Long Island Ducks Pitcher Tapped To Play Major League Baseball

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY —Long Island Ducks' right-handed pitcher Tyler Zuber has been tapped by the Tampa Bay Rays to play Major League Baseball, the organization announced on Sunday.

Zuber started the 2024 season with the Ducks, then in May, his contract was purchased by the Tampa Ray Bays organization and he was sent to play for the Durham Bulls—the team’s Triple-A affiliate—in North Carolina.

“We are excited to see Tyler return to the Major Leagues,” said Ducks Manager Lew Ford. “He did an exceptional job for us earlier this year and is very deserving of this opportunity.”

This won't be the first time Zuber's played in the major leagues. During two seasons with MLB, he made 54 relief appearances with the Kansas City Royals between 2020 and 2021. In early 2024, Zuber, an Arizona resident, made seven relief appearances with the Cleveland Guardians during spring training. In 2019, he was named a Carolina League Mid-Season All-Star with the Wilmington Blue Rocks (A+, Royals).

This season, Zuber played six games with the Ducks. According to the organization, he compiled a 1.58 ERA, with just one run in five and two-thirds innings of work. He also gave up just five hits and one walk while striking out 10 batters and recording two saves. the Ducks said. He struck out at least one batter in each of his six games and held opponents to a .238 batting average.

Zuber is the first Duck on the 2024 roster to return to the major leagues. He's the fifth player to have his contract purchased by a Major League organization or a foreign professional league in 2024. In April, pitcher Chris Ellis went to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Dan Straily joined the Chicago Cubs, pitcher Matt Seelinger's contract was bought by the Detroit Tigers and Raynel Espinal joined Rieleros de Aguascalientes.

Since beginning play in 2000, the Ducks have had 30 players reach the Major League level after joining Long Island, and 111 have had their contract purchased.