Zach Erdman, a Texas-made left-handed pitcher, has spent his last three years of collegiate baseball at the well-established program of Texas Tech University. The Saints’ ace was highly touted coming out of high school, but was dissatisfied with his use in Lubbock, sparking his decision to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. 

Erdman was born in The Woodlands, Texas but played most of his youth baseball (including high school) in Keller, Texas. The Saints’ southpaw shared his thoughts about his youth baseball experience. 

“It’s a great baseball town, I enjoyed playing [in Keller],” mentioned Erdman. “[The competition] was phenomenal, it is some of the best in the nation and in Texas, for sure. I have played with guys who are in the [minor leagues] right now. I have been around a lot a coaches that are able to teach me at the highest level possible; I think it is a fantastic place to develop.” 

The Keller baseball atmosphere pushed Erdman to District 4-6A First Team honors in high school. He posted many low-run innings in high school, demanding a high nation and state ranking amongst his pitching peers. Specifically, Erdman was ranked as the No. 16 left-handed pitcher in Texas high school baseball and the No. 155 player in the nation by Perfect Game. 

People tend to enjoy success, and Erdman is not an exception to that trend. His triumphs on the bump have solidified the Texas native’s thirst for competition and improvement. 

“I love the competitive environment [when I am on the mound],” said Erdman. “The game is honestly up to you. The way you throw the ball, most of the time, [plays a part] in whether your team wins or not. I love pitching, I love the ‘attack’ mentality.” 

With high school success came an “interesting recruiting journey,” said Erdman.  

“I got recruited by Texas Tech really early, I was wanting to go there for a while,” Erdman commented. “It was the right offer, it felt right. I [received the offer] at a young age, [but] if I could go back, I would probably do the same thing.” 

Erdman tallied only 14 innings as a freshman for the Red Raiders and notched a 3.21 ERA. 

Following the traditional trend of play time increasing as your years increase, Erdman became a more integral part of Texas Tech’s pitching staff during his sophomore year. He almost tripled his innings pitched (33) and struck out 27 opposing batters. Erdman also started a Big 12 Championship game against Oklahoma. 

The Saints star pitcher became less fond of the Red Raiders’ baseball program after his junior year. Erdman only went 14.2 innings this past season, posting four total strikeouts and a 4.30 ERA. 

“My time in Lubbock had a lot of ups and downs,” Erdman emphasized. “Overall, it definitely makes you a better character. It allowed me to build off my mistakes and become a better player overall.” 

As many college athletes are doing nowadays, Erdman entered the Transfer Portal.  

“[A key reason why I left was] a lack of playtime,” shared the lefty. “I am looking for a new place to play that provides a different environment [for me] to be in. Sometimes a change of scenery helps players a lot; I think it is the best thing for my future.” 

Simply put, Erdman is looking for more playing time and a different environment as he searches for a new home for the upcoming season. 

In hopes of bolstering his Transfer Portal resume, Erdman has made the trek to Jackie Robinson Field in Pasadena for this summer’s baseball season. 

“[I am hoping for] experience, a ton of experience,” said Erdman about his summer aspirations. “I think I am a very self-coachable person. I can work with myself, and I love getting coached. I want to work with the good and [shake] off the bad.” 

The Texas Tech transfer hopes that his future collegiate home is like the Saints in the sense that he believes that playing for Head Coach Aaron Milam provides the best chance for him to get the most frequent and high-quality repetitions. 

Erdman described his relationship with both Coach Milam and Pitching Coach Aaron Treloar so far. 

“It is phenomenal,” Erdman stated. “They are really personable people; you can talk to them like they are your brother or your best friend. They are really helpful and really communicative. [Treloar specifically] connects really well with a lot of the players, especially me.” 

Erdman’s relationships with both the coaching staff and his teammates have bred an atmosphere for peak performance so far this summer. His 12 innings pitched is tied for the team lead, and his 0.75 ERA is second-lowest among pitchers who have gone two or more innings. The Saints stud lefty has eight strikeouts to his name, as well. 

“I love the guys, I love the team [and] I love the defense behind me,” said Erdman about why he has been so successful this summer. “Having a team around me that trusts and believes in me means a lot; it helps me a ton when I am out there pitching.” 

As the 2025 California Collegiate League (CCL) season reaches full swing, Erdman is more ready than ever to show college scouts what he has to offer. His deep five-pitch mix (sinker, cutter, slider, changeup and curveball) has confused hitters up to this point and the ability to limit runs has been a strong suit of Erdman’s so far. 

The dog days of summer are approaching, and the CCL’s competition is as real as ever, but Zach Erdman is ready to put the collegiate baseball world on notice as he hopes to anchor the Saints’ efforts on the mound for the remainder of the season. 

Contributors:

• Saints reporter Tyler Bowne (San Diego State)
• Graphic by Saints reporter Taylor Dowdy (Arizona)