DURHAM, N.C.– Independent Baseball caters to players at all stages of their careers. For some, it is the path back to affiliated baseball or an extension of a career. For others, it provides the chance necessary for the leap into the affiliated ranks for the first time. That scenario has come to fruition for Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks RHP Zach Prendergast.
After just four appearances in a Fargo-Moorhead uniform, Prendergast’s contract has been purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals. He will be assigned to the rookie-level Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League. The Cardinals conclude a road series at the Burlington Royals at 6:00 p.m. Central time in Burlington, N.C. tonight.
Prendergast concludes his stint in Fargo-Moorhead with a 2-0 record and 2.07 ERA. He struck out 25 and walked eight over 26 innings of work. His RedHawks debut came on June 27, when the Horsham, Penn. native struck out five Sioux Falls Canaries over 6.1 innings, helping his team to a 4-3 win. On the Fourth of July, Prendergast earned his first professional win by tossing 7.2 shutout frames at the Gary SouthShore RailCats. He struck out five while scattering three hits and three walks in a 7-0 Fargo-Moorhead win. On July 11, Prendergast struck out a career-high six against the Kansas City T-Bones, but Fargo-Moorhead fell 6-5. His final start for the RedHawks took place July 16, a seven-inning shutout at the St. Paul Saints. Prendergast struck out nine in the outing, earning his second professional win in a 4-0 Fargo-Moorhead triumph.
Prior to signing with Fargo-Moorhead, Prendergast pitched collegiately at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. Over 16 appearances this spring, Prendergast worked 91 innings. He finished his campaign 7-4 with a 3.07 ERA, striking out 69 and walking 16. His most impressive and memorable start of the season came May 14 at Villanova, when Prendergast tossed a no-hitter, facing just one batter over the minimum by falling one error shy of a perfect game. He achieved the feat on just 82 pitches, helping the Pirates to a 1-0 road win that clinched a berth in the Big East Conference’s championship tournament. He was named an all-Big East first team selection and a two-time Big East Pitcher of the Week in 2017.
The RedHawks will take on the Sioux Falls Canaries on the road at 7:05 p.m. Central time tonight at the Birdcage in Sioux Falls. The game can be seen live and for free at www.americanassociationbaseball.tv.
