Charlie Zink

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Charles Tadao (Charlie) Zink (born August 26, 1979 in Carmichael, California) is an American baseball player who pitches in the Boston Red Sox organization. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2002 upon recommendation of former Red Sox pitcher and Zink's former coach at Savannah College of Art and Design, Luis Tiant. Since joining the organization, current Red Sox starting pitcher, and fellow knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield has also spent time with Zink, primarily during their spring break and the off-season.

He spent most of the 2006 season (23 of 25 games) with Pawtucket posting a 9-4 record with a 4.03 ERA. He was a combined 10-6 with the PawSox and Sea Dogs in the 2005 season. Zink was the 2003 Sarasota Pitcher of the Year with a 3.90 ERA over 136 innings, the most he has thrown in a season at any level of play to date.

Zink split time between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket in 2007. He opened the season with the PawSox, but was sent down to Portland on May 21. After posting a 9-3 record and a 3.98 ERA in Double-A, Zink was transferred back to Triple-A Pawtucket on August 3. Zink was used solely as a starter in 2007, whereas in previous seasons he was occasionally used out of the bullpen. Zink showed signs of brilliance during his time with Portland during May and June. At one point, he had compiled 8 starts of at least 5 innings pitched and only once allowed more than 3 earned runs during that stretch. A strained leg muscle caused him to miss a start, but in his first start after returning from the disabled list he surrendered a career high 12 earned runs in 4 innings. Even with the poor outing, Zink kept his 2007 Double-A ERA below 4.00 for the first time in his AA career (when making at least 7 starts).

In 2008, Charlie Zink is leading the Pawtucket Red Sox in innings pitched (73.2) and strikeouts (43). He has 7 wins, a 2.44 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP through 13 starts. Zink also was awarded the honor of International League Pitcher of the Week for April 14-20.