Zac Gallen is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2016 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the Miami Marlins in 2019. He was traded to the Diamondbacks midway through the 2019 season.
Gallen was born in Somerdale, New Jersey, and attended Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, where he played baseball and basketball. He committed to play college baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he played for three seasons. In 2016, Gallen was named a second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection.
Details about Zac Gallen’s Background:
- Name: Zac Gallen
- Position: Starting Pitcher
- Height: 6’2″
- Weight: 188 lbs
- Team: Arizona Diamondbacks
- Age: 28
- Nationality: American
- Previous Clubs: St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins
Gallen made his MLB debut with the Marlins on June 20, 2019. He was traded to the Diamondbacks on July 31, 2019. In 2020, Gallen was named the Diamondbacks’ Most Valuable Pitcher by the Arizona chapter of the BBWAA after going 3-2 with a 2.75 ERA in 72 innings pitched. In 2022, Gallen had a breakout season, going 12-4 with a 2.54 ERA in 184 innings pitched. He also finished fifth in National League Cy Young Award voting.
Gallen is a four-pitch pitcher, with a fastball, changeup, curveball, and slider. He is known for his excellent command and control. Gallen is also a very good athlete, which gives him an advantage in fielding his position.
Gallen is one of the best young pitchers in baseball. He is expected to be a key player for the Diamondbacks for many years to come.
Strengths & Weaknesses of Zac Gallen:
Zac Gallen is a skilled and versatile pitcher who can play as a starter or a reliever for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Here are some of his strengths and weaknesses on the field:
- He has a diverse and effective repertoire of pitches, including a four-seam fastball, a cutter, a changeup, a curveball, and a slider. He can throw all of them for strikes and mix them well to keep hitters off balance.
- He has excellent command and control of his pitches, as he can locate them precisely where he wants. He has a low walk rate and a high strikeout rate, as he has shown in his career with 3.24 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 655 innings.
- He has deception and uniqueness in his delivery, as he throws from a cross-body angle from the third-base side of the rubber. He can attack the strike zone from different angles and create uncomfortable at-bats for hitters.
- He sometimes struggles with consistency and durability, as he has dealt with some injuries and slumps in his career. He missed some time in 2020 and 2021 due to elbow and hamstring issues. He also had some rough outings in 2023, such as allowing eight runs in four innings against the Dodgers on August 31.
- He does not have overpowering velocity or movement on his pitches, as his average fastball speed is around 92 mph and his spin rates are below average. He relies more on his command and pitch selection than his raw stuff.
- He can be predictable at times, as he tends to favor his fastball and cutter over his other pitches. He also throws more fastballs when he is ahead in the count and more off-speed pitches when he is behind. Hitters can adjust to his patterns and anticipate his pitches.
Tactical Role of Zac Gallen:
Gallen’s tactical role within the team is to be a reliable and consistent pitcher who can provide quality innings and limit runs. He usually pitches as a starter, but he can also pitch as a reliever if needed. He can pitch deep into games, as he has completed at least six innings in 19 of his 32 starts in 2023. He can also pitch in high-leverage situations, as he has a 2.70 ERA in the seventh inning or later in his career. He is a key part of the Diamondbacks’ rotation that aims to improve and compete in the future.
Hobbies & Interests of Zac Gallen:
Zac Gallen is a pitcher who has a passion and obsession for baseball. He loves to study the game and learn from other pitchers, especially his idol, Clayton Kershaw. He also enjoys watching videos of his own pitching and analyzing his mechanics and pitch selection. He is always looking for ways to improve and evolve as a pitcher.
- He likes to play video games, especially Call of Duty and FIFA. He also likes to watch streamers on Twitch and YouTube, such as Nickmercs and TimTheTatman.
- He is a fan of soccer and supports the Manchester United team. He also likes to watch the World Cup and the Champions League.
- He likes to listen to music, especially rap and hip hop. Some of his favorite artists are Drake, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Logic.
- He likes to read books, especially biographies and motivational books. Some of the books he has read are Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and Relentless by Tim Grover.
- He is interested in finance and investing, and likes to learn about different stocks and cryptocurrencies. He also likes to watch Shark Tank and listen to podcasts such as The Dave Ramsey Show and The Joe Rogan Experience.
Net worth of Zac Gallen:
According to various online sources, Zac Gallen’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million as of 2023. His main source of income is his professional baseball career, which began in 2016 when he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the MLB draft. He signed a contract with the Cardinals for $563,100 as a signing bonus.
