1 mph, along with seven changeups and four sliders.

“Eight days ago they had a baby, so today is his second best day of his life,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “That’s how we presented today. Really calm on the mound, and then when he got his third out, he sat down in the dugout and he collapsed. He collapsed. I mean we’ve had so many stories about it the last few years, independent baseball, rookies, Tommy John, and then they show up at Yankee Stadium and get three outs. That’s the cool part about it.”

Penrod played for Corban, an NAIA school in Oregon, in 2017 and then for NCAA Division II Northwest Nazarene in Idaho the following year as an outfielder and pitcher. He signed with Texas in August 2018 as an undrafted free agent, missed 2019 following Tommy John surgery and was released in June 2020, a year when the minor league season was canceled due to the pandemic.

He spent parts of 2021 and 2022 in Billings, then began 2023 with fellow Pioneer League club Missoula. Boston signed him to a minor league contract on Aug. 16 of last year, and two days later he pitched five scoreless innings for Class A Greenville.

Penrod posted a 2.18 ERA in four starts for the Drive, and Boston sent him to the Arizona Fall League. He began this season in Portland at Double-A, was promoted to Worcester on May 26 and posted a 5.93 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings in five starts and 10 relief appearances in Triple-A, missing time from June 6 to July 26 with left shin inflammation.

He received the first strikeout ball, which he will give to his parents, and he will display the lineup card at home.

“It’s extremely emotional. I guess it’s been a very long journey,” he said. “I’m just trying to enjoy it.”