| Robert Zarate | |
| Team: | Free agent |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 1 February 1987 |
| Birth Place: | Valencia, Venezuela |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Left |
| Debutleague: | NPB |
| Debutdate: | August 5 |
| Debutyear: | 2012 |
| Debutteam: | Hanshin Tigers |
| Statleague: | NPB |
| Statyear: | 2013 season |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 0–0 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 7.36 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 3 |
| Teams: |
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Robert Alexander Zárate Ladera (born February 1, 1987) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. From 2012 through 2013, he pitched for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball[1] (spending most of both seasons with Hanshin's Western League ni-gun team).
Zárate signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on January 26, 2005. Zárate played for the Blue Jays minor league system through the 2008 season. He began 2009 with the GCL Blue Jays. The Blue Jays released Zárate on April 15, 2009.
Zárate played for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball in 2012. He made his NPB debut on August 5, 2012. He also played the 2013 season for Hanshin before becoming a free agent after the season.
Zárate joined the Gunma Diamond Pegasus of Japan's Baseball Challenge League for the 2014 season. He was scouted by the Rays after spending 2014 with the Pegasus.[2]
On January 21, 2015, Zárate signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays that included an invitation to Spring Training.[3] He elected free agency on November 6, 2015.
On December 7, 2015, Zárate signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization that included an invitation to Spring Training.[4] He spent the 2016 season with the Indianapolis Indians before his release on June 13, 2016.
On January 4, 2018, Zarate signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Cleveland Indians.[5] He pitched for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, appearing in 29 games as a reliever and finishing with a 3-1 record, 3.30 ERA, and 40 strikeouts. He was released by the organization on July 23, 2018.
On July 27, 2018, Zárate signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.
He was traded to the Leones de Yucatán on August 15, 2018. He became a free agent following the season.
On January 28, 2020, Zárate signed with the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League. Zárate did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Mexican League season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] He later became a free agent.