Kingston High grad graduate Zack Short seeks more consistency next season – Daily Freeman

KINGSTON, NY – After what he described as a “very up and down” season spent mostly with Triple-A Toledo, former Kingston High baseball star Zack Short is looking to develop more consistency in 2023 to return to the big leagues.

Although he was briefly called up by the Detroit Tigers for six games in 2022, Short spent most of the season as the starting shortstop for the Toledo Mud Hens. Short hitting .229 with 11 home runs and 60 RBIs in 128 games for the Tigers’ top farm team. He had 11 stolen bases.

“Toledo was very up and down,” Short told the Freeman in an interview. “I think I personally played a bit better than my stated stats with defense and base running, but didn’t produce as much as I would have liked on offense.”

Short said he swung the bat early and thought he figured things out at home plate. But a few nagging injuries appeared and he couldn’t sustain his attack.

“Injuries are pretty common for a long season of playing pretty much every day, but I was never really able to do a long stretch like I did the first month or so,” said Short, 27. “I would like to improve – as I try to do every year – the consistency of my game throughout the season.”

Unlike 2021 when he was called up for 61 games with the Tigers, Short’s time in the majors was brief in 2022. He had no hits in nine at-bats as he made several outings -Toledo returns to Detroit several times, but managed to drive in a few races.

Short still relishes the experience every time he puts on a major league uniform.

“Of course you always get that excitement because you never know what comes with it,” he said. “It’s so in itself to get there and to have multiple opportunities is a gift.”

Short stints in constant contact with fellow Kingston High star Pat Dorrian, who played for the Norfolk Tides before a trade sent him to Nashville Sounds, the Triple-A side of the Milwaukee Brewers, in 2022.
The Sounds ended up winning the International League West Division with a 91-58 mark. Toledo finished second with an 87-63 record, 4½ games behind the Sounds.

Since Dorrian didn’t join Nashville until late June after being traded from the Baltimore Orioles to the Brewers organization, Short and Dorrian haven’t faced each other on the court this season. Dorrian, a third baseman, hit .248 and hit 11 homers in 48 games for Nashville.

“Pat and I talked almost every day or every other day,” Short said. “It’s really nice to have someone off your team to talk about baseball or whatever.”

Short didn’t seem surprised that the Houston Astros won the World Series this year. The Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies in six games to win the title.

“The Astros year after year seem to have the book on everything,” Short said. “Whether it’s developing, drafting, paying their guys, it’s great to watch. Hitting, they control the area, walk around and do damage. Pitching, they seem to eliminate everyone and don’t not give up runs, which is ideal.And on defense, they are one of the strongest teams in all of baseball every season.

Short will continue to spend the offseason in the Stamford/Norwalk (Connecticut) area. He plans to return to Kingston several times over the holidays to spend time with his family.

Regarding his future with the Tigers organization, Short said he remains on the club’s 40-man roster. However, he has no more options.

“I don’t know where I will be next year,” he said. “From now on, I’m a Detroit Tiger and I’m going to prepare like I’m going to be there next season. Of course, this game is a business, so any transaction is out of my control.