Zach is a man of nature and can be seen on his Instagram around the Central Florida area showcasing his skills on the water as a fisherman…He also enjoys golf and playing guitar...He and his wife, Lauren, have three daughters: Ashton (three) and twins Austen and Hallie (born in April 2023)…Along with their growing family, the Eflins have a chocolate lab named Moose...Zach has a special relationship with his father, Larry, who he has referred to as “the rock of our family”…After the Eflins lost Zach’s older sister, Ashley, to leukemia, Larry kept the family close…He still texts his father before each of his starts and typically calls him the day after he pitches...Leading up to the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, Zach worked out at Tropicana Field and thought there was a good chance he’d be selected by the Rays…He said he was “a little heartbroken” when the Rays decided on Richie Shaffer with the No. 25 pick...After he signed with the Rays over the offseason, Baseball Operations President Erik Neander joked his $40 million contract is “better than the signing bonus \[would have been\].”...Zach remains close with several of his former Phillies teammates…He and J.T. Realmuto, Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler took their families on a group trip to Disney World over the offseason...Selected by the Padres in the first round (33rd overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Paul J. Hagerty (Fla.) High School…As a high school senior, missed the month of April due to triceps tendinitis but an MRI came back negative...Committed to the University of Central Florida before signing with the Padres.
2023
Made a team-leading and career-high 31 starts in his first season with the Rays, setting career bests in wins (16), innings pitched (177.2) and strikeouts (186) while posting the lowest ERA (3.50) and WHIP (1.02) of his career…Was the only Rays pitcher to qualify for the ERA title...Spent time on the 15-day injured list from April 11-23 (retro to April 8) with low back tightness…Was on the active roster for the remainder of the season...Won the club’s Paul C. Smith Champion Award, as voted by the Tampa Bay Chapter of the BBWAA…The award is given to the player who best exemplifies the spirit of true professionalism on and off the field...Finished sixth in AL Cy Young voting, earning a trio of top-three votes...Collected 16 wins, tying TOR Chris Bassitt for the most in the AL…Became the third Rays pitcher to lead the AL (or tie) in wins, joining Blake Snell (21, 2018) and David Price (20, 2012 - T-first)…The 16 wins tied for fifth most in Rays history...The Rays went 23-8 (.742) in his starts, tied with David Price’s 2014 season (23-8) for the best team winning percentage in a qualified pitcher’s starts in Rays history...His 177.2 innings were the most by a Rays pitcher since Charlie Morton in 2019 (194.2)…Joined Corey Kluber in 2022 (31GS) as the only Rays to make 30+ starts in a season since 2020...His 1.02 WHIP ranked second in the AL behind NYY Gerrit Cole (0.98) and signaled the third-lowest mark by a Rays pitcher behind Shane McClanahan (0.93) in 2022 and Blake Snell (0.97) in 2018...Also ranked among AL leaders in opp. on-base percentage (second, .259), opponent OPS (fourth, .642), opponent slugging percentage (fifth, .379), HR per 9.0 IP (sixth, 0.96), ERA (eighth), strikeouts (T-10th) and bWAR (T-10th, 3.5)...Recorded a career-low 3.4 percent walk rate, second lowest in MLB behind SEA George Kirby (2.5%) and third lowest by a Rays pitcher in franchise history behind Corey Kluber (3.0%) in 2022 and David Price (3.3%) in 2014…Has produced the lowest walk rate in the Majors since 2020 at 4.1 percent (min. 1,500BF)...His 7.75 SO/BB ratio ranked second in the Majors and was the second-best mark by a Rays pitcher behind David Price’s 2014 campaign (8.22)…Was the fifth pitcher in MLB history with 175+ SO and 25 walks or fewer in a season, last done by MIN Phil Hughes in 2014...Did not allow 10+ hits or three-plus walks in any of his 31 starts…Per OptaStats, it marked the most such starts in a season without recording either of those statistics in the modern era (since 1900)…The next closest pitcher is CLE Josh Tomlin in 2016 (29)...His career-best 26.5 percent strikeout rate ranked sixth in the AL and was the ninth-best mark in franchise history...Averaged a majors-low 14.5 pitches per inning, tied for second fewest in club history behind James Shields in 2011 (14.3)...Held opponents to an average exit velocity of 87.5 mph, tied for the fourth-best mark in the AL behind LAA Shohei Ohtani (86.4), LAA Tyler Anderson (87.0) and MIN Pablo