“I thought that was it for me, I thought that my dream of playing college baseball had ended before it even began”
Zack Zarrilli, a member of Farmingdale High School, had been dominating his sophomore season with a 1.62 ERA through 12 games. However, in the spring of that season, his career took a sudden and dramatic turn. A lingering elbow pain turned into a more serious injury—Tommy John surgery became a necessity.
The news was “devastating.” The recovery from this procedure often takes 8-12 months without any setbacks and some pitchers struggle to return to their former abilities. But Zack wasn’t about to let that define his future.
“I remember that feeling of getting the MRI results back and everything just instantly stopped,” said Zarrilli.
“It was tough because I knew what I was going to have to go through to get back on the mound,” Zarrilli said. “But at the same time, it was a chance to overcome adversity”
New York Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad performed the surgery on Zarrilli’s left arm on February 17th, 2021.
From that date on, Zarrilli was very focused on rehab, but it would not come with help from those closest to him.
Zack’s father, Rich Zarrilli, the key force behind Zack’s love for baseball ever since he started playing at the age of five, remembers that difficult moment.
“As a parent, it was tough to watch your kid go through something like that,” Rich reflected. “Zack is a fighter, though. I’ve seen him work through adversity before. I knew this would just be another tough situation that he would turn into a positive.”
Beyond his family’s support, Zack has found strength in his friendship with Joe Meyer, his best friend and former teammate at Farmingdale. Joe, who has been with Zack since elementary school , has seen Zack at his best and through the toughest times. Their shared experiences and bond on the baseball field helped Zack stay motivated during his rehabilitation.
“Zack’s always been someone who pushes himself,” Meyer said. “Whether it’s on the field or in life, he always seemed to make the best out of every situation. We’ve been through a lot together, and seeing him fight through that injury, it was inspiring.”
Meyer has been a huge presence in Zack’s life, whether it was since they played on the same baseball team at the age of seven, or now where they workout together during the summertime.
“We push each other every day,” Zack added. “Joe was a huge part of my recovery. It’s great to have someone who understands the grind and keeps me going even after my recovery.”
Zack, now a few years recovered from that surgery, is very excited for his third year on the RedDragons roster.
“It’s crazy how I am in my third season here already,” Zack said. “We have a great team and I am just grateful to be able to continue to play the sport that I love”
Reflecting on his son’s incredible resilience, Rich knows how special of a person Zack has become.
“As a father, watching Zack go through that surgery and the tough road to recovery was heart-wrenching,” said Rich. “But seeing him back on the field, doing what he loves, is all I could ask as a father. I couldn’t be prouder of the man and athlete he’s become. The sky’s the limit for him.”
As he prepares to step onto the mound for the RedDragons at the Shenandoah Mr. V Memorial Classic in Virginia on March 1, his journey is far from over. For Zack, this is just the beginning of what he promises to be an inspiring career. The road to recovery has been long, but with every pitch, he’s proving that determination, perseverance, and passion are the true keys to success.
“His success will tell the story this year. He was born to defy the odds,” Meyer said.