Zachary Thomas Godley (born April 21, 1990) is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, who attempts to e ...

for the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the

Atlantic League of Professional Baseball The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league based in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The Atlantic League's ...

. He previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL) ...

(MLB) for the

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. ...

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eig ...

, and

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. The Brewers are named for the city's association wi ...

Professional career

Chicago Cubs

Godley attended Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School. In 2009, as a senior, he went 9-3 with a 2.24 ERA. He was drafted by the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major leagu ...

in the 50th round of the 2009 MLB draft but did not sign and instead enrolled at

Spartanburg Methodist College Spartanburg Methodist College is a private Methodist college in Saxon, South Carolina, with a Spartanburg postal address. The college serves approximately 1,000 students (2020-2021 academic year). The college awards six associate degrees, a cust ...

where he played

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional pl ...

. After his freshman season, he transferred to the

University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee (officially The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; or UT Knoxville; UTK; or UT) is a public land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee. Founded in 1794, two years before Tennessee became the 16th state ...

. In 2013, his senior year, he went 5-7 with a 3.49 ERA in 16 games (14 starts). After the season, he was then drafted by the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is locate ...

in the 10th round of the 2013 MLB draft and signed. Godley signed and made his professional debut that season with the AZL Cubs and was promoted to the

Boise Hawks The Boise Hawks are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. Home games are played at Memorial Stadium in Garden City, Idaho, a small city surroun ...

after one game. In 13 relief appearances for Boise he compiled a 2-0 record and 2.03 ERA. Godley spent 2014 with the Kane County Cougars and Daytona Cubs, pitching to a combined 4-3 record and 3.09 ERA in 55.1 relief innings pitched.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On December 9, 2014, Godley, along with Jeferson Mejia, was traded to the

for Miguel Montero. He began 2015 with Visalia Rawhide and was promoted to the

Mobile BayBears The Mobile BayBears were a Minor League Baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama, United States. The team, which played in the Southern League, served as the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres (1997–2006), Arizona Diamondbacks (2007– ...

in June. Godley made his MLB debut on July 23, 2015, against the

. He threw six scoreless innings, striking out seven and walking none as he earned the win as Arizona defeated Milwaukee, 8–3. He became the first pitcher since 1900 with 6-plus scoreless innings, no walks and 7 or more strikeouts in his MLB debut. Godley was recalled and demoted multiple times during the 2015 season after his debut. In nine games (six starts) for Arizona he was 5–1 with a 3.19 ERA, and in 21 games (17 starts) between Visalia and Mobile, he was 10–4 with a 2.71 ERA. Godley began 2016 with Mobile and was promoted to the Reno Aces in May. He was recalled and demoted twice before being called up for the remainder of the season in July. In 15 games (14 starts) between Mobile and Reno he pitched to a 4–6 record and 3.62 ERA, and in 27 games for Arizona, he compiled a 5–4 record and 6.39 ERA. In 2017, Godley began the season back with Reno. He was recalled in June and spent the rest of 2017 with Arizona. In 26 games (25 starts) for the Diamondbacks he was 8–9 with a 3.37 ERA. Godley began the 2018 season with Arizona as a member of the starting rotation. He finished the season with a 15–11 record in 33 games (32 starts), with a 4.74 ERA. He struck out 185 batters in innings. He led the major leagues in

wild pitch In baseball, a wild pitch (WP) is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, or the batter (on an uncaught third st ...

es, with 17. He also led all major league pitchers in

curveball In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curv ...

percentage (40.3%). During the 2019 season, Godley appeared in 27 games for Arizona (nine starts), compiling a 3–5 record with 6.39 ERA in 76 innings pitched. On August 5, Godley was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must within seven days, return the play ...

Toronto Blue Jays

The

claimed Godley off waivers on August 7, 2019. He appeared in six games for the Blue Jays, recording one win and registering a 3.94 ERA in 16 innings pitched. On September 3, Godley was designated for assignment. He elected free agency on September 8.

Detroit Tigers

On December 20, 2019, the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

signed Godley to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. In March 2020, Godley was released, then re-signed by the Tigers on a minor league pact. On July 13, 2020, Godley was again released by the Tigers.

Boston Red Sox

On July 17, 2020, Godley signed a minor league deal with the

. He was added to the team's active roster on July 26, and made his first appearance with Boston the next day, pitching four innings of scoreless relief in a 7–4 loss to the

. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on September 10, and moved to the 45-day injured list on September 19. Overall with the 2020 Red Sox, Godley appeared in eight games (seven starts), compiling an 0–4 record with 8.16 ERA and 28 strikeouts in innings. On October 26, Godley was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and elected free agency.

Milwaukee Brewers

On March 19, 2021, Godley signed a minor league contract with the

organization. On April 28, 2021, Godley was selected to the active roster to be the starting pitcher in the Brewers’ game against the

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The fra ...

and allowed 3 earned runs in 3.0 innings, taking the loss. The next day, he was placed on the injured list with a right index finger contusion. On May 10, Godley was activated from the injured list and designated for assignment. He cleared outright waivers on May 12 and was assigned outright to Triple-A. On June 18, Godley was re-selected to the active roster. After allowing 3 earned runs in a third of an inning, Godley was again designated for assignment on June 21. He was outrighted to the Triple-A

Nashville Sounds The Nashville Sounds are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry, ...

on June 24. However, Godley rejected the outright assignment and elected free agency the next day.

Cleveland Indians

On June 28, 2021, Godley signed a minor league contract with the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...

organization and was assigned to the

Columbus Clippers The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy merchant sailing vessels known as clipp ...

of the Triple-A East. Godley was released by the Indians on August 2, 2021.

New York Mets

On August 7, 2021, Godley signed a minor league deal with the

. Godley made 4 starts for the Triple-A

Syracuse Mets The Syracuse Mets are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets. They are located in Syracuse, New York, and play their home games at NBT Bank Stadium, which opened in 1997 and has ...

, going 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA and 17 strikeouts. On August 30, Godley was granted his release by the Mets.

Cincinnati Reds

On February 21, 2022, Godley signed a minor league contract with the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

. He was released on May 26, 2022.

Gastonia Honey Hunters

On June 7, 2022, Godley signed with the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the

Personal

Godley and his wife, Autumn, have two daughters.

References

External links

Tennessee Volunteers bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Godley, Zack 1990 births Living people American expatriate baseball players in Canada Arizona Diamondbacks players Arizona League Cubs players Baseball players from South Carolina Boise Hawks players Boston Red Sox players Daytona Cubs players Gastonia Honey Hunters players Kane County Cougars players Major League Baseball pitchers Milwaukee Brewers players Mobile BayBears players Nashville Sounds players People from Bamberg, South Carolina Reno Aces players Spartanburg Methodist Pioneers baseball players Toronto Blue Jays players Tennessee Volunteers baseball players Visalia Rawhide players Columbus Clippers players Syracuse Mets players