López (87.1)…Generated a 34.0 pct. chase rate, second highest in the AL behind López (34.3%)...Threw a career-high 68.9 percent of his pitches for strikes, the second-highest mark in the Majors behind MIA Sandy Alcantara (70.1%)…Signaled the third-highest percentage in Rays history, trailing David Price (70.1%) in 2014 and Corey Kluber (69.5%) in 2022...Opponents batted .182 (31-for-170) with 64 SO and a 34.9 percent whiff rate against his curveball…Minimum 200 pitches swung at, it marked the sixth-highest whiff rate on any AL pitcher’s curveball...In Baseball America’s annual Best Tools survey of Major League managers, coaches and executives, finished as runner-up to SEA George Kirby for having the Best Control in the AL...Went 11-4 with a 3.30 ERA (103.2IP, 38ER) in 18 starts at Tropicana Field…The 11 home wins led the AL and set a club record...Became the first pitcher to earn a win in each of his first eight home starts of a season since STL Adam Wainwright in 2010 (10GS)…Since 1901, only 11 pitchers have recorded longer such streaks to open a season, led by Lefty Grove (14GS) in 1931...Has issued two or fewer walks in each of his last 34 starts dating back to June 14, 2020 with PHI, the longest active streak in the Majors…Has turned the trick in 68 of his last 69 starts overall since Aug. 29, 2020...Made his fifth consecutive Opening Day roster, four of which came with the Phillies...Became the eighth pitcher since 1901 to earn a win in each of his first eight home starts with a new club, including the first since CHC Rick Sutcliffe (eight GS) from June 24–Sept. 14, 1984...Went 10-1 with a 2.10 ERA (68.2IP, 16) in his first 11 home starts with the Rays, the lowest mark in such a span in club history, ahead of Matt Garza’s 2.47 in 2008…In his final seven starts at Tropicana Field, went 1-3 with a 5.66 ERA (35.0IP, 222ER)...On May 4 vs. PIT, struck out 10 over 7.0 innings of work…It marked his third career 10+ SO game and his first outing with 10+ SO and no walks…Became the first Rays pitcher to allow three or fewer baserunners with 10+ SO over 7.0+ scoreless innings since Tyler Glasnow on April 12, 2021 vs. TEX...From June 23–July 21, did not issue a walk to 122 consecutive right-handed batters, the third-longest streak in Rays history...Walked one or zero batters in a career-best 13 straight starts, June 28–Sept. 5…Excluding openers, it tied the second-longest streak in Rays history behind Corey Kluber (16GS, 7/6/22- 10/2/22)...On July 4 vs. PHI, started against his former club for the first time and recorded nine SO over 7.0 IP, but shouldered his first home loss of the season...On Aug. 13 at CLE, allowed a season-high six runs on a season-high-tying nine hits (two-times) in a 9-2 loss…It marked his first career start against the Guardians, giving him at least one appearance against all 30 Major League teams...On Aug. 25 vs. NYY, tallied a season-high 11 SO on a season-high 103 pitches but took the loss in a 6-2 setback…It marked his fourth career 10+ SO game...His 17 whiffs in the outing also matched a season-best, joining his July 4 start vs. PHI...On Sept. 10 vs. SEA, earned his 11th home victory of the season, setting a new club record while helping the Rays to a four-game series victory over the Mariners...On Sept. 15 at BAL, carried a no-hitter through five innings before allowing a solo homer to Heston Kjerstad to lead off the sixth frame…Paired with a first-inning error, he allowed only two baserunners on the evening…The win gave the Rays a share of first place in the AL East for the first time since July 21...Allowed three runs or fewer in each of his final eight starts, the longest streak of his career...Tied the third-longest season-ending streak by a Rays starter (excluding openers), trailing Blake Snell (16GS) in 2018 and Drew Rasmussen (10GS) in 2021...Went 2-3 with a 5.10 ERA (30.0IP, 17ER) in his first six starts following the All-Star break and 4-1 with a 2.98 ERA (45.1IP, 15ER) in his final eight outings...Went 4-0 with a 1.48 ERA (30.1IP, 5ER) while holding opponents to a .162/.170/.276 (17-for105) line in his final five road starts from Aug. 1–Sept. 26...Entered that stretch having gone 1-4 with a 5.36 ERA (43.2IP, 26ER) and .275/.313/.444 (47-for-171) opponent slash line in his first eight starts as a visitor to open the season...Postseason: Started Game 2 of the Rays AL Wild Card Series vs. Texas, his first career postseason start…Opened the game with three scoreless frames before allowing a fourth-inning solo homer to Adolis García, snapping his postseason scoreless inning streak at 10.2…Yielded a total of five ER over his final two innings of work.
