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UNC Baseball: Zac Gallen making case for CY Young Award

By Nick Delahanty

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 06: Pitcher Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during an intrasquad game ahead of the abbreviated MLB season at Chase Field on July 06, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. The 2020 season, which has been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to start later this month. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 06: Pitcher Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during an intrasquad game ahead of the abbreviated MLB season at Chase Field on July 06, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. The 2020 season, which has been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to start later this month. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Former Tar Heel Zac Gallen is making his case to be considered for the NL CY Young Award for the 2020 season.

The 2020 season has been a struggle for the Arizona Diamondbacks, as they currently hold one of the worst records in all of baseball. However, the Diamondbacks have found a bright spot, and it comes in the form of a former Tar Heel.

Zac Gallen has been one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball this season. Recently, the Keeping It Heel team discussed how the now 25-year-old set an impressive Major League Baseball record.

Gallen’s numbers have been mightily impressive. Through eight starts, the right-hander has a 1.80 ERA, allowing just 10 earned runs over 50 innings of work. He has struck out 54 hitters while only allowing 15 walks, and has done a great job of limiting the amount of runners on base. Currently, Gallen has just one win on the season, which is unfortunate given the way he’s pitched.

As we’re more than half-way through the 2020 season, is it possible that Gallen could compete for the National League CY Young Award?

According to MLB.com’s starting pitcher power rankings, it isn’t out of the question.

For the first time this season, Gallen was ranked on MLB.com’s Top 10 starting pitcher power rankings. The right-hander was ranked at No. 9, which is the fifth-highest among National League starting pitchers.

Here’s what the MLB.com rankings had to say about Gallen:

"Gallen might be flying under the radar compared to some of the bigger names in the NL, but make no mistake: the D-backs righty has been lights-out this season. Gallen is the other remaining qualified starter with a sub-2 ERA, along with Bieber, Darvish, Fried and deGrom — he’s at 1.80 after pitching seven shutout innings of one-hit ball against the powerhouse Dodgers in his first start of September. The 25-year-old also leads the NL in innings pitched (50) and hasn’t allowed more than one run in his last four starts."

To be included in these rankings is a testament to just how good Gallen has been this season. The former Tar Heel continues to make a name for himself, and is now being considered among the best pitchers in baseball.

He may not win the National League CY Young Award, given the amount of great starting pitching the league has, but he definitely should be considered. If he continues to pitch like this, this won’t be the last time we see Gallen talked about among the league’s best at his position.

dark. Next. UNC Baseball: Matt Harvey transitions to bullpen role

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