Chad Zurcher announced on Monday, that he contacted the Mets organization to inform them he was retiring from the game.

As soon as I heard the news, I reached out to him and asked Chad if he would be comfortable in sharing some of the details that led him to his decision to walk away from the game which has been a part of his life for most of his life.

“The decision to retire from baseball was very difficult. I have played for so many years, since I was 4 or 5 years old. I do not recall a summer without baseball. It was a decision that was in my best interest going forward though.”

“I wrestled with it for many nights during my last stint while injured in August and throughout this off-season,” Zurcher said. “It was difficult to leave an organization like the Mets who handle their business great. Their belief in me is something I will always remember. A first class organization.”

It wasn’t just one injury that kept the 25-year old Zurcher from the field. “It was more of a result of multiple injuries than it was one specific injury. I had my right shoulder fixed in 2009, missed 2012 with surgery on my left shoulder, and this past season I tore cartilage in my wrist in April. After returning from that injury, my right shoulder began bothering me again. I was hoping the wrist would recover with rest in the off season, but it has not.”

Even with multiple injuries, he continued to battle through hoping that his body would react better, but it just became worse, “It became apparent when my shoulders would bother me on and off during normal activities and the wrist stayed painful. The injuries were the main reason because it took some desire away missing all those games. It became such a problem that I realized if I were to get banged up again that it would just crush me and be too hard to keep playing,” says Zurcher.

The competition that an athlete faces each and every season, helps to build the competitiveness in their blood, but the camaraderie that they build amongst their teammates, is what creates a life long impression. “What I will miss most is competing and the friendships I built along the way. I will miss competing with my teammates against the opponents and competing with myself. Baseball is a challenging game, and if you are not competing daily with others and yourself to get better, then you will be left behind.”

“I will miss the friendships during the season and playing along side them, but I think I have created lifelong friends that I know I can talk to all the time. These friendships were created to last longer than just during the baseball season and during our careers.”

Making a sudden change to a career, can sometimes be a daunting decision, but Zurcher created a path to lead him to other goals, “I have a general direction of what I want to do. I definitely want to stay around sports, and that is what I am currently doing. I am interning in Arena Operations at the FedEx Forum in Memphis.” He continues, “Working in a collegiate athletic department or for a professional organization would be ideal. There is always the possibility of coaching baseball in my future as well. Also, I know through my faith that my path has already been laid out for me as long as I stay on the correct track. Jeremiah 29:11 assures me of this.”

Looking back, he knows that there are no regrets, maybe missed opportunities, but a new path will open up, and old memories will always be a part of his life. “I felt like I did well when I had my opportunity, especially after missing a year. I wish I could have found a way to stay healthy. I tried for years during high school, college and pro ball to get bigger and stronger, but it was always a challenge for me. I wish I could have done that better. I do not know if it would have helped because the strongest and most in shape I had ever been was right before the 2012 season.”

“All in all, I have zero regrets because I feel like for the past 20 years I gave it my all, competed night in and night out, created tons of lifelong friendships, and genuinely cared about those who touched my life. I hope I touched theirs as well.”
A special note from Chad Zurcher:

Mr. Conde,

I appreciate you taking the time to allow me to explain the past few years a little more. I want to thank you for the support and being so kind. I will continue reading your articles because I am interested in seeing how my former teammates do and how the Mets continue to grow.

Thank You Chad for your time. Mets fans will remember your dedication both on and off the field, and we at MMO and MMN wish you much success in your new journey.

The post A Met Prospect Hangs ‘Em Up, Shares Why With MMO appeared first on Metsmerized.

Savannah 9, Hickory 6

Eudy Pina and Phillip Evans played their hearts out behind Gabriel Ynoa to ensure that his rough start against Hickory would not lead to a loss. Pina lead off the game with a home run for Savannah, who held a 1-0 lead until Ynoa served up a two-run shot to Jorge Alfaro in the bottom of the second.

Pina came through again for the Sand Gnats in the top of the third, where he launched another home run – this one a two-run shot, and saw it followed up later that inning by a Kevin Plawecki sacrifice fly. Ynoa would manage to last five innings, but it was a struggle for him, as he was taken deep on four separate occasions for a total of five earned runs over that span.

Phillip Evans helped to put a stamp on this victory in the top of the seventh, when he ripped a pitch to left field for his first home run of the year, plating Jeff Reynolds.

