Zach Putnam
Steven Zachary Putnam (born July 3, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has formerly played for the Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, and Chicago Cubs in the MLB.
Amateur career
Born in Rochester, Michigan, Putnam attended Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. At Pioneer, Putnam was the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Baseball in 2005, and also led the team to a state title in 2004. Putnam then attended the University of Michigan, where he played for the Michigan Wolverines baseball team as a pitcher and outfielder, and was a two-time All-American. As a hitter, Putnam hit .307 with 19 home runs and had an overall ERA of 3.36 over three seasons for the Wolverines.
Professional career
Putnam was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the fifth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. He spent the next four seasons in the Indians' minor league system: 2008 with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 2009 with the Kinston Indians and Akron Aeros, 2010 with the Aeros and Columbus Clippers, and 2011 with the Clippers. In 2011, Putnam had a 6-3 record and a 3.65 ERA in 44 games.
