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Steven Zobac: Dynasty Prospect Breakdown

Steven Zobac rises from rough debut to Royals prospect worth watching.

When Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals pitcher Steven Zobac left the mound after the fifth inning of his Aug. 7, 2024 start, it came after striking out all three Amarillo Sod Poodles batters he faced and eliciting three “gross” descriptors from the Amarillo broadcast team. That half-inning brought Zobac’s strikeout total to seven, en route to 12 punchouts across seven innings of shutout work.

Naturals fans were still getting acquainted with Kansas City’s fourth-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft after an ugly first impression. However, he rattled off five consecutive starts of at least six strikeouts following that Double-A debut, firmly placing himself on the prospect radar as more than a hopeful reliever convert. Rather, the righty now sits as a prime late-blooming pitcher with all the right tools worthy of a dynasty flyer.

Who is Steven Zobac?

A California native, Zobac had a solid career at the University of California. He was primarily a two-way player for the Golden Bears but shifted away from the outfield and more toward pitching in his 2022 season. While the game-level stats were not amazing, the upside was enough to warrant a higher draft pick from the Royals.

He hit the ground running in 2023, where he posted 23 strikeouts and only five baserunners allowed in four outings as a multi-inning reliever for the Low-A Columbia Fireflies. He shifted to the rotation in May that season and found himself in High-A Quad Cities by season’s end. All told, Zobac pitched 90 2/3 innings with a 3.47 ERA, striking out 98 batters and walking only 24 in the process. He showed some arm fatigue by late August, allowing 15 runs across three starts. However, the early-season results and process were promising for a player still finding his footing as a starting pitcher.

In 2024, Zobac began back in High-A, learning from his late-season mistakes and going deeper into games. He pitched 70 2/3 innings across 14 appearances (13 starts) for the River Bandits. The fastball-slider combination continued to flash elite potential, but improved feel for a changeup significantly elevated his ceiling. A July promotion sent him to Northwest Arkansas, where Zobac stepped up his game further. With 65 strikeouts across 55 1/3 innings, the righty carved up opposing lineups to close out the 2024 season.

Now, heading into 2025, Zobac earned an invite to big-league Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona. While the strikeout stuff is tantilizing against righties, it is his control that should intrigue possible dynasty managers.

Steven Zobac’s Arsenal

Fastball
(MLB grade: 55, FanGraphs grade: 45/50)

In typical pitcher fashion, Zobac’s fastball is his workhorse pitch. He lives in the zone, setting up his slider effectively. His fastball’s velocity doesn’t waiver much, consistently sitting in the 93-96 MPH range. He can rear back and touch 98 MPH occasionally, but that hasn’t been common since transitioning to a starter role. MLB Pipeline describes the offering as having “good carry,” while FanGraphs’ Travis Ice says the pitch has “just under 20 inches of IVB” with good life and carry.

Slider
(MLB grade: 55, FanGraphs grade: 50/55)

Zobac’s slider is his go-to strikeout pitch, well-located away from right-handed batters. In that Aug. 7 start, Zobac’s slider ranged from 85-90 MPH, with the fastest offerings earning the aforementioned praise from opposing broadcasters. It is a high-spin pitch with plus potential, proving to be a reliable get-out weapon at the Double-A level.

Changeup
(MLB grade: 45, FanGraphs grade: 45/55)

The real key to Zobac’s future as either a starter or reliever is developing his third pitch, and the changeup to left-handed batters may be the solution. It is still an evolving offering but comes out of his hand very similarly to his slider, keeping lefties off balance. It isn’t a strikeout pitch yet but consistently induces soft contact, making the back-foot slider even more effective through better tunneling.

Steven Zobac’s Fantasy Outlook

Zobac is far from a sure thing but is worth evaluating before spring training action begins. Kansas City’s major-league rotation is one of the American League’s best, but competitive spots are emerging in the coming years. Veterans Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha could be out of Kansas City by the time Zobac is ready for The Show, while the long-term outlooks for pitchers like Alec Marsh, Kris Bubic, and Daniel Lynch IV remain uncertain.

Royals prospects Noah Cameron and 2024 Futures Game pitcher Ben Kudrna may reach the majors faster, but there is a wide gap between Zobac and the next tier of pitching prospects. Kansas City’s pitching philosophy shift after the 2022 season is reflected in their farm system’s depth.

Zobac’s realistic mainstay ETA should be 2026, though injuries or underperformance ahead of him could pave the way for a late-season debut in 2025. His repeatable pitching motion and ability to stay in control give him a back-of-the-rotation trajectory, while refining his off-speed pitches could elevate that projection. Conversely, if the changeup falters, he could find himself back in the bullpen, where his fastball-slider combination would make him a potent relief mainstay.

Fans witnessed Zobac’s growth from the end of 2023 to the start of 2024. If he makes another similar leap and shows that progression in Surprise, he’ll be a name for deeper leagues to watch closely.

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