RADIO
Zac Gallen 2024 Player Outlook: Tier 2 Starting Pitcher With Upside
12 months agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen finished third in Cy Young voting in 2023, marking his highest career finish and securing his second-straight top-five season. The 28-year-old delivered a career-high 210 innings with a 3.47 ERA and an impressive 26 percent strikeout rate. Following an exceptional 2022 season where Gallen posted a WHIP under one and an expected ERA of just 3.17, he experienced a slight regression but still managed to achieve a higher placement in Cy Young voting. Notably, his 46.2 percent hard-hit rate and 91-mile-per-hour average exit velocity were both career highs by a significant margin, contributing to his first-ever season with an expected ERA over four. While his basic stats have remained very good, the peripherals indicate some regression could be on the way. Gallen's strikeout and walk numbers have remained remarkably consistent throughout his career, providing a reliable indicator for the upcoming season. Though he may trail behind pitchers like Spencer Strider and Gerrit Cole, Gallen remains a solid option, ranking eighth among starting pitchers with an ADP of around 40, presenting potential value in the draft.
