Former Pitt pitcher T.J. Zeuch earns invitation to Blue Jays' major-league camp

Former Pitt pitcher T.J. Zeuch is making strides after only three seasons in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

Zeuch, the highest MLB draft choice in Pitt baseball history and the 21st overall selection in the first round of the 2016 draft, has been invited to the Blue Jays’ major-league spring training camp. He’ll join the Blue Jays at their training facility in Dunedin, Fla., Feb. 14.

“I am very excited for my first major league spring training,” Zeuch said. “I look forward to being around players of such high caliber and learning as much as I can from them.”

Zeuch spent three years in Pitt’s rotation, becoming just the second first-round draft choice in program history.

“I’m so proud of T.J. for earning this opportunity to attend a big-league camp,” Pitt pitching coach Jerry Oakes said. “He is a hard worker and has a bright future ahead of him. This will be a great chance for him to learn what it takes to compete at the next level.”

Zeuch spent most of last season with the Blue Jays’ AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats. He made his professional debut July 9, 2016, working three innings with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays, striking out two without allowing a baserunner. He advanced through the Short Season-A Vancouver Canadians, before concluding his rookie season with the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts.

Zeuch battled through injuries in 2017, finishing with a 3.38 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings for the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays.

He was called up to New Hampshire last year after making six starts in Dunedin. In 21 starts with New Hampshire, Zeuch had a 12-8 record, 3.17 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 156 1/3 innings.

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Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jerry at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.