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Saturday, August 10, 2019

Fernando Zarranz, Contending Talent - 41

The Peoria Chiefs' 1988 season was about to start and The Bloomington Pantagraph listed off the returning players, among them right-handed reliever Fernando Zarranz.

Zarranz, the returning players and new players had the Chiefs in good position for that year's campaign, new Zarranz teammate Brett Robinson told The Pantagraph.

"I think we're very solid," Robinson told The Pantagraph. "I think we've got contending talent."

Zarranz returned to Peoria that year to start his fourth season as a pro. He went on to play in three more seasons after that. He made AAA, but not the bigs.

Zarranz' career began in 1985, taken by the Cubs in the 14th round of the draft out of St. Thomas Aquinas High in Florida.

Zarranz started with the Cubs at short-season Geneva. He went 6-3, with a 4.10 ERA in 19 outings, five starts. He gave up two earned in six innings of work in a July game.

He split 1986 between Geneva and Peoria, going 7-10 on the year, with a 3.93 ERA. He then split 1987 between Peoria and single-A Winston-Salem and then played most of 1988 at Peoria.

At Peoria in 1988, Zarranz saved 21 games and turned in a 1.15 ERA over 46 relief outings. He also got a three-game look at AAA Iowa. He gave up five earned in 4.2 innings.

Zarranz played 1989 between Peoria, Winston-Salem and AA Charlotte. He then played 1990 largely at Charlotte, with another look at Iowa. He went 3-3, with a 2.09 ERA and picked up 13 saves over 51 relief outings at Charlotte that year. He also made the league's all-star team.

Zarranz played one more season in 1991, between AA Jacksonville and high-A San Bernardino in the Mariners organization. He went 2-2, with a 2.60 ERA and four saves in 35 outings to end his career.
1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:3,158
Made the Majors:1,146-36.3%
Never Made Majors:2,012-63.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 475
10+ Seasons in the Minors:283

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