2022
Began the season in the Phillies rotation, making 13 starts before a right knee bruise sidelined him from June 26–Sep 12…made seven relief apps after being reinstated…also missed time while on the COVID-19 Related IL from May 8-16...According to Statcast, limited opponents to an avg. exit velocity of 85.3 mph, third-lowest in the NL (min. 200 batted balls) behind SF Tyler Rogers (84.2) and LAD Tyler Anderson (85.0)...Made his fourth consecutive Opening Day roster, all with the Phillies...Issued 2 BB (or fewer) in 33 straight starts from Aug. 29, 2020–June 3, 2022…marked the third-longest streak by a Phillie since Baseball Reference data is available (1901) behind Robin Roberts (36) in 1960-61 and Roy Halladay (35) in 2010-11...On May 22 vs. LAD, recorded a career-high 12 SO in seven IP, allowing four hits and two runs…marked the second time in his career he reached double digits, following Aug 12, 2020 vs. BAL (10)...On Oct. 3 at HOU, pitched a perfect ninth inning to finish a 3-0 win and recorded his first career save as the Phillies clinched a Wild Card berth…was the third pitcher since saves became an official stat (1969) to record his first career save on the day his team clinched a postseason berth, joining LAD Orel Hershiser on Sept. 30, 1983 vs. SF and BAL Dave Leonhard on Sept. 13, 1969 vs. CLE...Pitched in the postseason for the first time and went 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA (10.2-IP, 4-ER) in 10 relief apps as the Phillies advanced to the World Series…made seven straight scoreless apps spanning 7.2 IP to end the postseason...In Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series at STL, recorded his first career postseason save… pitched a scoreless ninth inning in a 2-0 win...In Game 1 of the NLDS at ATL, allowed a three-run homer to Matt Olson with one out in the ninth inning…retired his next two BF to finish a 7-6 win...Made four scoreless apps in the World Series against the Astros, yielding 4 hits in 4.1 IP...Signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Rays on Dec. 13…the contract marked the largest by total value in franchise history for a free agent, passing a five-year, $35 million deal with Wilson Álvarez prior to the 1998 season.
2021
Among all pitchers with at least 400 batters faced, ranked 1st in BB % (3.6) & BB/9.0 IP (1.36) and 4th in SO/BB (6.19)...Walked two or fewer in each of his 18 starts, the 4th-longest such streak to begin the season among all pitchers...Tossed at least 6.0 innings in 14 of his 18 starts, including each of his first 10, and 11 of those 14 starts were quality starts...In April, became the first Phillie since Cliff Lee in Sept. 2013 to walk two or fewer batters in a month in which he threw 30.0 innings or more...Was just the 17th Phillie since at least 1901 to make at least four straight starts without walking a batter, 4/16-5/2...His eight straight starts with one or zero walks from 9/27/20-5/7/21 were most by a Phillie since Cliff Lee went 10 straight, 9/6/13-4/21/14...Went 157 straight batters without issuing an unintentional walk, the longest by a Phillie since Cliff Lee went 169 straight from 9/17/12-4/15/13...Began his season with 10 straight starts of 6.0 IP or more and two walks or fewer, 4/4-5/24, becoming the first pitcher in the majors to begin a season with 10 straight such starts since Ivan Nova began 2017 with 15 ...Made his 100th career start on 7/3 vs SD, becoming the 60th pitcher in Phillies history to start 100 games for the club...Tossed at least 6.0 innings and allowed two runs or fewer in each of his first seven starts at home, tied for the longest such streak by a Phillie since 1901 (Woodie Fryman began 1968 with seven straight such starts at home)...Was on the 10-day IL with right patella tendinitis, 7/17-8/25; included a rehab assignment to Reading (AA), 8/21-25...Placed on the COVID-related IL on 8/27...Was reinstated from the COVID-related IL on 9/8 and placed on the 60-day IL to recover from right patellar tendon surgery.
