Zarbnisky weighing options after season’s cancellation, eligibility vote

In these unprecedented times amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, West Virginia outfielder and relief pitcher Braden Zarbnisky is one of many college baseball players across the country whose future is uncertain.

This all of course comes after the cancellation of all spring-sports as a result of the pandemic.

Zarbnisky and the Mountaineers began the year with an 11-5 record with the Big 12 opener against the No. 2-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders in Lubbock on deck before the news of the series getting canceled caused the team bus to turn around about 15-20 minutes away from the Pittsburgh International Airport.

The entire season was cancelled soon after, leaving West Virginia’s 7-0 win over Liberty inside Monongalia County Ballpark on March 11 to unexpectedly be the final game of its 2020 campaign.

“It was tough to handle at first,” Zarbnisky told WVSports.com. “But you gotta think about the bigger picture and think about everything that’s actually going on and to think in the best interest of all the athletes and fans that would come out to those games with everything going on, you kinda realized that it was the best decision for everybody, but it is what it is now and hopefully everything can get back to normal soon.”

“You know, these guys work so hard and everybody around the country works so hard to get to where they were and just tough to see it taken away from those young guys who just now experienced college and were getting into the swing of things with traveling and baseball and having fun and then they get their first season ever taken away from them. So it’s tough, but I mean everybody will get through it and we’ll all learn from this and come out stronger from it,” he later added.

The fifth-year senior and Marietta, Georgia native was a big reason why the Mountaineers were off to their best start since 2009.

A herniated disk in his lower lumbar spine caused Zarbnisky to miss all of the 2019 season, an historic one for the program, Zarbnisky bounced back stronger than ever, leading the team with a .431 batting average, 28 hits, 16 runs and 13 stolen bases in 16 games. He also tallied nine RBIs.

Zarbnisky was also dominant on the mound as the former John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Watch List member picked up two saves and allowed just one hit and no runs in 4.2 innings pitched.

“Missing last season, that was tough,” Zarbnisky said. “It was a grind trying to get back out there, but being back out there after surgery felt a lot better. I couldn’t thank the trainers and doctors that worked on me and my strength coach and everybody that was there to support me and get me back out there as quick as possible and as healthy as possible.”

Now back in his hometown, Zarbnisky is doing his best to stay in shape as he ponders what’s next for him.

Zarbnisky’s daily routine has obviously changed as a result of the pandemic and season cancellation and that includes spending more time with his family and dog as well as working out. Every day he goes to the field and throws with Chase Smith--a relief pitcher for rival Pittsburgh.

“I’ve just been working out in the yard, working out in the driveway, trying to throw as much as possible,” Zarbnisky said. “I’m trying to stay in shape as much as possible just in case the (MLB) Draft works out and I gotta go play somewhere as soon as possible if that ever happens this year. Doing what I can with what I have.”

One thing that’s certain is Zarbnisky has options when it comes to deciding what comes next.

Depending on what happens with the MLB Draft and when it could take place, which will be shortened from 40 rounds down to either 5-10 rounds, he can choose to sign with a team if he’s drafted or as a free agent. He could also elect to play in an independent baseball league.

Or he could also return to West Virginia to finish his master's degree and play more one season with the Mountaineers since the NCAA Division I Council recently voted to grant all spring-sport student-athletes an additional year of eligibility. West Virginia’s three seniors (Zarbnisky, Kevin Brophy, Dillon Meadows) will be welcomed back to the team if they decide to go that route.

“Once the draft passes, I gotta really think about my best opportunity and what’s best for me,” Zarbnisky said. “So I guess I got a couple months to still think about all that stuff and really (narrow) down my decision.”

There’s also the option of pursuing a career outside of baseball, but overall, Zarbnisky is going to play things by ear.

“Not playing baseball is always an option whether I want to do that or not,” Zarbnisky said. “It’s still all up in the air right now. Just gotta figure out what’s best for me when that time comes around. But baseball is what I love and what I always wanted to pursue so it’s definitely a big option and what I’m leaning towards right now.”

The amount of success West Virginia can have next season with its returning roster as well as if the three seniors come back is also in the back of Zarbnisky’s mind as he goes through this process.

No matter what the future holds, he’ll forever be grateful for his time in Morgantown.

“I couldn't have asked to be in a better situation, in a better place with better people,” Zarbnisky said. “I’ve enjoyed my time there and if I go another year there, if I decide to go back, then I’ll make the most of it again and we’ll see what we can do.”

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