Barry Zito

Guide Note:

Barry Zito is a Cy Young Award-winning pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.

Fast Facts

1. Born: May 13, 1978
2. Birthplace: Las Vegas, Nevada
3. Bats/Throws: Left
4. All-Star appearances: 3
5. Cy Young Award: 1 (2002)
6. Career W-L Record (thru 2006): 102-63
7. Five-year, $126 million contract signed with Giants was record for Major League pitcher at the time
8. Practices Zen and Yoga
9. Best pitch: Curveball

Raised in San Diego, Zito played for USC before signing with the Oakland Athletics organization in 1999. Zito played for the Athletics for seven seasons, from 2000 to 2006 and established himself as one of the best pitchers in the game. In 2002, he beat out Boston Red Sox hurler Pedro Martinez for the Cy Young Award, by compiling a 23-5 win-loss record, a 2.75 ERA, while striking out 182.

In July 2006, Zito enlisted superstar agent Scott Boras's help in securing a multi-year contract beginning in 2007, and was rewarded with a then-record, five-year, $126 million contract from the San Francisco Giants. The signing has been a controversial one, as Zito finished the 2007 season with an 11-13 record, and a career-high 4.53 ERA, and began the 2008 season by losing his first seven starts.