Zach Kirby Becomes First to Re-Sign With Wild Things for 2026
WASHINGTON, Pa. (Dec. 4) – The Washington Wild Things have re-signed right-handed pitcher Zach Kirby, who is set for a third full season in Washington in 2026 and his fourth overall this upcoming season. Kirby is the first player to be officially re-signed and becomes the first player under a 2026 contract for the reigning Central Division Champions.
Kirby’s return will serve as an anchor to the 2026 pitching staff, as it places a 2024 Frontier League midseason All Star in the rotation. Kirby’s 2025 season started a fraction slower than normal, but he was able to work his way to a 7-5 record and a 4.62 ERA in 20 games, 18 of which were starts. In 109.0 innings, which is a new career high, Kirby struck out 61 batters and walked 40 while he allowed 117 hits.
He earned his first professional complete game in a 1-0 loss to Trois-Rivieres August 14, going eight innings, and the righty earned his first career save in a mid-week bullpen Sunday, August 24 against Mississippi. His 2025 season did include seven quality starts and the team was 11-7 in games Kirby started.
His 2024 season saw him finish in the Top 5 of qualified pitchers in earned run average in the Frontier League. He was 10-4 with a 2.42 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) that season. He allowed 86 hits and struck out exactly 100 batters and walked 25. Kirby made 12 quality starts, including four in a row between May 25 and June 11 and then six in a row to end the regular season. Due to injury, he wasn’t able to partake in the All-Star Game festivities after being named an All Star in 2024 but was excellent in Québec in Game 4 of the 2024 FLCS, going seven innings and allowing just one run on three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Kirby was winless despite a strong start to his pro career in 2023. In eight games (seven starts), he posted a 2.83 ERA and logged 41.1 innings with 31 hits allowed, 13 walks and 35 strikeouts. He had three quality starts but received two runs of support while on the mound in his final 34.1 innings of the season.
He spent his final collegiate season at Loyola Marymount in 2023 and was 5-4 with a 3.84 ERA in 15 games (14 starts). He fanned 89 against 20 walks in 82 innings and was named 2nd Team All-WCC prior to coming to Washington to begin his professional career. That work came off four seasons at East Tennessee State, where he posted his best season in 2021, working his way to a 1.95 ERA and a 3-1 record in 14 games, three of which were starts that season.
Zach is the first announcement of several coming in the days and weeks ahead. The Wild Things are excited to continue to reveal plans for the 2026 roster, all in the goal of bringing a championship to Washington, Pennsylvania in the team’s 23rd Frontier League season. Decisions on 2026 team options from 2025 contracts will be revealed this month, as well as the announcement of more players signing new contracts and new players coming to the organization.
The Washington Wild Things will open their 24th season of professional baseball and 23rd in the Frontier League on May 7, 2026, with the homer opener scheduled for Friday, May 15 against the Schaumburg Boomers at EQT Park. For updates, season ticket membership information and more, visit washingtonwildthings.com or follow the team on social media at facebook.com/WashingtonWildThings or @WashWildThings on other platforms.
