5 prospects who can help the Miami Marlins in 2019
2. RHP Zac Gallen
After going 8-9 with a 3.65 ERA, a 9.2 K/9 and a 3.2 BB/9 over 25 starts (133.1 innings) for Triple-A New Orleans last year, Zac Gallen has been even better there so far this year (0.81 ERA, 10.3 K.9, 1.4 BB/9 over five starts-33.1 innings).
Zac Gallen does his thing again: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 2 HR (94 pitches)
— Fish On First Spaces (@MarlinsSpaces) April 28, 2019
He has a 0.84 ERA in April and should be the slam-dunk Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month. pic.twitter.com/GvcAoKAEmz
Gallen has a good four-pitch mix, and without what is considered “top-end” stuff (his fastball tops out at 94 MPH) command, movement and variation of speed are what he needs to keep hitters off-balance. Based on his Triple-A samples over the last two seasons, so far so good as he makes a real push for a promotion.
The Marlins have plenty of young pitching in their pipeline, and some (Sandy Alcantara, Trevor Richards, Pablo Lopez) have arrived in the big leagues. But Gallen is one of the next in line, with upside most of the aforementioned might not possess. It’s only a matter of time before he gets the call to Miami this summer.