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'{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1999)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Zack Gelof | team = Oakland Athletics |image=Zack Gelof (52835997538).jpg |caption=Gelof with the [[Las Vegas Aviators]] in 2023 | number = | position = [[Third baseman]] | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|10|19}} | birth_place = [[Rehoboth Beach, Delaware]], U.S. | bats = Right | throws = Right |debutleague = MLB | debutdate = | debutyear = | debutteam = }} '''Zack Gelof''' (born October 19, 1999) is an American-Israeli<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/baseball/jake-gelof-parents|title=Who are Jake Gelof's parents, Adam and Kelly Gelof?|website=Sportskeeda.com}}</ref> [[professional baseball]] [[third baseman]] in the [[Oakland Athletics]] organization. He played [[college baseball]] for the [[Virginia Cavaliers baseball|Virginia Cavaliers]]. Gelof was selected in the second round of the [[2021 Major League Baseball draft]] by the Athletics. Gelof played for [[Israel national baseball team|Team Israel]] in the [[2023 World Baseball Classic]]. ==High school== Gelof grew up in [[Rehoboth Beach, Delaware]], and attended [[Cape Henlopen High School]]. Gelof served as Class President for each of his four years, and played every game of the high school baseball team's four seasons in his years in high school.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://usatodayhss.com/2018/this-virginia-bound-shortstop-from-delaware-already-has-the-eyes-of-pro-scouts|title=This Virginia-bound shortstop from Delaware already has the eyes of pro scouts|date=July 12, 2018|work=USA Today|author=Kevin Tresolini}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/poy/assets/writable/49793/2018_BB_ZGelof.pdf|title=CAPE HENLOPEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE NAMED GATORADE DELAWARE BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR|date=March 2022}}</ref> In his senior year, playing [[shortstop]] and pitching, he batted .465 and led the state in hits (35), runs (37), and home runs (7) and was 28-for-28 in stolen bases, along with 17 RBIs.<ref name="auto1"/> As a pitcher he was 4-0 with a 1.30 ERA, and 34 strikeouts in 26 innings, and threw an 87 miles per hour fastball.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/PlayerProfile.aspx?ID=428378|title=Zack Gelof Class of 2018 - Player Profile |website=Perfect Game}}</ref> He was named 2018 [[Gatorade Player of the Year awards|Delaware Gatorade Player of Year]], Delaware Baseball Coaches Player of the Year, ''Delaware News Journal'' First Team All-State Shortstop, Perfect Game/[[Rawlings (company)|Rawlings]] 2018 honorable mention [[All-America|All American]] and 1st Team Northeast All Region.<ref name="auto1"/> He finished his high school baseball career as Delaware's all-time leader in runs scored (103) and stolen bases (81-for-81), and second in career hits (105), and was a two-time [[Henlopen Conference]] Player of Year as a shortstop and a pitcher.<ref name="auto1"/> He also played soccer for the high school, and finished his career as the leading goal scorer in the State of Delaware for his four-year career span 2015-2018 (61 goals; 16 assists), and was four-time All-Conference, three-time All-State, and as a senior was named Conference Player of the Year.<ref name="auto1"/> He graduated with a 4.02 [[GPA]].<ref name="auto4"/> He was selected in the 38th round of the [[2018 Major League Baseball draft]] by the [[Cleveland Indians]], but Gelof opted not to sign with the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wmdt.com/2018/06/gelof-drafted-by-cleveland-still-to-attend-virginia/|title=Gelof drafted by Cleveland; Still to attend Virginia|website=[[WMDT|WMDT.com]]|first=Jonah|last=Restuccio|date=June 8, 2018|access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref> During the summer after his senior year Gelof played [[summer collegiate baseball]] for the [[Brockton Rox]] of the [[Futures Collegiate Baseball League]], and played third base.