Inside The Early Life Of Josh Zeid: From Connecticut Roots To Baseball Prodigy
Discover how Josh Zeid’s early years in Connecticut shaped his path to baseball success. From family life to school achievements, explore his inspiring journey before the pros.
Jul 18, 202518.6K Shares467.3K Views
When a pitcher delivers scoreless innings across two World Baseball Classics and then throws in the Olympics, you know something special is at work, for Josh Zeid, that moment came true. Born March 24, 1987 in New Haven, Connecticut, he played in the major leagues for the Houston Astros in 2013 and 2014, where his fastball touched 97 mph and he posted 42 strikeouts. Zeid became a standout for Team Israel, earning a spot on the 2017 All‑World Baseball Classic team after throwing ten shutout innings and later representing Israel in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held 2021). Now he shares his expertise as a pitching coach and analyst, helping develop young arms at San Jacinto College and in the Texas Rangers system.
Early Life
Josh Zeidwas born on March 24, 1987 in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. His parents are Ira Zeid, a dentist, and Karen Zeid, who works at a senior center. He has a sister named Emily. He grew up in Woodbridge and New Haven, Connecticut. He is Jewish. As a child, he went to Hebrew school three times a week, attended a Conservative synagogue, and had a bar mitzvah. He often wore a Star of David necklace and a chai symbol to show his faith.
Josh played baseball at Hamden Hall Country Day School. He set a school record with over 400 strikeouts during his high school years. He helped his team win two back‑to‑back New England championships. As a senior, he struck out 130 batters in 65 innings and hit .450 at bat. He was the Gatorade Connecticut High School Player of the Year and was ranked the 27th best prospect in the country by Baseball America. He also played in the AFLAC All‑America Game in 2004 and pitched for the USA Youth National Team in 2003, winning a gold medal in an international youth tournament.
After high school, he went to Vanderbilt University and pitched for two seasons, then transferred to Tulane University. At Tulane he majored in English (with a minor in political science) and continued to play college baseball. During summers, he played for summer league teams: the Torrington Twisters (New England league) in 2006 and the Harwich Mariners (Cape Cod league) in 2007.
High School And College
George Springerstarted at New Britain High School in Connecticut but was small in size about 5 ft tall and 100 lb, when he played varsity baseball as a freshman. He later transferred to Avon Old Farms School, a boarding school in Avon, Connecticut, where he played varsity baseball all four years. At Avon, he stood out enough to be named All‑New England in 2007 and 2008.
Following high school, Springer chose to attend the University of Connecticut (UConn). In his freshman year, he led the team with a .358 average, scored 75 runs, hit 16 home runs, and stole 12 bases. He was named Big East Rookie of the Year and earned Freshman All‑American honors. Over three years at UConn, he consistently led his team in hitting, stealing bases, and scoring runs. He was named Big East Player of the Year as a junior and became a first‑team All‑American across multiple outlets.
Playing Career
Josh Zeid reached the major leagues in 2013, making his debut with the Houston Astros on July 30. Over two seasons, 2013 and 2014, he appeared in 48 games as a relief pitcher. In 2013, he pitched 27.2 innings and had a 3.90 ERA. In 2014, he pitched 20.2 innings with a 7.84 ERA. Overall, he recorded a 5.21 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 48.1 total innings in the majors.
After the 2014 season, the Detroit Tigers claimed Zeid off waivers. He spent the 2015 season in Triple-A with the Toledo Mud Hens, where he appeared in 42 games and posted a 4.46 ERA. In 2016, he played with the New Britain Bees in independent baseball, making eight starts and finishing with a 5.06 ERA over 37 innings.
Later in 2016, Zeid signed with the New York Mets organization and pitched at both Double-A and Triple-A levels. He ended the year with a 4.61 ERA before becoming a free agent. In 2017, he joined the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league system and played for the Memphis Redbirds in Triple-A. That season, he went 9–4 with 95 strikeouts in 102 innings, tying for the sixth-most wins in the league.
Coaching Career
Josh Zeid officially retired from playing professional baseball on April 5, 2018, at age 31. After retiring, he focused on completing his degree in English and political science at Tulane University.
In January 2019, he joined the Chicago Cubs organization. For about four years, he worked as a rehab pitching coordinator and player development pitching analyst. He also ran the team’s pitching lab in Mesa, Arizona. In that role, he worked with biomechanics, pitch design, data analysis, and helped injured pitchers with their recovery process.
In late 2022, he moved to the Texas Rangers organization and became the pitching coach of the Frisco RoughRiders, the Rangers’ Double-A affiliate. This was his first full-time role as a minor league pitching coach. By mid-2023, Zeid started working at San Jacinto College in Houston, Texas. He took on the role of pitching coach, pitching analyst, and academic success coordinator, helping young players grow both on the field and in their education.
Jump to
Latest Articles
Popular Articles