Zinter went eight innings for the short-season Spokane Indians and struck out 13. He also picked up the win.
"He was throwing the crap out of the ball," Spokane manager Bruce Bochy told The Chronicle afterward. "He didn't want to come out of the game, I'll tell you that. He's a gamer."
Zinter was in his first season as a pro that year with Spokane. He ended up getting into three more. He never made AA.
Zinter's pro career began that June, taken by the Padres in the 38th round of the draft out of Brigham Young University.
At Brigham Young, Zinter picked up a May 1988 win, going seven innings and giving up seven hits. He also played in Alaska that summer.
With the Padres, Zinter started at Spokane. In 17 outings, seven starts, Zinter went 6-4, with two saves. He picked up one of those saves going two innings and striking out five. The last strikeout came with two on in the ninth of a one-run game.
"That was a great ballgame," Zinter told The Spokane Spokesman-Review. "That's the way the game should be played. The bottom of the ninth, two on, two out, full count - that's great."
Zinter moved to single-A Charleston for 1990. In 45 relief outings, he saved 17. He also had a 2.20 ERA. He got his 10th save in a five-out June showing.
At high-A High Desert in 1991, Zinter picked up six wins and 18 saves in 50 outings. His ERA came in at 5.49. He returned to High Desert for 1992 for another 47 outings. He had a 4.33 ERA. It was his final season as a pro.
- Spokane Spokesman-Review, July 1, 1989: Indians rally to cap display for big crowd
- Spokane Chronicle, Aug. 22, 1989: Tribe closer to wearing crown
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