2020
Among NL starters, was T-2nd in SHO (1), T-4th in CG (1), T-5th in winning % (.667) & T-7th in SO/BB (5.00)...Posted career bests in ERA (3.97), SO/9.0 IP (10.68), SO rate (28.6%) and WHIP (1.27) and had his 2nd-highest career bWAR (1.6), trailing only his 2.0 in 2018 in nearly 70.0 fewer IP...His 11.18 SO/9.0 IP (70 SO/56.1 IP) as a starter ranked 9th among NL starters with at least 50.0 IP, and his 29.7% strikeout rate (70 SO/236 BF) was 10th among NL starters with at least 235 batters faced...Per Statcast, his increase in strikeout rate of 10.3% from 2019 (18.3% to 28.6%) was the 3rd-highest during the season among pitchers with 30.0 IP and 10th among all pitchers...Set a new career high with 10 strikeouts on 8/12 vs BAL...Had a franchise-record streak of 23.0 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run in an Interleague game come to an end on 8/12 vs BAL...RHH slashed just .167/.180/.267 against him in his first five starts...Walked only one batter over 20.1 IP from the fourth inning on 8/23 at ATL through his start on 9/8 at BOS (gm 1)...Made three straight starts in doubleheaders, 9/8-18, becoming the first Phillie to do so since Ed Farmer, 6/21-7/2/83...Had a 12.0-inning scoreless streak, 9/13-23, tying his career best...Threw his fifth career CG and third career SHO on 9/18 vs TOR (gm 1), striking out nine and allowing four hits in 7.0 IP...Was one of only 11 pitchers to throw a shutout during the season...In his six home starts, posted a 3.09 ERA (12 ER, 35.0 IP), 1.11 WHIP (5 BB, 34 H), struck out 43 (11.06 SO/9.0 IP) and threw a shutout...Made one relief appearance, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings on 9/27 at TB.
2019
Was T-1st among ML starters in CG (2), T-2nd in SHO (1) and 4th in first-pitch strike % (68.6) & fewest pitches per batter faced (3.65)...Set career bests in starts (28), innings (163.1), strikeouts (129) and ERA (4.13)...Made his first career Opening Day roster... Tied a career-high nine strikeouts in his first start of the season, 4/2 at WSH...His complete game on 4/28 vs MIA was the third of his career and first 9.0-inning complete game by a Phillie since 9/17/16 vs MIA (Jeremy Hellickson)...Had a career-long 12.0-inning scoreless streak, 5/5-11...Tossed his second career shutout on 5/11 at KC, also the first by a Phillie since Hellickson on 9/17/16 vs MIA...Became the first Phillie age 25 or younger to reach four career complete games since Cole Hamels in 2006 (6 CG)...Became the first Phillie with four complete games before 55 career starts since 1995 (Tyler Green) and first major leaguer since 2016 (Masahiro Tanaka)...Joined Roy Halladay (2010 and 2011) as the only two Phillies since 2000 with two complete games that early in a season (within team's first 38 games)...Had a streak of 46 consecutive starts with 3 or fewer walks come to an end on 5/26 vs MIL; it was the 8th-longest such streak in Phillies history since at least 1908...Posted a 2.64 ERA (9 ER, 30.2 IP) in five May starts...Was on the 10-day IL, 5/28-6/6, with mid-back tightness...On 6/12 vs ARI, became the first Phillie since 4/16/05 (Jon Lieber) to finish a start of 8.0 or more IP on 82 or fewer pitches and first in MLB to do so with as many strikeouts (9) since 8/25/04 (Randy Johnson, 11)...Made four appearances out of the bullpen from 7/31-8/10...Had a 2.83 ERA (13 ER, 41.1 IP) in his final seven starts of the season...Made 17 starts against the NL East, tied for the most among any pitcher during the season.
2018
Began the season with Lehigh Valley (AAA), posting a 1.69 ERA in 3 starts before being recalled on 4/30... Took a perfect game through 5.0 innings in his season debut, 5/1 at MIA.. Struck out a career-high 9 batters on 5/7 vs SF, needing only 3.2 innings to surpass his previous high of 6 (twice, both in complete games)...Clubbed his first ML home run on 5/25 vs TOR...Went 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA (6 ER, 30.2 IP), 6 BB, 0 HR, 28 SO and held opponents to a .218 AVG in five June starts...Was T-1st in the majors in wins and HR/9.0 IP in June, and n the NL ranked 3rd in ERA, 4th in SO/BB (4.97) and 8th in WHIP (0.98)...Was the first Phillie to win 5 games in a month since May 2012 (Hamels) and the first to have at least 30.0 IP and 0 HR allowed in a month since April 2012 (Halladay)...Had a 32.2-inning streak without allowing a home run in parts of 7 starts, 5/30-7/3...Posted a career-long 11.0-inning scoreless streak, 6/22-7/3...Was on the 10-day DL, 7/15 (retro to 7/12) to 7/22 with a right middle finger blister...Won 6 straight starts, 6/5-7/3, joining Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay as the only Phillies to accomplish that since 2000; posted a 1.91 ERA (8 ER, 37.2 IP) in those starts...Pitched 8.0 innings on 85 pitches, 8/4 vs MIA, becoming the first Phillie since 2005 to finish a start with at least 8.0 innings on 85 or fewer pitches... Optioned to Lehigh Valley on 8/11 and recalled on 8/22, however did not miss a start because he served as 26th man for the doubleheader on 8/16...Allowed only 19 ER in 56.2 IP (3.02 ERA) from the fourth inning on in his starts, but surrendered 43 ER in 71.1 IP (5.43 ERA) in innings 1-3.
