ÃÂngel David Zerpa (born September 27, 1999) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals. He made his MLB debut in 2021.
Zerpa signed with the Kansas City Royals as an international free agent on July 26, 2016 for a $100,000 signing bonus. Zerpa made his professional debut in 2017 with the Dominican Summer League Royals, going 3âÂÂ4 with a 1.84 ERA and 39 strikeouts over innings. He spent the 2018 season with the Arizona League Royals, going 3âÂÂ6 with a 3.88 ERA and 34 strikeouts over innings. Zerpa split the 2019 season between the Burlington Royals and the Idaho Falls Chukars, going a combined 6âÂÂ3 with a 3.40 ERA and 55 strikeouts over innings. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On November 20, 2020, the Royals added Zerpa to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. Zerpa split the 2021 minor league season between the High-A Quad Cities River Bandits, Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, and Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, going a combined 4âÂÂ4 with a 4.58 ERA and 108 strikeouts over innings.
On September 30, 2021, Zerpa was recalled to the active roster to make his MLB debut as the starting pitcher against the Cleveland Indians.
In 2022, Zerpa made three appearances (two starts) for the Royals, logging a 2âÂÂ1 record and 1.64 ERA with three strikeouts in 11 innings pitched. In 19 starts split between Northwest Arkansas and Omaha, Zerpa posted a 2âÂÂ5 record and 4.02 ERA with 69 strikeouts in innings of work. He was placed on the 60-day injured list on August 2, 2021 with a small tear in his patellar tendon, and missed the remainder of the year.
On March 15, 2023, Zerpa was placed on the 60-day injured list with left shoulder tendinopathy. He was activated on July 14, and subsequently optioned to TripleâÂÂA Omaha. Zerpa made 15 appearances (three starts) for Kansas City during the year, recording a 3-3 record and 4.85 ERA with 36 strikeouts across innings pitched.
Zerpa made 60 appearances out of the bullpen for Kansas City during the 2024 campaign, registering a 2-0 record and 3.86 ERA with 49 strikeouts across innings pitched. He pitched in 69 games (including two starts) for the Royals in 2025, posting a 5-2 record and 4.18 ERA with 58 strikeouts over innings.
On December 14, 2025, Zerpa was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Isaac Collins and Nick Mears.