Zack Gelof

Zack Gelof's Biography

Zachary Dunn Gelof was born on October 19, 1999 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, to parents Kelly and Adam Gelof, both attorneys. Raised in a Jewish household, he attended Hebrew school in the Seaside Jewish Community. With an early passion for athleticism, Gelof flourished in high school, making his mark on both the baseball and soccer fields at Cape Henlopen High School. Excelling academically as well, he maintained a 4.02 GPA while also serving as Class President for all four years.

Gelof was a prodigious bald-player and showcased his skills early on, playing every game of the high school baseball team’s four seasons. Dominating both as a shortstop and pitcher, his senior year stats epitomized his immense talent – a .465 batting average, leads in hits (35), runs (37), and home runs (7), stolen bases (28-for-28), along with 17 RBIs. Notably, as a pitcher too, Gelof was exemplary, boasting of a performance record of 4-0 with an impressive 1.30 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 26 innings. His fastball was clocked at an impressive 87 miles per hour.

Gelof’s phenomenal high school baseball career won him several awards and titles, including the 2018 Delaware Gatorade Player of Year, Delaware Baseball Coaches Player of the Year, Delaware News Journal First Team All-State Shortstop, among others. He finished his high school career as Delaware’s all-time leader in runs scored and stolen bases, and ranked second in career hits.

While baseball was Gelof’s primary game, his athleticism carried over to the soccer field. He ended his high school soccer career as the leading goal scorer in the State of Delaware between 2015 and 2018, with a total of 61 goals and 16 assists. This accomplishment, combined with other accolades such as four-time All-Conference and three-time All-State, demonstrated Gelof’s dynamic athletic abilities.

Following an impressive high school stint, Gelof was selected in the 38th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft by the Cleveland Indians. However, he chose to not sign with the team and instead, furthered his baseball career at Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He had a stellar college run, batting .316/.396/.478 in 137 games, leading the ACC with 81 hits in his junior year, and earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team in the 2021 College World Series.

In the 2021 MLB draft, Gelof finally opted to embrace a professional career in baseball, when he was selected in the second round by the Oakland Athletics. As the 60th pick overall, Gelof was the sixth-highest draft pick in Delaware history. In July 2021, he signed with the Athletics, receiving a $1,157,400 signing bonus, and went on to make a successful professional debut.

Gelof’s rookie-year performance was decidedly impressive, as he played for three teams within the Athletics’ system. He finished the 2021 season with a combined batting average of .333/.422/.565 in 138 at bats, seven home runs, and 13 stolen bases in 15 attempts. Widely acknowledged as a top prospect in the Athletics’ team and in baseball at a broader level, Gelof garnered widespread admiration in the Athletics’ farm system in 2022 for his speed and agility.

Despite a setback in 2022 due to a torn labrum and subluxed left shoulder, Gelof made a comeback, hitting .271/.356/.438 with 13 home runs and nine stolen bases in 11 attempts in 354 at bats over 83 games in the Double–A Texas League. Proving his athletic versatility, Gelof also played second base, third base, DH, and center field during his time in the League.

Gelof’s relentless drive and stellar performance earned him a promotion to the major leagues in 2023, where he made his debut and struck his first major league home run all within the same year. His remarkable 2023 season with the Athletics saw Gelof scoring .267/.337/.504 in 270 at bats, establishing him as one of the front-runners in the League.

Gelof was part of the Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and although the team was eliminated in group play, his participation highlighted his unyielding commitment to his Jewish roots.

Outside his sporting career, Gelof has maintained his warm ties with his brother Jake, a fellow baseball player who played for the University of Virginia and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The two brothers co-founded the Gelof Brothers Foundation in November 2023, dedicated to supporting youth development. Giving back to the community that raised them, they hosted their inaugural youth sports camp, a testament to their joint vision of engendering young talent.

With a promising career ahead, Zachary Dunn Gelof continues to represent an inspirational figure in Major League Baseball and beyond, revered not just for his athletic prowess, but for his inspiring journey fueled by tenacity, hard work, and evident talent.