Zac Gallen

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Miami Marlins #19 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: A constant member of North Carolina's starting rotation during his three collegiate years, Gallen was drafted by the Cardinals in the third round in 2016. A year and a half later, the New Jersey native was traded to the Marlins as part of the deal that sent Marcell Ozuna to St. Louis.
  
  Scouting Report: Gallen is known more for his control than pure stuff, although his upper-80s cutter has become an above-average pitch that he can throw in any count. He stays in the low 90s with his fastball, touching 94 mph, and he changes speeds effectively with both a changeup and curveball. All of Gallen's offerings are average-or-better pitches, and even though his walk rate ticked up to a career-worst 3.24 walks per nine innings this season, his above-average control helps all of his pitches play up.
  
  The Future: Gallen spent all of 2018 in Triple-A, and he has now thrown more than 150 innings at the minors' highest level. He should be ready for the majors sometime in 2019, even if the Marlins' crowded starting rotation keeps him in Triple-A to start the year. Gallen has the potential of a No. 4 starter, and his collegiate and minor league track record suggests he is a safe bet to reach that ceiling in the near future.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #10 prospect in 2018
  Gallen served as North Carolina's Friday starter for two years in a rotation that included future first-rounder J.B. Bukauskas. A cutter he picked up as a sophomore helped Gallen blossom into that role, and the Cardinals drafted him in the third round in 2016 and signed him for $563,100. Gallen provided instant value, zooming up three levels in his first full season and finishing 2017 at Triple-A Memphis. After the 2017 season, Gallen was traded to the Marlins with Sandy Alcantara, Magneuris Sierra and Daniel Castano for outfielder Marcell Ozuna. Gallen's stuff is average across the board, but all four of his pitches play up with superb control and deception out of his slight crossfire delivery. He mows through lineups by attacking the strike zone with all of his offerings and getting early-count grounders for quick outs. He pounds the bottom of the zone with his 89-93 mph fastball, backs it up with an 86-88 mph cutter that stays low and on the black, and mixes in an 82-85 mph changeup to keep hitters off balance. He also has a 77-79 mph curveball, but it can get loopy and hang on him at times. Gallen is athletic and repeats his delivery, fields his position well and has top-flight makeup. Gallen likely will start at Triple-A New Orleans in 2018 and fits as a potential back-end starter or swingman in the majors.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #97 prospect in 2016 draft
  The Gibbsboro, N.J., native had an inconsistent freshman season at North Carolina, going 5-4 with a 4.64 ERA, and opened his sophomore season in the UNC bullpen. But Gallen quickly earned his way back into the weekend rotation and surged into the Friday spot, blossoming in his second year. The difference? A mid-80s cutter that Gallen picked up from pitching coach Scott Forbes that became an effective weapon against lefties and a go-to offering behind in the count. He features a four-pitch mix now, working at 88-92 mph with his fastball and throwing a low-80's changeup and 74-77 mph curveball. His stuff is average across the board, maybe flashing a tick better at times, but Gallen has confidence in all four pitches and the above-average command necessary to use them. The athletic 6-foot-2, 190-pound righthander repeats his delivery well, fields his position and has ace-like makeup and competitiveness. He doesn't wow evaluators, but he's a relatively safe pick with the chance to be a back-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #7 prospect in 2019
  Gallen’s 1.77 ERA ranked second in the minors at the time of his June 20 callup. It was startling in the PCL, where the average ERA was 5.49. Gallen excelled for the Marlins and was acquired by the D-backs at the trade deadline. Gallen mixed his four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, cutter, curveball and changeup to keep batters guessing. He pounded the strike zone with plus command and a deceptive, crossbody delivery. Opponents hit just .153 against him. "You see the numbers and they jump out at you,” Reno manager Chris Cron said. "But to watch him and see him live up to those numbers was even more impressive.”

• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Gallen’s 1.77 ERA ranked second in the minors at the time of his June 20 callup. It was startling in the PCL, where the average ERA was 5.49. Gallen excelled for the Marlins and was acquired by the D-backs at the trade deadline. Gallen mixed his four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, cutter, curveball and changeup to keep batters guessing. He pounded the strike zone with plus command and a deceptive, crossbody delivery. Opponents hit just .153 against him. "You see the numbers and they jump out at you,” Reno manager Chris Cron said. "But to watch him and see him live up to those numbers was even more impressive.”