UNC Baseball: Zac Gallen’s MLB record streak comes to an end

The streak is officially over, but it doesn’t take away from the very impressive start to Zac Gallen’s Major League Baseball career.

Last week, the Keeping It Heel team discussed how Zac Gallen made Major League Baseball history. The former Tar Heel did not allow more than three earned runs through his first 23 big league starts, which is the longest streak ever for a pitcher to start their career.

It didn’t take long for Gallen to make a name for himself. After a trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the 25-year-old right-hander has found a permanent spot in the team’s starting rotation.

Gallen has pitched so well during the condensed 2020 campaign that he’s even in consideration for the National League CY Young Award. That’s not bad for a guy who wasn’t on anyone’s radar to begin the season!

Unfortunately, though, all good things must come to an end. Gallen’s Major League record streak was snapped on Monday night.

Early on, it appeared as if the streak would continue. Pitching against the San Francisco Giants on the road, the right-hander faced the minimum batters through the first five innings of play. But the story changed in the sixth inning, as Gallen allowed four Giants runs to score.

Although the streak ended, Gallen is still having a fantastic season for the Diamondbacks. The club may be struggling, but the former Tar Heel has definitely been a bright spot for the organization. He surely will be a building block for the team as they look ahead towards the future.

Continue to follow the Keeping It Heel team as we provide updates regarding Zac Gallen and UNC alumni around the league.