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Charlie Zink | Starting Pitcher

Team: St Louis Cardinals
Age / DOB:  (33) / 8/26/1979
Ht / Wt:  6'1' / 190
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
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Cardinals signed RHP Charlie Zink to a minor league contract.
Zink, 30, was in the Red Sox organization for close to eight years and was once regarded as a top prospect, but he's made just one major league appearance thus far. The knuckleballer went 6-15 with a 5.59 ERA last season at Triple-A Pawtcuket and struggled mightily with his control. Thu, Jan 14, 2010 08:18:00 PM

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Date:
Charlie Zink - S - Cardinals

Red Sox reassigned RHP Charlie Zink and catcher Carlos Maldonado to minor league camp; optioned infielder Argenis Diaz to Double-A Portland.

Zink passed through waivers unclaimed back in January and the knuckleballer will be in the rotation at Pawtucket.
Related: Carlos Maldonado
Tue, Mar 10, 2009 10:51:00 AM
Charlie Zink - S - Cardinals

Red Sox sent RHP Charlie Zink outright to Triple-A Pawtucket.

It's disappointing that no one opted to grab Zink, but he probably isn't a major league-quality knuckleballer just yet. He'll be a part of Pawtucket's rotation this season.
Fri, Jan 9, 2009 06:01:00 PM
Charlie Zink - S - Cardinals

Red Sox designated RHP Charlie Zink for assignment.

Zink, a 29-year-old knuckleballer, made his major league debut last season, but got rocked by the Rangers in his only start. He's hardly hopeless, but he was well down on Boston's depth chart and was unlikely to get a legitimate shot to contribute in 2009. Perhaps the Padres or another team will pick him up.
Thu, Jan 8, 2009 08:20:00 PM
Charlie Zink - S - Cardinals

Red Sox optioned RHP Charlie Zink to Triple-A Pawtucket.

That was quick. Zink stepped into the rotation for an injured Tim Wakefield, but got rocked in his MLB debut Tuesday night after being handed a 10-run lead in the first inning. He could be back in September, but 28-year-old knuckleballers tend not to get a ton of chances. His demotion signals that Clay Buchholz will likely remain in the rotation following the trade for Paul Byrd.
Related: Clay Buchholz
Wed, Aug 13, 2008 09:32:00 AM
Charlie Zink - S - Cardinals

Making his major-league debut on Tuesday night, 28-year-old knuckleballer Charlie Zink was lit up by the Rangers for eight runs on 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings.

The Rangers are the last team you'd like to face in your first big-league start, so the Red Sox should not be too quick to judge. Nonetheless, it was clearly an ugly outing for Zink. He actually got through the first four innings without too much trouble, but in the fifth he gave up six hits -- four of them doubles -- and they all ended up scoring.
Tue, Aug 12, 2008 11:39:00 PM
Charlie Zink - S - Cardinals

Red Sox purchased the contract of RHP Charlie Zink from Triple-A Pawtucket.

The knuckleballer is starting in place of Tim Wakefield on Tuesday night.
Tue, Aug 12, 2008 07:25:00 PM
Charlie Zink - S - Cardinals

Charlie Zink will replace Tim Wakefield in the rotation Tuesday, making his MLB debut against the Rangers.

Boston replaces one knuckleballer with another, choosing Zink over Devern Hansack and David Pauley. At 28 years old Zink is having the best season of his career, going 13-4 with a 2.89 ERA at Triple-A, but facing the high-scoring Rangers is very tough first assignment and it's unclear how long he'll remain in the rotation.
Related: Tim Wakefield
Mon, Aug 11, 2008 05:22:00 PM
Charlie Zink - S - Cardinals

Knuckleballer Charlie Zink pitched a two-hit shutout Thursday for Triple-A Pawtucket.

Forget Justin Masterson and Clay Buchholz. What we really want to see if is two knuckleballers can succeed in the same rotation. Zink is 9-2 with a 2.42 ERA, 80 H and 72/34 K/BB in 111 2/3 innings this season. His presence as starting pitching depth is one more reason that the Red Sox should strongly consider trying Masterson as a reliever for the rest of the year.
Fri, Jul 4, 2008 04:07:00 AM
Charlie Zink - S - Cardinals

Knuckleballer Charlie Zink allowed one hit and two unearned runs in six innings for Triple-A Pawtucket.

It's been three years since we've had occasion to write up Zink, but the now 28-year-old right-hander might be taking a real step forward. He's 5-2 with a 2.47 ERA, 42 H and 36/19 K/BB in 54 2/3 IP for Pawtucket. He's had plenty of setbacks along the way, but since he does get plenty of movement with his knuckler, he's always been a prospect.
Wed, May 21, 2008 03:10:00 AM
Charlie Zink - S - Cardinals

Knuckleballer Charlie Zink made his debut for Triple-A Pawtucket yesterday and allowed four runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief.

Zink had a 6.65 ERA in five starts for Double-A Portland, so his promotion could be temporary. The 25-year-old has moved in the wrong direction since establishing himself as a quality prospect in 2003, but since he throws the knuckleball, he'll have a long time to figure things out.
Wed, May 11, 2005 02:33:00 PM
Charlie Zink - S - Cardinals

Making his first start since a demotion to Single-A Sarasota, Charlie Zink allowed five runs -- three earned -- in 4 2/3 innings yesterday.

Zink was 1-8 with a 5.79 ERA, 101 H and 50/72 K/BB in 93 1/3 IP for Double-A Portland. The knuckleballer remains a prospect, but 2004 has been a lost year for him.
Wed, Jul 14, 2004 05:01:00 PM
Charlie Zink - S - Cardinals

Double-A Portland's Charlie Zink is 0-5 after allowing eight earned runs in five innings yesterday.

Zink is still probably the best knuckleballer in the minors, but he's run into some problems this year. He has a 6.08 ERA and has walked 34 batters in 40 innings.
Tue, May 18, 2004 05:18:00 PM
Charlie Zink - S - Cardinals

Charlie Zink gave up one hit in five scoreless innings Saturday for Mesa of the Arizona Fall League.

Zink is the best knuckleballer currently in the minors, though that's certainly not saying much. He went 10-11 with a 3.80 ERA, 144 H and 112/78 K/BB in 175 1/3 IP between Single-A Sarasota and Double-A Portland last season. His fall ERA is 4.91, so he's due to spend at least one more year in the minors.
Sun, Nov 9, 2003 03:52:00 PM
Charlie Zink - S - Cardinals

Mon, Oct 27, 2003 07:44:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Yadier Molina
2Tony Cruz
1B1Allen Craig
2Matt Adams
2B1Matt Carpenter
2Daniel Descalso
SS1Pete Kozma
2Rafael Furcal
3B1David Freese
2Ty Wigginton
LF1Matt Holliday
CF1Jon Jay
2Shane Robinson
RF1Carlos Beltran
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Adam Wainwright
2Jaime Garcia
3Jake Westbrook
4Lance Lynn
5Shelby Miller
6Chris Carpenter
7John Gast
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Edward Mujica
2Trevor Rosenthal
3Randy Choate
4Carlos Martinez
5Joe Kelly
6Fernando Salas
7Seth Maness
8Mitchell Boggs
9Jason Motte