Beck Wheeler saw his awesome start to the season finally slow down just a little, as he allowed an earned run for the first time in 2013, leaving his ERA at 0.71. Bret Mitchell slammed the door in the ninth with a scoreless innings and two strikeouts for his fourth save of the season. Ynoa did end up with the win in this one – his fourth of the campaign.

Key Stats

Eudy Pina: 3-for-5, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R

Chad Zurcher: 2-for-5, 1 R

Phillip Evans: 3-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 R, 1 BB

Gabriel Ynoa: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 HR, 0 BB, 5 ER, 4 K

Julian Hilario: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K

Tyler Vanderheiden: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K

Beck Wheeler: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 HR, 1 ER, 2 K

Bret Mitchell: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 K

The post Ynoa Rocked For Four Home Runs, But Savannah Pulls Out 9-6 Win appeared first on Metsmerized.

Hickory 4, Savannah 3

Sometimes. you have those days where nothing really goes your way… this was probably one of them. The Savannah Sand Gnats had to play two games today, both of the seven-inning MiLB double-header variety, and dropped both of them – but they were close games. Matthew Koch started the earlier game and pitched pretty well, lasting six inning and allowing only three earned runs. He allowed a solo home run in the bottom of the second to Jorge Alfaro and a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the fifth. All in all, it really wasn’t that bad a start for Koch – his offense just struggled behind him.

Kevin Plawecki grounded in a run in the first, and Savannah looked to rally for Koch in the top of the seventh. Jayce Boyd provided an RBI single, and Hickory shortstop Luis Marte booted a grounder from Kevin Plawecki, which allowed a run to score and the Sand Gnats to tie the game up.

It would all be for naught, however, as friend of MMO Jake Kuebler was victimized by a Phillip Evans two-out error that allowed the winning run to score.

Hickory 5, Savannah 3

The second game saw Luis Cessa struggle through his five innings and get pegged for five earned runs, as he was hurt by the two solo home runs he allowed and the pair of wild pitches that he threw. Cessa left a lot to be desired out there on the mound, as although he did not walk a batter, he allowed eight hits – two of them the aforementioned home runs – over his five innings of work. After the Sand Gnats staked him to a 2-1 heading into the bottom of the second, he allowed three runs to score, and Hickory never looked back from there.

The big bright spot on offense was Cole Frenzel, who jacked a two-run home run that plated Kevin Plawecki. Jayce Boyd drove in Yucary De La Cruz in the top of the third, but Savannah would be unable to muster anything else going forward.

Key Stats

Chad Zurcher: 2-for-3, 1 2B, 2 R, 1 BB

Cole Frenzel: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R

Jayce Boyd: 3-for-6, 2 RBI

Stefan Sabol: 3-for-7

Matthew Koch: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 HR, 0 BB, 3 ER, 6 K

Luis Cessa: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 2 HR, 0 BB, 5 ER, 4 K

The post Rough Day For Sand Gnats, Drop Both Games Of Double-Header appeared first on Metsmerized.

Savannah 9, Hickory 2

Kevin Plawecki is an absolute monster and Rainy Lara pitched an excellent game. Should I go on?

Lara started the game for the Sand Gnats with the organizational ERA lead – and spoiler alert, he kept that title by the end of the game. He allowed merely an unearned run over seven spectacular innings, where he allowed just four hits and struck out six. Eudy Pina botched a play to allow a runner to reach via error in the bottom of the fifth, and Lara gave up an RBI single right after that. Lara has been on top of his game all season and his ERA now stands at a microscopic 1.45.

Savannah had only given him a single run of run support through the first seven innings, however, and it came on a wild pitch. In the top of the eighth, right after Lara’s last frame, the Sand Gnats rallied behind him for four runs, led by a two-run single by Chad Zurcher. A throwing error by Hickory’s Luis Marte allowed two more runs to cross the plate.

Then came the top of the ninth, and Kevin Plawecki, being the gracious man that he is, was worried that the game was a little too close for comfort at 5-1. So he proceeded to blast a pitch for a grand slam and all but lock up Rainy Lara‘s fourth win of the year. Hunter Carnevale handled the last two innings for the Gnats.