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/sports/high-school/2018/07/12/delaware-baseball-player-year-could-go-far-sport-university-virginia/738661002/|title=Virginia-bound Cape Henlopen graduate is Delaware's top high school baseball player|work=[[The News Journal]]|date=July 12, 2018|access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref> He batted .292/.370/.403 with 9 doubles (10th in the league), 4 triples (3rd), and 13 stolen bases (9th) in 15 attempts.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gelof-000zac|title=Zack Gelof Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=4b580f88&type=bat|title=2018 Futures Collegiate Baseball League Batting Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> ==College== Gelof played [[college baseball]] at [[Virginia Cavaliers baseball|Virginia]] in the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] (ACC) for three seasons, starting every game the team played, and batting .316/.396/.478 in 137 games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://virginia.rivals.com/news/gelof-among-several-hoos-to-get-drafted-relishes-his-opportunity|title=CavsCorner - Gelof, among several Hoos to get drafted, relishes his opportunity|website=virginia.rivals.com|date=July 15, 2021 }}</ref><ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/athletics-sign-second-round-draft-pick-zack-gelof|title=A's sign second-round Draft pick Gelof|website=MLB.com|date=July 24, 2021|author=Martín Gallegos }}</ref> As a freshman in 2019, he started all 56 games at third base and batted .313/.377/.396 with 16 stolen bases (10th in the ACC) in 19 attempts, and six sacrifice flies (3rd).<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=55166bdc&type=bat|title=2019 Atlantic Coast Conference Batting Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He then played for the 2019 [[Kalamazoo Growlers]] in the collegiate summer [[Northwoods League]], and batted .349/.426/.490 with three triples (6th in the league) and 22 steals (9th) in 24 attempts, while playing 26 games at third base and two games at shortstop.<ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=817f5f93&type=bat|title=2019 Northwoods League Batting Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> As a sophomore in 2020, Gelof batted .349/.469/.746 (leading the ACC) with 24 runs scored (leading the ACC; 4th in the [[NCAA]]), six doubles (7th), two triples (4th), five home runs (6th), 18 RBIs (8th), and 13 walks (10th) in 18 games at third base before the season was cut short due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|coronavirus pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://roanoke.com/sports/college/in-the-region-virginia-tech-virginia-baseball-players-honored/article_d9ca7512-e6e6-52e2-9fd7-4e4661f0f5d8.html|title=In the region: Virginia Tech, Virginia baseball players honored|work=[[The Roanoke Times]]|date=May 30, 2020|access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/> He was named a ''[[Collegiate Baseball]]'' Second Team All-American, and the third-best third baseman in D1Baseball’s 2020 Top-30 Power Rankings.<ref name="auto1"/> He played for the [[High Point-Thomasville HiToms]] of the collegiate summer [[Coastal Plain League]] after the season, batting .364/.442/.636.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://augustafreepress.com/zack-gelof-uva-baseball-flipping-the-page-with-eyes-on-successful-2021/|title=Zack Gelof, UVA Baseball, flipping the page with eyes on successful 2021|work=Augusta Free Press|date=February 1, 2021|access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref> Gelof was named both ''Collegiate Baseball'' and [[NCBWA]] 2021 First Team Preseason All-American, and both ''[[Baseball America]]'' and Perfect Game Second Team Preseason All-American, as well as the D1Baseball No. 5 preseason third baseman.<ref name="auto1"/> As a junior in 2021 Gelof batted .312/.393/.485 and led the ACC in hits (81), as he also had 50 runs (7th), 18 doubles (4th), 126 total bases (6th), and 12 stolen bases in 13 attempts.<ref name=second>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbs19news.com/story/44288093/zack-gelof-selected-by-as-in-second-round|title = Zack Gelof selected by A's in second round|website=CBS19 News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=8367df3b&type=bat|title=2021 Atlantic Coast Conference Batting Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He was named second team All-ACC.