Zac Gallen made a strong return to the major leagues on Saturday.
He had been out since May 30 due to a strained right hamstring. The Diamondbacks cleared a spot for him by sending Brandon Hughes to Triple-A Reno.
Gallen threw 77 pitches over six scoreless innings, striking out seven and allowing just one hit and one walk. His fastball was faster than usual, averaging 95.2 mph . He got 13 swings and misses, with four each coming from his curveball and changeup.
Gallen’s Impact:
Fans might be thrilled about this news since Gallen’s performance is crucial for the team. The Diamondbacks put Kevin Ginkel in as a reliever in the seventh inning.
Gallen, who is 28 years old, had started the season strong with an ERA of 3.12 over 11 games before his injury. His efforts were valued at an estimated 1.1 Wins Above Replacement by Baseball Reference.
The Diamondbacks really needed Gallen back because their rotation has struggled this season, ranking near the bottom of the league. They’re still missing Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez due to injuries.
The team’s record was 39-43 going into Saturday’s game, putting them more than 11 games behind in their division and trailing by three-and-a-half games for a wild-card spot.
What do you think about Gallen’s return?