He has since played for the Miami Marlins and the Arizona Diamondbacks, earning different salaries each year. In 2023, he signed a one-year contract with the Diamondbacks for $5.6 million, avoiding arbitration. He is also eligible for endorsement deals and sponsorships from various brands and companies.
Personal life of Zac Gallen:
Zac Gallen was born on August 3, 1995, in Somerdale, New Jersey, to Jim and Stacy Gallen. He grew up in nearby Gibbsboro and attended Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in Pennsauken Township, where he excelled in baseball and basketball. He then played college baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels for three seasons, where he earned several honors and awards, such as being named to the All-ACC First Team and the All-ACC Academic Team in 2016.
Gallen is currently single and has not been married or engaged before. He prefers to keep his personal life private and does not share much information about his dating history or romantic relationships. He is not gay and has no children. He is a fun-loving person and an animal lover. He frequently roams around with his friends during vacations or casually. He also has a pet dog named Briar.
Family of Zac Gallen:
Zac Gallen comes from a supportive and loving family. His parents, Jim and Stacy Gallen, are both avid sports fans and encouraged him to pursue his passion for baseball from a young age. His father, Jim, was his Little League coach when he was five years old and drafted him in the third round of the Little League draft. His mother, Stacy, is a nurse practitioner who works at Cooper University Hospital in Camden. She also attends most of his games and cheers him on.
Gallen has a younger brother named Jay Gallen, who is also a baseball player. Jay played for Bishop Eustace Preparatory School and then for Rowan College at Gloucester County. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 25th round of the 2019 MLB draft and currently plays for the Clearwater Threshers, the Phillies’ Class A-Advanced affiliate.
Height of Zac Gallen:
Zac Gallen is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 189 pounds. He has a right-handed batting and throwing stance. He has black hair and brown eyes.
READ MORE: Alex Bregman: Baseball Third Baseman and Shortstop for the Houston Astros – Stats, Family, Bio & more
Contracts of Zac Gallen:
Zac Gallen has signed different contracts with different teams throughout his professional baseball career. Here is a summary of his contracts:
- In 2016, he signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals for $563,100 as a signing bonus after being drafted in the third round of the MLB draft.
- In 2017, he was traded to the Miami Marlins along with three other players for Marcell Ozuna.
- In 2019, he made his MLB debut with the Marlins and earned $173,072 as his salary.
- In July 2019, he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Jazz Chisholm.
- In 2020, he signed a one-year contract with the Diamondbacks for $607,500.
- In 2021, he signed a one-year contract with the Diamondbacks for $745,600.
- In 2022, he signed a one-year contract with the Diamondbacks for $5.6 million, avoiding arbitration.
Brands Associated:
Zac Gallen has not been associated with any major brands or companies as of now. However, he may have some potential endorsement deals or sponsorships in the future, especially after being named as the starting pitcher for the National League in the 2023 All-Star Game.
Teams with Zac Gallen played:
Zac Gallen has played for three different teams in his professional baseball career so far:
- St. Louis Cardinals (2016-2017): He was drafted by the Cardinals in 2016 and played for their minor league affiliates until he was traded to the Marlins in 2017.
- Miami Marlins (2019): He made his MLB debut with the Marlins in June 2019 and pitched in seven games before being traded to the Diamondbacks in July 2019.
- Arizona Diamondbacks (2019-present): He joined the Diamondbacks in July 2019 and has been their ace pitcher since then. He has pitched in 106 games for them and has a record of 38 wins and 30 losses with a 3.24 ERA and 714 strikeouts.
Awards & Achievements of Zac Gallen:
- He was named to the All-ACC First Team and the All-ACC Academic Team in 2016, after posting a 5-4 record with a 2.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 97.2 innings for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
- He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2016 MLB draft, becoming the first Tar Heel pitcher to be drafted that year.
- He was traded to the Miami Marlins in 2017 and made his MLB debut with them on June 20, 2019, pitching five innings of one-run ball against the St. Louis Cardinals.
- He was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 31, 2019, for Jazz Chisholm Jr., and became their ace pitcher.
- He set a MLB record for the most consecutive starts (15) with three or fewer earned runs allowed to begin a career, breaking the previous record of 14 set by Steve Rogers in 1973.
- He was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for August 2020, after going 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 34 strikeouts in five starts.
