It was a simple, one-line announcement from the Dodgers on Saturday morning:

It isn’t the first time the 27-year-old Zach Reks has been summoned by the Dodgers this season. He was recalled from their Triple-A OKC affiliate on June 21, made his Major League debut the next night (hitless in two at-bats), and immediately optioned back to OKC. So, Reks is familiar with the trip to Dodger Stadium, where to park, how to make his way to the clubhouse, where to store his equipment, and locate his spotless, white, number 84 Dodger uniform.

But Rek’s journey of persistence started in 2013 as a freshman at the Air Force Academy, studying medical physics and playing baseball — he did not perform well in the classroom or the baseball field. The Academy granted his request to be released, and he transferred to the University of Kentucky. He was a walk-on for the baseball team but failed to make the roster.

Zach had bills to pay, so he took a job with a nearby Toyota factory, concentrated on his studies, worked out to build strength, and played ball for the college club team. He was noticed by an assistant baseball coach and asked to try out for the team; he not only made the team but batted .344 with a .990 OPS in his two years. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a mechanical engineering degree in 2017 and, a month later, was selected by the Dodgers in the 10th-round of the Major League Baseball entry draft.

Rek’s started his professional baseball career much later than most (23 years old) and progressed quickly through the Dodgers minor league system. In his first season (2017), he batted .400 for the Ogden Raptors (rookie league), .309 for the Low-A Great Lakes Loons, and .314 for High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. He returned to the Quakes to start the 2018 season, batting .400, then moved up to Double-A Tulsa Drillers, where he hit .288. Zach continued to crush minor league pitching in 2019, hitting .310 for Tulsa and .284 for Triple-A OKC.

For the first half of the Triple-A season, Zach has slashed .325/.419/.581/1.001 for OKC, earning another opportunity to play for the Dodgers. He may once again pack his bags and equipment, turn in his Dodgers uniform and be on a flight to whatever city the OKC Dodgers are playing. But, don’t give up on Reks – he has the talent and his persistence is remarkable.

  *  *  *  *  *  *