Key Stats

Eudy Pina: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 2 R, 1 BB

Chad Zurcher: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 R

Kevin Plawecki: 3-for-5, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R

Stefan Sabol: 0-for-1, 2 R, 3 BB

Phillip Evans: 1-for-3, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 SB

Rainy Lara: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 0 ER, 6 K

Hunter Carnevale: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 HR, 0 BB, 1 ER, 3 K

The post Plawecki Is A God Among Men In 9-2 Savannah Victory appeared first on Metsmerized.

West Virginia 10, Savannah 1

The West Virginia Power snapped the Savannah Sand Gnats’ six-game winning streak with a 10-0 victory at Historic Grayson Stadium Monday night. Power DH Stetson Allie pounded a pair of homers that accounted for five runs.

With eight homeruns, Allie is now tied for the South Atlantic League lead in homeruns.

West Virginia (10-15) grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning thanks to Allie. After SS Ashley Ponce doubled, and CF Barrett Barnes singled, Allie blasted a three-run homerun to left field, his seventh. Allie’s second homerun of the night, a rare opposite field shot in Historic Grayson Stadium, gave the Power an 8-0 lead in the seventh inning.

The Gnats (15-9) scored their only run in the bottom of the eighth when 2B Chad Zurcher doubled down the left-field line to bring home LF Stefan Sabol. The Gnats have not been shutout in 24 games in 2013.

Savannah starter Luis Cessa allowed six runs, five earned, on 11 hits in 5.2 innings. He struck out six and did not walk a batter while taking his first loss of 2013.

Power starter Tyler Glasnow earned his first career victory for shutting out the Gnats through five innings with seven strikeouts and just two hits allowed.

After an off-day Tueday, the Gnats are back in action at home when they host the Kannapolis Intimidators Wednesday at Historic Grayson Stadium. Savannah will send RHP Matthew Bowman (3-0, 2.38) to the hill with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.

Key Stats

Chad Zurcher: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI

Jayce Boyd: 1-for-3, 1 BB

Kevin Plawecki: 1-for-3, 1 BB

Stefan Sabol: 1-for-3, 1 R

Luis Cessa: 5.2 IP, 11 H, 1 HR, 0 BB, 6 R, 5 ER, 6 K

Julian Hilario: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 HR, 2 ER, 3 K

Tyler Vanderheiden: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 K

Hunter Carnevale: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER

(Team Report)

The post Cessa Gets Lit Up For Six Runs In 10-1 Savannah Loss appeared first on Metsmerized.

Sand Gnats 5, Green Jackets 6

The Sand Gnats jumped out to an early lead over the Augusta Green Jackets in last night’s contest. They started off the game with three straight hits and jumped out to a two run lead in the first inning. Chad Zurcher led off the game withe a double, and was quickly driven in on a line drive base hit to left field by Brandon Nimmo. Nimmo advanced to second base on an errant pick-off attempt, and then Jayce Boyd drove him in on a base hit to center field.

The Gnats added another run in the third inning and were able to hold that lead until the seventh. Gnats starter Logan Taylor had a very strong outing, pitching five innings, giving up no runs on four hits. He struck out five batters and walked none. Matthew Koch came in to relief and picked up right where Taylor left off in the fifth inning. However, the seventh inning was another story. Augusta scored all six of their runs in the seventh, but only one run was credited as an earned run. The weird thing is, Koch was the player who made the error that led to five unearned runs. Koch picked up the loss after surrendering six runs on four hits.

Zurcher had a great day at the plate, smacking two doubles and driving in two runs. He brought his average up to .294 on the season. Nimmo showed off his wheels in the fifth inning, beating out a throw to earn a bunt base hit. It was Nimmo’s fourth multi-hit game, and he now has a hit in every game this year. Kevin Plawecki had a quiet night, and it was his first game this year where he didn’t get a hit.

The most impressive stat of the night is credited to the Gnats pitching staff, who did not walk a single Augusta batter.

Key Stats

• Chad Zurcher – 2 for 4, R, BB, 2 2B, RBI
• Brandon Nimmo – 2 for 4, R, BB, RBI
• Jayce Boyd – 1 for 3, 2 RBI, 2 BB
• Logan Taylor – 5 IP, 4H, 0 R, 5 K

The post Mets Minors: Nimmo And Boyd Stay Hot In Savannah Loss appeared first on Metsmerized.