Victor Zambrano (born August 6, 1975 in Miranda State, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the New York Mets. Previously, he played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2001-04). He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed. Zambrano has a good repertory and he pitches aggressively, using his 92-95 MPH sinking fastball, a changeup, and occasionally a quality slider that is practically unhittable. He is a converted infielder who fields his position well and he does a decent job holding on runners. Unfortunately, Zambrano lacks control, which limits his effectiveness. In 2003 he led the American League in walks, wild pitches, and hit batsmen, and in walks and wild pitches again in 2004, despite being traded to the National League in the midseason. Zambrano was traded to the Mets in a very risky trade for highly coveted pitching prospect Scott Kazmir.
Through the 2005 season, Zambrano has compiled a 44-39 record with 498 strikeouts and a 4.38 ERA in 662.0 innings pitched. At bat, he is a .132 hitter (nine-for-45) with three runs and three RBI.
On May 6, 2006, Zambrano suffered a torn flexor tendon in his pitching elbow, disabling him for the rest of the 2006 season. Doctors unexpectedly found a torn elbow ligament during surgery on May 15, resulting in the second Tommy John elbow surgery of his career. Zambrano is expected to be sidelined well into the 2007 season, and is unlikely to be offered a contract by the Mets at the end of 2006. His performance over 5 starts in 2006 consisted of a 1-2 record with 15 strikeouts and a 6.75 ERA in 21 1/3 innings pitched.