<ref name=second/> Virginia played in the [[2021 College World Series]], and he was named the third baseman on the [[2021 College World Series#All-Tournament Team|All-Tournament Team]] after hitting .583.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbs19news.com/story/44308601/gelof-continues-to-check-off-life-goals-after-mlb-draft|title=Gelof continues to check off life goals after MLB Draft|website=CBS19 News}}</ref> == Professional career == Gelof was selected in the second round of the [[2021 Major League Baseball draft]] by the [[Oakland Athletics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.capegazette.com/article/zack-gelof-drafted-oakland-%E2%80%99s-second-round-60th-pick/223514|title=Zack Gelof drafted by Oakland A's in second round with 60th pick|work=[[Cape Gazette]]|author=Dave Frederick |date=July 13, 2021|access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref> As the 60th pick overall, he was the sixth-highest draft pick in Delaware history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://baytobaynews.com/stories/draft-was-always-dream-for-gelof,53265|title=Draft was always dream for Gelof|website=Bay to Bay News|author=Andy Walter|date=July 14, 2021 }}</ref> He signed with the team on July 24, 2021, and received a $1,157,400 [[signing bonus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/athletics-sign-second-round-draft-pick-zack-gelof|title=A's sign second-round Draft pick Gelof|first=Martín|last=Gallegos|website=[[MLB.com]]|date=July 24, 2021|access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref> In 2021 Gelof was assigned to the [[Rookie-level]] [[Arizona Complex League Athletics]] to start his professional career, where he played in one game.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/the-road-to-the-showtm-oakland-a-s-infielder-zack-gelof|title=The Road to The Show™: A's infielder Gelof|website=MiLB.com|author=-Gerard Gilberto |date=August 2, 2022 }}</ref> He was then promoted to the [[Low-A]] [[Stockton Ports]], for whom he batted .298/.393/.548.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/ports-call-up-2021-draft-picks-gelof-rodriguez|title=Ports Call Up 2021 Draft Picks Gelof, Rodriguez|website=MiLB.com|date=August 10, 2021}}</ref> He finished the season with the [[Las Vegas Aviators]] of the [[Triple-A West]], where while nearly six years younger than the average player in the league and only two months after playing college baseball, he batted 7-for-12 with 6 RBIs.<ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/zack-gelof-makes-a-quick-impression/|date=November 4, 2021|title=Zack Gelof Makes A Quick Impression|first=Casey|last=Tefertiller|website=Baseball America}}</ref> With the three teams combined, in 2021 he batted .333/.422/.565 in 138 at bats with seven home runs and 13 stolen bases in 15 attempts, while playing third base.<ref name="auto2"/> MLB.com ranked him as the A's 7th-best prospect, and the 87th-best prospect in baseball, and Fangraphs ranked him as the club's 2nd-best prospect.<ref name="auto6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/prospects/athletics|title=Athletics Top Prospects|website=MLB.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/oakland-athletics-top-33-prospects/|title=Oakland Athletics Top 33 Prospects|date=December 16, 2021|author=Eric Longenhagen and Kevin Goldstein|work=Fangraphs}}</ref> In 2022 Gelof ran the fastest 30-yard sprint in the A’s farm system in the spring.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/each-club-s-fastest-prospect|title=Here's the fastest prospect in each team's system|website=MLB.com|date=June 2, 2022|author=Jim Callis, Sam Dykstram, and Jonathan Mayo}}</ref><ref name="auto"/> He missed almost seven weeks with a [[Glenoid_labrum#Injury|torn labrum]] and [[Subluxation|subluxed]] left (non-throwing) shoulder suffered in May when he dove for a [[ground ball]], but playing for the [[Midland RockHounds]] of the Class AA [[Texas League]] he hit .271/.356/.438 with 13 home runs and nine stolen bases in 11 attempts in 354 at bats over 83 games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/athletics-zack-gelof-recovering-from-torn-labrum/|title=Athletics' Zack Gelof: Recovering from torn labrum|website=CBS Sports|date=June 13, 2022 }}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto5">{{Cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/3599830/2022/09/16/athletics-giants-arizona-fall-league-2022/|title=Zack Gelof, Luis Matos highlight A's and Giants AFL contingents|first=Melissa|last=Lockard|website=The Athletic|date=September 16, 2022}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gelof-000zac|title=Zack Gelof Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He played 53 games at second base, 26 games at third base, seven games at DH, and one game in center field.