Zduriencik began his career in professional baseball in 1983 as a scout for the New York Mets. He then moved on to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1991, where he served as the Director of Scouting until 1999. During his time with the Pirates, Zduriencik was instrumental in drafting several key players who would go on to have successful careers in the Major Leagues, including Jason Kendall and Kris Benson.
In 1999, Zduriencik joined the Milwaukee Brewers organization as the Director of Scouting. He was promoted to Special Assistant to the GM in 2006 and then to Vice President of Player Personnel in 2008. During his time with the Brewers, Zduriencik was credited with building a strong farm system and drafting several future stars, including Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun.
In October 2008, Zduriencik was hired as the GM of the Seattle Mariners, becoming the first person to be hired as a GM from a scouting background since the 1970s. During his tenure, Zduriencik was known for his focus on player development and his willingness to make bold moves in an attempt to improve the team. He was responsible for drafting several key players, including Kyle Seager and Taijuan Walker, and for making high-profile trades and free agent signings, such as the acquisition of Robinson Cano.
However, despite these moves, the Mariners struggled to achieve consistent success on the field during Zduriencik's tenure. The team had only two winning seasons and failed to make the playoffs in any of his seven seasons as GM. Zduriencik's tenure was also marked by criticism of his management style and decision-making, with some former employees and players questioning his ability to effectively lead the organization.
In August 2015, Zduriencik was fired by the Mariners. His departure marked the end of a nearly 30-year career in professional baseball. Despite the lack of success during his time as GM, Zduriencik is widely respected within the baseball community for his scouting acumen and his contributions to player development.
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