Zack Collins

Amateur career

Collins attended American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida, alongside high school and college teammate Brandon Lopez. Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 27th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, he did not sign and instead enrolled at the University of Miami.

As a freshman in 2014, he hit .298/.427/.556 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs, earning ACC Freshman of the Year and Baseball America's Freshman of the Year honors. In 2015, he batted .302/.445/.587 with 15 home runs and 70 RBIs, then played summer ball for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League. During his junior year, Collins hit .363 with 16 home runs and 59 RBIs, leading college baseball with 78 walks and winning the Johnny Bench Award.

Professional career

The Chicago White Sox selected Collins tenth overall in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. After signing, he debuted with the Arizona League White Sox and soon moved to the Winston-Salem Dash, where he was named a Carolina League All-Star. In 39 games across both teams, he finished 2016 with a .244 average, six home runs, and 18 RBIs, later joining the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League. The following year, he split time between Winston-Salem and the Birmingham Barons, combining for a .224 average with 19 home runs and 53 RBIs in 113 games.

In 2018, Collins remained with Birmingham, earning a Southern League All-Star selection and winning the Southern League Home Run Derby, while batting .234 with 15 home runs and 68 RBIs over 122 games. He began 2019 with the Charlotte Knights, and on June 18 his contract was purchased, bringing him to the majors. In his debut as a pinch hitter against the Cubs, he drew a walk. His first major league hit came on June 21, 2019, a three-run home run versus the Texas Rangers.

With the 2020 White Sox, he batted .063 with no home runs and no RBIs in nine games. On April 14, 2021, Collins caught Carlos Rodón's no-hitter, the 20th in White Sox history. On April 3, 2022, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Reese McGuire, and on September 5, 2022, he was designated for assignment. The next day, the Pittsburgh Pirates claimed him off waivers and optioned him to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.

In ten games for Pittsburgh, he went 1-for-25 (.040) with one RBI. On November 10, 2022, Collins was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to Triple-A, then elected free agency.