<ref name="auto3"/> MLB.com ranked him the #97 prospect in baseball, and the A's #4 prospect.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/prospects/top100/zack-gelof-680869|title=Top 100 Baseball Prospects|website=MLB.com}}</ref><ref name="auto6"/> He then played nine games at second base for the Class AAA [[Las Vegas Aviators]] of the [[Pacific Coast League]].<ref name="auto7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gelof-000zac|title=Zack Gelof Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He slashed .257/.316/.714 with five home runs in 35 at bats.<ref name="auto7"/> A’s assistant general manager Billy Owens said: "Zack Gelof is a dynamic athlete. He’s a plus, plus runner. He’s got serious strength. I see the plate discipline improving as he climbs the ladder. At some point, I see him also going to the outfield and using that dynamic athleticism all around the diamond."<ref name="auto5"/> He played for the [[Mesa Solar Sox]] in the 2022 [[Arizona Fall League]].<ref name="auto5"/> In 2023 Gelof played in spring training for the A's, batting .320/.414/.400. He started the season playing for AAA Las Vegas.<ref name="auto7"/> ==Team Israel; World Baseball Classic== Gelof played second base for [[Israel national baseball team|Team Israel]] in the [[2023 World Baseball Classic]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://northwoodsleague.com/kalamazoo-growlers/matt-mervis-zack-gelof-to-play-for-team-israel-in-world-baseball-classic/|title=Matt Mervis, Zack Gelof to Play for Team Israel in World Baseball Classic|date=February 10, 2023}}</ref><ref name="auto9">{{Cite web|url=http://www.jewishbaseballnews.com/israels-roster-swelling-with-stars/|title=Israel's roster swelling with stars; Joc Pederson, Harrison Bader among recent WBC commits|author=Scott Barancik|date=July 21, 2022|work= Jewish Baseball News}}</ref><ref name="auto8">{{Cite web|url=http://www.baseball.org.il/english-news/614-israel-drawn-to-wbc-group-in-miami|title=Israel drawn to WBC group in Miami|website=IAB – Israel Association of Baseball}}</ref> ==Personal life== Gelof is the son of Kelly and Adam Gelof, both of whom are attorneys. His younger brother [[Jake Gelof]] plays baseball as a [[third baseman]] for the [[University of Virginia]] and was drafted in the second round of the 2023 draft by the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]; Jake has been Zack's teammate in both high school and college.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://virginiasports.com/player/zack-gelof/|title=Zack Gelof|date=April 28, 2020|website=Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site}}</ref> Gelof is Jewish.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thegreatrabbino.com/2021/07/15/mlb-draft-highlighted-by-two-orthodox-jewish-students/|title=MLB Draft Highlighted by Two Orthodox Jewish Students|date=July 15, 2021}}</ref> ==See also== *[[List of Jewish baseball players]] ==References== {{Reflist}} == External links == {{Baseballstats|mlb=680869|espn=4414531|br=|fangraphs=sa3017286|brm=gelof-000zac}} *[https://virginiasports.com/player/zack-gelof/ Virginia Cavaliers bio] *[https://instagram.com/zackgelof?igshid=OGIzYTJhMTRmYQ== Instagram account] {{Israel roster 2023 World Baseball Classic}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Gelof, Zack}} [[Category:1999 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Minor league baseball players]] [[Category:Jewish American baseball players]] [[Category:People from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware]] [[Category:Virginia Cavaliers baseball players]] [[Category:Arizona Complex League Athletics players]] [[Category:Stockton Ports players]] [[Category:Las Vegas Aviators players]] [[Category:Midland RockHounds players]] [[Category:Mesa Solar Sox players]] [[Category:2023 World Baseball Classic players]]'