2017
Began the season on the 10-day DL recovering from off season surgery on both knees; activated and optioned to Lehigh Valley (AAA) on 4/11 following a rehab assignment with Clearwater (A)... Recalled on 4/18 after making one start for Lehigh Valley... Had a career-best 29.0-inning streak without issuing a walk, 4/18-5/10; longest by a Phillie since 2013-14 (Cliff Lee, 31.0 IP)... Had 3 straight starts with at least 7.0 IP and no walks, 4/18-5/4... Optioned to Lehigh Valley on 5/28... Was on the 7-day DL, 6/3-7/8 (right elbow strain); included a rehab assignment with Gulf Coast League Phillies (R)... Allowed 2 ER or fewer in 5 of his 7 starts with Lehigh Valley... Recalled on 8/8 and made 3 starts before being placed on the 10-day DL on 8/22 (retro to 8/19) with a right shoulder strain, causing him to miss the remainder of the season... Posted a 2.81 ERA (10 ER, 32.0 IP) in his first 5 starts of the season and a 9.46 ERA (34 R, 32.1 IP) in his final 6 appearances.
2016
Began the season with Lehigh Valley (AAA)...Named International League Pitcher of the Week, 4/11-17 (2-0, 0.64 ERA, 14.0 IP, 7 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 8 SO)...Had his contract selected and made his ML debut, 6/14 at TOR...Became the first Phillies starting pitcher to make his ML debut outside of the United States since RHP David Coggin, 6/23/00 at Olympic Stadium (MTL); he was the first Phillies starting pitcher to ever make his debut in TOR...At just 22 years and 67 days old, he was the 4th-youngest starting pitcher to debut for the Phillies since 2000, trailing only Gavin Floyd (21 years, 220 days), Brett Myers (21 years, 341 days) and Aaron Nola (22 years, 47 days)..Became the first Phillies pitcher to toss a CG for his 1st career win since 6/14/98 (Carlton Loewer), 7/5 vs ATL...At 22 years, 105 days, was the youngest Phillies pitcher to toss 2 CG in a single season since 1975, when both Tom Underwood (21 yrs, 142 days) and Larry Christenson (21 years, 251 days) did so...Was placed on the 15-day DL on 8/9 (patellar tendinopathy) and missed the remainder of the season...Underwent surgery on his right knee on 8/19, and his left knee on 9/30 (Dr. Steve Cohen)
2015
Named the 4th-best prospect in the Phillies minor league system by Baseball America prior to the season... Spent the entire season with Reading (AA)... T-9th in the Eastern League in WHIP (1.21)... Selected as an EL midseason All-Star... Named EL and Phillies Minor League Player of the Week, 4/9-19... Began the season by throwing 15.2 consecutive scoreless innings over 3 starts... Pitched for Team USA in the Pan Am Games, 7/10-19 in Toronto, Canada; Team USA won the silver medal... Went 2-0, 1.38 ERA (2 ER, 13.0 IP) in 2 starts in the EL playoffs.
2014
Spent the entire season with Lake Elsinore (A)... Allowed 2 ER or fewer in 17 of his 24 starts (71%)... Posted a 3.37 ERA (46 ER, 123.0 IP) in 23 of his 24 starts; allowed 8 ER in 5.0 innings, 4/9 at High Desert.
2013
Spent season with Fort Wayne (A)... Led the Midwest League in ERA (2.73)... Allowed 2 ER or fewer in each of his final 19 starts (2.18 ERA, 26 ER, 107.1 IP)
2012
Began his pro career with the Arizona League Padres (R).
