| Peter Strzelecki | |
| Team: | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 24 October 1994 |
| Birth Place: | Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | June 2 |
| Debutyear: | 2022 |
| Debutteam: | Milwaukee Brewers |
| Statyear: | 2024 season |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 5–6 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 3.44 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 86 |
| Teams: | |
Peter J. Strzelecki (;[1] born October 24, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Cleveland Guardians.
Strzelecki graduated from Santaluces Community High School in Lantana, Florida. He attended Palm Beach State College, where he played college baseball in 2014 and 2015.[2] He transferred to the University of South Florida to play for the South Florida Bulls.[3]
The Milwaukee Brewers signed Strzelecki as an undrafted free agent after the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[4] In his first professional season, he played for the Arizona League Brewers and the Helena Brewers while pitching to a cumulative 5.52 earned run average (ERA) in innings pitched.[5] He played for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Carolina Mudcats in 2019 and recorded a 3.05 ERA in 59 innings.
He did not play a minor league game in 2020 as the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] Returning for the 2021 minor league season, he pitched for the Biloxi Shuckers and the Nashville Sounds. Between the two teams, he pitched in 40 games and went 0–2 with a 3.46 ERA.
He began the 2022 season with Nashville before having his contract selected to the major league roster by the Brewers on May 30, 2022.[7] He made his MLB debut on June 2. On October 4, Strzelecki earned his first career save after tossing a scoreless ninth inning in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.[8]
On August 1, 2023, Strzelecki was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for pitcher Andrew Chafin.[9] He made one appearance for the Diamondbacks down the stretch, pitching a scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres. Strzelecki was optioned to the Triple–A Reno Aces to begin the 2024 season.[10] However, he was designated for assignment by the team on March 25 following the promotion of Tucker Barnhart.[11]
On March 28, 2024, Strzelecki was traded to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for cash considerations.[12] In 10 appearances for the Guardians, he recorded a 2.31 ERA with 9 strikeouts across innings pitched. Strzelecki was designated for assignment by Cleveland on November 19.[13]
On November 22, 2024, the Guardians traded Strzelecki to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for cash considerations.[14]
Strzelecki grew up in Boynton Beach, Florida with two brothers and one sister. He started playing baseball at a young age and later on became a dual sport athlete playing high school basketball and football as well.
While Strzelecki was pitching at South Florida, his father, Kevin, died of a heart attack at age 52.[15]