6’1 180 LBS. Batted Left and Threw Left. Born 1945.
Member of the Twins from 1977-1980
VORP as a Twin: 97.1 Rank: 38th
Twins Record

Geoff Zahn was signed as a free agent prior to the 1977 season and pitched for the Twins for four seasons. After a decidedly mediocre 1977, Zahn had a terrific 1978. Although he had a record of just 14-14 in 35 starts, he had an ERA almost a full run below the league average. With 252.2 innings pitched, Zahn racked up 44.3 VORP. In 1979, Zahn again had an ERA about a run below league average and racked up 36.5 VORP in just 169 innings. Zahn was 13-7 in 1979.

In 1980, Zahn’s ERA rose to about the league average and he had an 14-18 record. After the season, Zahn was 35 and left the Twins for California as a free agent. By 1980, the Twins were shedding salary and heading towards a youth movement. A guy like Zahn didn’t fit with the Twins and with a somewhat down year, or so it appeared, he left. In 1982, Zahn was 18-8 with a 3.73 ERA and was sixth in the AL in the Cy Young voting. Yes, Zahn had a nice record, but was he better then than in 1978 or 1979? I don’t think so.

Zahn wasn’t much of a strikeout pitcher, with a career 3.43 K/9 average. As a Twin, he struck out batters at a 3.68 K/9 rate. He didn’t walk many either, but his K/BB was just 1.37. Zahn’s FIP was unspectacular. In his 1978 season, for example, he had an ERA of 3.03, but a FIP of 4.25. In 1979, he had the 3.57 ERA, but just a 4.24 FIP. His best FIP as a Twin, in fact, was his 1980 season, when he had a FIP of 4.17.

Zahn had a career record of 111-109 and a 53-53 record. He was a good, serviceable starting pitcher. He pitched a lot of innings in four seasons and is fifteenth in innings pitched in Twins history. All but one of the 14 men above him are in the top 40 in VORP.

Zahn Notes
Zahn was the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines baseball team for six years before resigning in 2001. Apparently, Coach Zahn and some of his players didn’t see eye to eye.

Zahn, whose Wolverines teams went 163-169 (.492) and won the Big 10 tournament in 1999, issued a statement in the release announcing his resignation:
"Over the past year and a half, there have been personal circumstances that have taken much of the joy out of coaching for me," said Zahn, 56. "I have always felt that when it ceases to be fun to come to work, it's time to move on.

"I wish the team only the best as I believe they have the nucleus to have a great team."

Players reported to fall practice at Ray Fisher Stadium Oct. 2 only to be met by school administrators, and assistant coaches Steve Foster and Steve Merriman conducted the practice. Zahn was nowhere to be found and had cleaned out his office, leaving only a voice mail message on his office phone: "This is Geoff Zahn. I'm sorry I'm not available, but you need to talk to Evelyn (Mullreed, the baseball secretary)."

Zahn, who went 111-109 during a 13-year big league career, was disciplined by athletic director Bill Martin in June 2000 for "style and communication issues" with his players. This summer, Zahn butted heads with pitchers Jim Brauer and Rich Hill, refusing to grant them releases from their scholarships that would enable them to transfer to other schools.

Sounds like Geoff had some problems communicating with the yoots.

Zahn is still (I think) teaching baseball at his own academy, the Master Pitching Institute.

Zahn was named 45th best player in Angels history by the blog Halos Heaven.

Zahn is one of 81 players to play for both the Dodgers and the Angels.