- He was selected as the starting pitcher for the National League in the 2023 All-Star Game, becoming the first Diamondbacks pitcher to do so since Randy Johnson in 2002.
| Year | Team | Games | Starts | Wins | Losses | ERA | Innings | Strikeouts | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | MIA/ARI | 15 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 2.81 | 80.0 | 96 | 1.23 |
| 2020 | ARI | 12 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 2.75 | 72.0 | 82 | 1.11 |
| 2021 | ARI | 23 | 23 | 7 | 10 | 3.40 | 133.1 | 185 | 1.16 |
| 2022 | ARI | 32 | 32 | 12 | 10 | 3.60 | 189.0 | 205 | 1.12 |
| Total | 82 | 82 | 25 | 28 | 3.24 | 474.1 | 568 | 1.15 |
Gallen also played college baseball for the University of North Carolina, where he had a career record of 17-11 with a 3.13 ERA and 238 strikeouts in 282 innings from 2014 to 2016.
Scouting Report of Zac Gallen:
| Tool | Grade | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fastball | 50 | Gallen’s fastball is not his best pitch, but it is still effective. He throws a four-seam fastball that averages around 92 mph and can reach up to 95 mph. He locates it well and uses it to set up his other pitches. He also throws a sinker that has some downward movement and induces ground balls. |
| Cutter | 60 | Gallen’s cutter is his most used pitch and his signature pitch. He throws it about 25% of the time and it averages around 88 mph. It has a sharp break that makes it hard to hit and generates swings and misses. He can throw it in any count and to both sides of the plate. |
| Changeup | 55 | Gallen’s changeup is his second most used pitch and his best off-speed pitch. He throws it about 20% of the time and it averages around 84 mph. It has a good fade and drop that makes it look like a fastball until it dives away from hitters. He uses it mostly against left-handed hitters to keep them off balance. |
| Curveball | 50 | Gallen’s curveball is his least used pitch, but it is still a useful weapon. He throws it about 10% of the time and it averages around 77 mph. It has a big loop and a 12-6 shape that makes it contrast with his other pitches. He uses it mostly as a strikeout pitch when he is ahead in the count. |
| Slider | 50 | Gallen’s slider is his newest pitch, which he added in 2020 to complement his cutter. He throws it about 15% of the time and it averages around 82 mph. It has a tighter break and a horizontal movement that makes it different from his cutter. He uses it mostly against right-handed hitters to get them to chase outside the zone. |
| Control | 60 | Gallen’s control is one of his best attributes, as he can command all of his pitches with precision and consistency. He has a low walk rate of 2.7 per nine innings in his career and a high strikeout rate of 10.8 per nine innings. He rarely gives up free passes or falls behind in the count. |
Zac Gallen is one of the most skilled and versatile pitchers in baseball today. He has a diverse and effective repertoire of pitches that he can throw for strikes and mix well to keep hitters off balance. He has excellent command and control of his pitches, as he can locate them precisely where he wants. He has deception and uniqueness in his delivery, as he throws from a cross-body angle from the third-base side of the rubber.
He can pitch as a starter or a reliever, depending on the situation and the matchup. He is an impact pitcher who can provide quality innings and limit runs. He is a key part of the Diamondbacks’ rotation that aims to improve and compete in the future. He has already established himself as one of the best pitchers in the game, and he still has room to improve and grow. Zac Gallen is a star in the making.
FAQs about Zac Gallen:
How old is Zac Gallen?
Zac Gallen is 28 years old as of 2023. He was born on August 3, 1995, in Somerdale, New Jersey.
Who are Zac Gallen’s parents?
Zac Gallen’s parents are Jim and Stacy Gallen. His father, Jim, was his Little League coach when he was five years old and drafted him in the third round of the Little League draft. His mother, Stacy, is a nurse practitioner who works at Cooper University Hospital in Camden.
What college did Zac Gallen attend?
Zac Gallen attended the University of North Carolina, where he played college baseball for the Tar Heels for three seasons. He earned several honors and awards, such as being named to the All-ACC First Team and the All-ACC Academic Team in 2016.
What are Zac Gallen’s hobbies and interests?
Zac Gallen has diverse hobbies and interests, such as playing video games, watching streamers, supporting Manchester United, listening to rap music, reading books, learning about finance and investing, and watching Shark Tank and podcasts.
What are Zac Gallen’s career statistics?
Zac Gallen has played for three different teams in his professional baseball career so far: the St. Louis Cardinals, the Miami Marlins, and the Arizona Diamondbacks. As of September 15, 2023, he has a career record of 25 wins and 28 losses with a 3.24 ERA and 568 strikeouts in 474.1 innings. He has also been selected as the starting pitcher for the National League in the 2023 All-Star Game.
