Former Bishop Eustace RHP Zac Gallen...
Former Bishop Eustace RHP Zac Gallen Impressive in First Full Professional Season Former Bishop Eustace star Zac Gallen is making a quick run through the minor leagues. Gallen, who turns 22 on Aug. 3, is currently pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals Double-A affiliate, the Springfield (Missouri) Cardinals.
Gallen was selected in the third round of the 2016 draft from North Carolina. He was the final pick of the third round, the 106thoverall selection. According to MLB.com, he signed for a bonus of $563,100, which was the assigned value for that selection. (Teams can go above or below the assigned value and in this case, he received the exact figure).
In three seasons at North Carolina, Gallen was 14-13 with a 3.86 ERA. He struck out 231 and walked 63 in 233 innings. As a junior, the year he was drafted, Gallen was a hard-luck 5-6 with an impressive 2.68 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched). He struck out 95 and walked 21 in 90 2/3 innings.
Last season he appeared in six games, making three starts for the Cardinals Gulf Coast League team. Gallen had a 1.86 ERA.
This year, in his first full professional season, the 6-foot-2, 191-pound righthander from Gibbsboro, has made great progress.
He began this season at advanced Single-A Palm Beach and was 5-2 with a 1.62 ERA in nine starts. In 55 2/3 innings he struck out 56 and walked 10.
He was promoted to Springfield on June 3 and then moved up to Triple-A Memphis on June 26. Gallen made three starts for Memphis, going 1-1 with a 3.45 ERA, striking out 20 and walking three in 15 2/3 innings.
Gallen’s best Triple-A showing was his second start on July 1 in a 5-1 win over the visiting New Orleans Baby Cakes. In six innings, Gallen allowed one run on four hits. He struck out eight and walked one, while throwing 93 pitches, 62 for strikes.
In his first start after returning to Springfield on July 16, Gallen had arguably his best performance of the season. In a 6-0 win over Northwest Arkansas, Gallen earned the victory by allowing just one hit in seven innings. He struck out six and walked none, throwing 96 pitches, 74 for strikes.
During his two stints this season with Springfield (through Monday) he was 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA with 22 strikeouts and seven walks in 36 2/3 innings.
For a player to receive this much Double-A experience in his first full season, is impressive. Couple that with his brief time in Triple-A and Gallen is on the right track, pitching for one of the most successful organizations in Major League Baseball.
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Author: Marc Narducci
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