Barry William Zito (born May 13, 1978 in city-stateLas VegasNevada) is a left handed starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He previously played seven seasons with the Oakland Athletics, where he won the 2002 (2002 Major League Baseball season) American League Cy Young Award and made three All-Star (Major League Baseball All-Star Game) teams.

Zito never missed a scheduled start in his career until 2008, and led the American League in starts four times. After the 2006 season (2006 Major League Baseball season), Zito signed the most expensive contract in history for a pitcher at the time. Zito is well known for the drastic difference between his pre- and post- All-Star Game pitching.

Zito played collegiately at UC Santa Barbara, Los Angeles Pierce College, and the University of Southern California. In the 1999 draft (1999 Major League Baseball Draft), he was drafted by the Oakland Athletics with the ninth pick of the first round. Zito is known for his idiosyncrasies, and his offbeat personality. He created the charity Strikeouts for Troops which provides money to hospitals for soldiers wounded in military operations.